Russia - Travel Advice & Visas

Summary

Around 215,000 British nationals visit Russia every year. Most visits are trouble-free. The main type of incidents for which British nationals require consular assistance in Russia are minor, for example registration problems or lost or stolen passports and migration cards. However, you should be vigilant at all times and also watch out for pickpockets and street crime, especially in large cities and in busy areas, e.g. railway concourses. Since 2005 there has been an increase in racially motivated attacks; visitors of Asian or Afro-Caribbean descent should take extra care.

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for any activities you may wish to undertake.

Because of the security situation in the North Caucasus, we advise against all travel to Chechnya, Ingushetia, Dagestan and to Budyonnovsky, Levokumsky, Neftekumsky, Stepnovsky and Kurskoy, which are regions in eastern and southern Stavropol Krai that border Dagestan and Chechnya.

We advise against all but essential travel to North Ossetia, Karachai-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria (including the Elbrus area). Please see the Local Travel section of this Travel Advice for more information.

You should be aware of the threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate and against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners. Attacks have occurred most frequently in Moscow and in the North Caucasus.

Safety and Security

Crime
As in most countries, cities in Russia have their fair share of petty crime. You should be alert at all times to the possibility of mugging, pickpocketing and theft from vehicles or hotel rooms. Be particularly alert to groups of women and children who beg, and pickpockets around the main railway concourses.

Take care when drinking with or meeting casual or new acquaintances in bars, restaurants or night-clubs, as there have been incidents of robbery and violence involving foreigners, amongst them British nationals. Do not leave your drinks unattended as they may then be drugged.

Incidents of armed violence in major cities are usually linked to criminal/business activities and are not usually directed against foreigners. There have also been bomb attacks linked to criminal disputes.

Racially motivated attacks by racist "skinhead" groups do occur in Russia. Racially motivated attacks increase around 20 April, the anniversary of Adolf Hitler’s birthday. Although the great majority of visitors experience no difficulties, there has been an increase in the number of attacks on foreign nationals since 2005, especially in large urban areas. In St Petersburg a student from Congo was killed in September 2005 and an Indian medical student was stabbed to death in September 2006. In Voronezh in October 2005 a student from Peru was murdered and another Peruvian and a Spanish student badly hurt. On 4 December 2006 two Vietnamese citizens were admitted to a Moscow hospital with knife wounds, although the cause of the attack has yet to be determined. We recommend that travellers of Asian or Afro-Caribbean descent take extra care.

On 21 August 2006 an explosion in a Moscow market caused approximately twelve fatalities, with thirty-five injured. No British citizens were among the casualties. The authorities have established that this was a racially motivated act and two men have been arrested.

On the night of 24-25 November 2006 an improvised explosive device was detonated and another defused at a hostel belonging to Moscow State University; no injuries were reported and an investigation has been launched.

In St Petersburg there has been a sharp increase in street crime since April 2004; tourists have been specifically targeted. Since April 2005 the number of cases of tourists being held up at knifepoint on the metro and buses have increased. These crimes are carried out by well-organised gangs. You should be especially aware of pickpockets in the main tourist areas. Incidents of bogus police officers harassing and robbing tourists have also been reported. If you are stopped always insist on seeing ID. Avoid openly carrying expensive items, or anything that might easily identify you as a tourist.

There are a number of services offering addresses and contact information for Russian women who are looking to become romantically engaged with Western Europeans. A number of prospective suitors have entered into correspondence, only later to be defrauded. If this occurs, there is little that the British Government can do to assist in the recovery of any capital outlay. We advise that you exercise the appropriate level of caution if entering into correspondence.

Political Situation
The next major elections will be the Duma (parliamentary) elections, timetabled for December 2007, Presidential elections have been scheduled for 2008.

Local Travel
We advise against all travel to Chechnya, Ingushetia, Dagestan and to Budyonnovsky, Levokumsky, Neftekumsky, Stepnovsky and Kurskoy, which are regions in eastern and southern Stavropol Krai that border Chechnya and Dagestan.

We advise against all but essential travel to North Ossetia, Karachai-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria (including the Elbrus area). Terrorism and kidnapping in the region remains a serious problem and you are advised to take security advice before travelling.

As well as the ongoing conflict in Chechnya, terrorist attacks have occurred throughout this region, including incidents in Beslan and Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia, Nalchik, the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria and Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan. Further violence in the North Caucasus region is likely.

