Before anything else: read the travel advice
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has advised against travel to Russia. That advice covers personal safety, the severely limited consular assistance available to British nationals in Russia, and practical problems including banking, payment cards and the absence of direct flights from the UK. It also affects whether your travel insurance will cover you at all.
Please read the current FCDO travel advice for Russia (opens in new tab) in full before making plans. We will not encourage a trip that the advice warns against, and we will tell you plainly if we think we cannot help.
Travelling to Russia from the UK
Russia is not a visa-free destination for British passport holders or for most other nationalities. Tourism, business and family visits all require a visa obtained in advance, and in many cases transit does too.
The process differs from most countries on this site in one important way: the application is built on a formal invitation obtained beforehand, and the visa is issued against it. Getting that document right — and matching the application to it exactly — is where applications most often go wrong.
Routes we support
- Tourist visas. Supported by a tourist confirmation issued by a licensed Russian operator, covering the dates and cities of your itinerary.
- Business visas. Supported by an invitation from the organisation you are visiting.
- Private and family visits. Supported by an invitation obtained by your host in Russia.
- Transit. Passing through Russia can itself require a visa depending on your route and how long you are on Russian territory, so it should be checked rather than assumed.
Requirements, availability and the submission channel have all changed repeatedly in recent years. Always confirm the current position on the official GOV.UK Russia entry requirements (opens in new tab) before you book or pay for anything.
What we help with
- Explaining the current process and whether an application is realistic for you
- Checking that your invitation matches your intended dates, route and purpose
- Completing the application form accurately and consistently with that invitation
- A pre-submission review of your evidence pack for completeness
- Guidance on the appointment and biometric enrolment step
What to prepare
- A passport valid well beyond your intended stay, with blank pages
- The invitation or tourist confirmation covering your full itinerary
- Confirmed travel and accommodation arrangements
- Travel and medical insurance valid for the whole trip
- A passport-style photograph meeting the current specification
Requirements can change at short notice, so we will give you a precise list once we understand your plans. Eligibility and the decision rest entirely with the Russian authorities.
If you want to discuss whether an application makes sense in your circumstances, contact us with your nationality, travel dates and the reason for your trip.