click here to download/print our visa order form for business visas
Click here for online form filling services
Click here for Russian authorisations
click here to download/print our visa order form for tourist visas
click here to download/print our visa order form for work visas
RUSSIA visas take 6 working days to issue in the embassy. We recommend you send us your documents by Royal Mail Special Delivery. Please ensure you send us the following documentation as failure to do so will result in a delay in issuing your visa.
Tourist Visa
1 ( which must be typed from http://ru.vfsglobal.co.uk completed visa application forms
1 passport photograph(s)
Authorisation (This is normally supplied by your tour operator or hotel)
Passport.
Non UK nationals will also need a copy of travel insurance & a bank statement or utility bill.
Payment
Business Visa
1( which must be typed from http://ru.vfsglobal.co.uk completed visa application forms
1 passport photograph(s)
Letters of invitation from organisation in both Russia & UK which must include: name of inviting party, purpose of visit, dates of visit, who will be financially responsible & contact details of person meeting.
Authorisation
Passport
Payment
| Visa type | Visa fee | Service charge | Total to pay |
| Tourist double entry Russian visa | £92.60 | £60.00 | £152.60 |
| Tourist double entry Russian visa Express Service | £164.80(24 hours) | £60.00 | £224.80 |
| Tourist single entry Russian visa | £77.60 | £60.00 | £137.60 |
| Tourist single entry Russian visa Express Service | £134.80(24 hours) | £60.00 | £194.80 |
| Business double entry Russian visa | £92.60 | £60.00 | £152.60 |
| Business double entry Russian visa Express Service | £164.80 (24 hours) | £60.00 | £224.80 |
| Business single entry Russian visa | £77.60 | £60.00 | £137.60 |
| Business single entry Russian visa Express Service | £134.80 | £60.00 | £194.80 |
| Business 12 month multiple entry Russian visa | £227.60 | £60.00 | £287.60 |
| Business 12 month multiple entry Russian visa Express Service | £334.80 | £60.00 | £394.80 |
All application forms must now be completed on http://ru.vfsglobal.co.uk. The form must be submitted on-line then printed and signed ready to send to us with your documents. Please ensure that your dates of travel and reason for visit inserted on your application match those on your authorisation. Should you leave Q.27+28 blank, you will also be requested to send a letter of explaination.
Please note that all prices above are for UK nationals only. For all other nationals, the price of your Russian visa will be allocated on receipt of your passport. All prices are displayed on the VFS website above.
Nationals of the C.I.S countries (except nationals of Georgia & Turkmenistan).
Nationals of Mongolia provided coming for either business purposes and holding proof, tourist visits and holding hotel vouchers or social visits and holding an invitation from a resident.
For stays of up to 90 days to nationals of: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Israel, Nicaragua, Peru, Venezuela & nationals of Bosnia Herzegovina & Macedonia (FYROM) for business purposes only and holding an original letter of invitation.
For stays of up to 30 days to nationals of: Bosnia Herzegovina & Macedonia (FYROM) (for touristic purposes only and holding original vouchers and confirmation from a Russian Tour Operator), Croatia (providing either on business and holding an invitation letter or for touristic purposes and holding a hotel voucher), Cuba, Montenegro (holding biometric passports only), Serbia (holding new red coloured passports only), Thailand (providing travelling for touristic purposes) & Turkey.
For stays of up to 14 days to holders of Hong Kong (SAR China passports).
RUSSIA TRANSIT VISAS: TWOV (Transit without visa) is possible for those remaining in the airside (international) transit area of the same airport of arrival and has an onward or connecting flight within 24 hours of arrival. Valid onward tickets are required.
RUSSIA HEALTH: A reciprocal health agreement for medical treatment exists with the United Kingdom. In order to obtain treatment some proof of United Kingdom residence such as a UK passport will be required.
There are currently no compulsory vaccinations required.
Recommended immunisations: Cholera (Asian and Far Eastern regions), Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Japanese B Encephalitis, Meningitis, TB, Tetanus, Tick-Borne Encephalitis & Typhoid.
Risks: Rabies.
RUSSIA WEATHER: Winter is cold with heavy snowfall. Snow thaws between Mar/Apr and so can be quite wet. Summer is very similar to British summer in northern regions and more like the Mediterranean in southern regions. Autumn is much shorter than in Britain as winter bringing snow starts in late Oct/Nov. Southern regions are generally warmer
RUSSIA MISC:
Location of Russia: Europe
Local Time in Russia: Zone 1 (including Kaliningrad): GMT +3
Zone 10 (including Magadan): GMT +12
Zone 11 (including Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky): GMT +13
Zone 2 (including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Astrakhan & Naryan-Ma): +4
Zone 3 (including Izhevsk & Samara): +5
Zone 4 (including Perm, Nizhnevartovsk & Ekaterinburg): GMT +6
Zone 5 (including Omsk & Novosibirsk): GMT +7
Zone 6 (including Norilsk & Kyzyl): GMT +8
Zone 7 (including Bratsk & Ulan-Ude): GMT +9
Zone 8 (including Chita & Yakutsk): GMT +10
Zone 9 (including Khabarovsk, Vladivostock & Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk): GMT +11
Capital City of Russia: Moscow
Population of Russia: 145 million
Language(s) spoken in Russia: Russian, many local languages
Dialling Code for Russia: 7
Emergency numbers in Russia: Police: 02. Fire: 01. Ambulance: 03
Driving in Russia: Driving is on the right. National licence with authorised translation or International Driving Permit required. Self drive car hire is very limited and not recommended for westerners
Electricity in Russia: 220V AC 50Hz
Currency of Russia: Russian Rouble (RUR)
Notes: RUR: 10, 50, 100, 500, 1,000
Coins: RUR: 1, 2, 5
Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Credit cards and travellers cheques are not widely accepted, exceptions are major hotels and western shops. If taking travellers cheques it is advisable to take them in US dollars, same applies to cash. Dollar notes should preferably be dated after 1993 and be in good condition. The exchange of travellers cheques into US dollars is difficult
Opening Hours in Russia
Bank: 0930-1730 Mon-Fri
Office: 0900-1800 Mon-Fri
Shops: 0900-1900 Mon-Sat (Sun mostly food shops)
Hints in Russia: English is widely spoken and German is also a useful language when visiting. Alcohol is available and smoking is widespread
Tipping in Russia: Customary, particularly in international hotels
Hotel Classification in Russia: Properties are officially classified by the State Tourist Committee using the standard star system from 1 up to 5. However, it appears to be poorly controlled and many properties remain not graded while others simply choose their own category.
Import Allowances in Russia: For persons of 18 years of age or older:
200 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500gr of tobacco products
1 lit of alcoholic beverages (21 years)
A reasonable quantity of perfume for personal use
Other goods up to an amount of USD 10,000 for personal use only
Prohibited/Restricted in Russia: Import: photographs and printed matter directed against Russia, live animals (subject to special permit), military arms and ammunition, narcotics, fruit and vegetables. Export: arms, ammunition, precious metals and articles made thereof (except if such articles belong to the imported personal effects of the passenger and have been declared on arrival), antiquities and art objects (subject to duty and special permit from the Ministry of Culture), furs
Airports in Russia:
Moscow Domodedovo (DME)
Moscow Sheremetyevo International (SVO)
Sochi International (AER)
St. Petersburg Pulkovo (LED)