Kidnapping in the region is common and Westerners are particularly vulnerable: four Western hostages, including three Britons, were murdered in Chechnya in December 1998 and a Dutch aid worker was kidnapped in Dagestan in August 2002 and spent 21 months in captivity.

You should be aware of travel restrictions for foreigners in North Ossetia. You should travel only to the towns of Vladikavkaz, Beslan, Alagira and Ardona along the following connecting roads: Nazran – Besland – Nalchik (road M-29); Varkhny Lars – Vladikavkaz (roadA-301), Nizhny Zaramag – Alagir (road R297); Alagir – Ardon – road M-29 (road R-298); roads connecting Vladikavkaz with road M-29; and the road connecting Vladikavkaz airport (Beslan) with road M-29).

The following railway connections are also permitted: Nazran-Beslan-Murtazovo; Vladikavkaz-Beslan; Alagir-Elkhotovo; and Gudermes-Mozdok-Prokhladnaya.

The North Caucasus remains an unstable and potentially dangerous region. The Russian authorities take a particularly strict attitude towards security and compliance with official regulations. If you intend to travel to the North Caucasus region, it is vital that you have the correct documentation including an appropriate visa for the purpose of your visit, and that you comply fully with registration requirements.

If you travel to these parts of Russia despite this advice, you are taking a serious risk, and must accept that the ability of the FCO and the British Embassy in Moscow to help in the case of an emergency is severely limited.

Cross-border traffic with Georgia and Azerbaijan is also subject to restrictions.

Road Safety
You may drive a car in Russia for a limited period if you hold an international driving license. For further information on driving restrictions, check with an international driving organisation.

Road conditions can often be poor, especially outside the major cities.

You should comply with all local speed limits. The standard speed limit for built-up areas is 60 kph (37 mph), outside built-up areas 90 kph (55 mph) and 100 kph (62 mph) on motorways (Brest-Moscow). Visiting motorists who have held a driving licence for less than two years must not exceed 70 kph (43 mph). It is common practice for traffic police to stop motorists for spot checks. You should be aware that there is a zero tolerance policy towards drinking and driving.

If travelling by taxi, use officially marked taxis and do not share them with strangers. We advise against flagging down unofficial taxis.

Rail Safety
On 12 June 2005, a passenger train heading to Moscow from Chechnya was derailed by an explosion.

If you are travelling by overnight train and have the use of a sleeping compartment, store valuables in the container under the bed/seat.

Do not leave your sleeping compartment unoccupied as some compartments only have a simple lock on the sliding door. On some trains there may be an additional security device, which can be attached to the fitted handle/lock unit. There may also be a steel switch at head-height on the door panel which, when pulled down, prevents the closed door from being slid open.

Air Safety
On 22 August 2006 a Pulkovo Airlines flight from Anapa to St Petersburg crashed near Donetsk (Ukraine). All 170 passengers died in this incident.

Two Russian airliners on internal flights crashed on 24 August 2004. Russian investigations have now confirmed that both aircraft were destroyed by suicide bombers. You should be aware that security on Russian internal flights is not as high as that for international flights. Technical safety on scheduled Russian internal and external flights is now broadly in compliance with international norms, although there remain some concerns over the safety of internal flights (and some charter flights) in the light of an air crash in Irkutsk in July 2006.

Local Laws and Customs
You should not become involved with drugs. Penalties are severe and the courts impose long sentences for those found in possession of even small quantities of drugs, regardless of whether they are "hard" or "soft"

Homosexuality is legal in Russia and there is a reasonably tolerant attitude to homosexuality in major urban areas. There is still, a degree of intolerance amongst some sections of the population, and you should however be careful about open displays of affection in public.

The photographing of any military installation, establishment or site of strategic importance is prohibited; this includes airports. You are likely to have your film confiscated, be detained for questioning and possibly arrested if you do not observe this rule.

Entry Requirements
All foreign nationals entering Russia must fill in a migration card. These cards have recently changed from bilingual (Russian/English) to Russian only cards. Information in response to the questions on the cards can still be completed in English; however this can be difficult for non-Russian speakers. A sample card plus translation can be found on the website of the British Embassy Moscow

The card is in two identical parts. One part will be retained by the Immigration Officer on arrival. You should keep the other part with your passport and show it, along with your passport, to the police, if they stop you for an identity check during your stay. You should hand in the second part to the Immigration Officer on your departure from Russia. You must complete a new migration card each time you enter Russia, even if you have a multiple entry visa. If you lose the second part of the card you will be fined, and your departure from the country could be delayed.

Visas are required to enter Russia. During periods of high demand, for example during the summer holidays, you should apply for your visa well in advance. If you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland you should apply to the Russian Embassy in London: http://www.great-britain.mid.ru. If you live in Scotland, you should apply to the Russian Consulate General in Edinburgh.

The Embassy in London can normally process visas in 15 working days, and you can submit an application by post or in person. If you want to get a visa more quickly it is possible to queue in person and pay an extra fee, though the numbers processed in this way per day are limited. You must have an exit visa to leave Russia. Most entry visas include an exit visa. However, some entry visas including certain types of student visas, do not include an exit visa. If this is the case your sponsor, not the Embassy or Consulates, will need to obtain the exit visa for you before you can leave the country. Before you travel to Russia ensure that you are aware of the terms and conditions attached to your visa and check that the dates and details which have been entered on your visa are correct. Presenting documentation which contains incorrect information to immigration officials can lead to severe inconvenience and in some cases could result in refusal of entry.

You must register your visa within three working days of arrival in Russia with the local branch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Most major hotels will do this automatically. If you are staying in private accommodation the owner of the property must do this for you. You need not register a visa if your visit is for under three days.

If your passport has less than six months to run, you may be refused entry to Russia. You are advised to get a replacement passport before travelling.

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the Russian Embassy in London http://www.great-britain.mid.ru.

If you intend to travel by train on popular routes such as Warsaw-Moscow or St Petersburg-Kiev you will need to obtain a transit visa for Belarus before travelling.

Dual Nationality
Under international law, the British Embassy or Consulates cannot formally intervene with the Russian authorities on behalf of dual Russian/British citizens who encounter difficulties whilst in Russia.

If you come to Russia to renew your Russian international passport, you should be aware that it may take up to four months for a new passport to be issued. You will have to remain in Russia throughout this period. If this happens, the British Embassy or Consulates cannot obtain an exit visa for your British passport.

Parents should note that children born overseas and added to their Russian passports by Russian Embassies may now have to obtain their own passport to exit Russia. There have been instances where a parent has renewed their own passport but the authorities have refused to add the child to it until the child's claim to Russian citizenship is properly substantiated. Parents should check the Russian Nationality Act and contact their nearest Russian Embassy or Consulate to ensure that their child has a claim to Russian citizenship, and that they have the necessary paperwork to prove this before travelling to Russia to renew passports.

Customs
You may import into the country up to 10,000 US dollars (or equivalent) without declaring it. You may export from the country up to 3,000 US dollars without declaring it. If you export from the country currency or travellers cheques worth between 3,000 and 10,000 US dollars, it must be declared on departure.

If you import into the country a sum of money over 10,000 US dollars or certain categories of goods such as more costly electrical items, jewellery or antiques and valuable musical instruments you must complete a customs declaration form (available at all ports of entry) on arrival.

If you wish to import certain sophisticated electronic items (e.g. Global Positioning System instruments), you must get an operating licence from the Russian authorities before you travel. If you are unsure whether you should declare an item or need an operating license you should check with the Embassy of the Russian Federation: http://www.great-britain.mid.ru before your departure.

If you export from the country currency or travellers cheques worth between 3,000 and 10,000 US Dollars it must be declared on departure. Since 31 July 2005, a limit of the equivalent of 10,000 dollars has been set on the amount of roubles and foreign currency that can be taken out of Russia.

If you complete a declaration form you must ensure that it is stamped by a Customs official at your port of entry or it will not be valid. If you fail to complete a declaration form on arrival or to get it validated by Customs officials your foreign currency and non-declared items may be confiscated when you leave Russia and you may be fined.

Health
A Reciprocal Health Care Agreement operates between the UK and Russia. This entitles British nationals to free treatment in a Russian hospital. However, any treatment you receive is likely to be limited. We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for any activities you may wish to undertake.

Food poisoning, tuberculosis and rabies are prevalent throughout Russia. There is also a risk of tick-borne encephalitis in rural and wooded areas. Incidences of infection with HIV continue to increase and the Chief Public Health Officer has recently announced that there are 370,000 officially registered cases in Russia. Tap water is not drinkable anywhere in Russia. Caution should be exercised and local advice sought. Bottled mineral water is widely available.

You should seek medical advice before travelling and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date. For further information on health, check the Department of Health's website at:  http://www.dh.gov.uk

	Ready to do business in Central Europe?
	Register now for access to our full range of support services