Blog · 2024-04-01
Entry rules for the United Kingdom for Russian citizens in 2025
In 2024, entering the United Kingdom as a Russian citizen takes careful preparation. Here is what you need to know before planning a trip to the UK.
Do Russian citizens need a UK visa?
Yes, Russian citizens need a visa to enter the United Kingdom. In 2024 the country continues to issue Russians every type of visa, including tourist visas.
How to obtain a UK tourist visa
1. Complete the application on the website of the UK Visas and Immigration service and pay the fee. The fee is calculated in US dollars. As of the latest figures, a short-term six-month visa costs $152 (about 14,000 ₽), while a two-year visa costs $527 (about 48,500 ₽). The amount changes constantly, so check the current figure on the official site. If your application is refused, the fee is not refunded. You will need a card issued by a foreign bank to pay it.
2. Once the application is submitted, you need to book an appointment at a visa application centre. Centres operate in Moscow, St Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk and Rostov-on-Don.
Documents for a UK visa
- A valid international passport, with at least six months of validity remaining at the time of application.
- Any previous international passports, if you have them.
- Your Russian internal passport.
- The completed application form.
- Proof of funds for the trip: an employer's letter stating your salary or a bank statement. If someone else is paying for the trip, proof of your sponsor's funds instead.
- An invitation from friends or relatives, if you are visiting them.
- Evidence of ties to Russia and of your intention to return, such as an employer's letter or property documents.
- A tuberculosis test for anyone applying for a visa longer than six months.
3. The documents must be scanned and uploaded to the TLS Contact portal. This can also be done for a fee at the visa centre. All documents must be translated into English, either by yourself or through a translator.
4. At the visa centre, every applicant over the age of five has their photograph taken and their fingerprints scanned.
Applications take roughly seven to eight weeks to process. If the service has questions, it may request additional documents or invite you for an interview.
How to reach the UK from Russia in 2024
Direct flights between the two countries are suspended because of sanctions. You can only fly with a connection, for example through Baku, Istanbul, Belgrade or other cities.
Are you a leader in your field?
The UK Global Talent Visa is a special category for those who have achieved notable results in science, digital technology, the arts or culture and wish to move to the UK to work in that field.
To prove your talent, you will need a "portfolio" of your achievements. This might be research grants for scientists, publications or exhibitions for those in the arts, or a role as the founder or a key employee of a technology company. Both EU citizens and citizens of third countries may apply. Knowledge of English and proof of income are not required. If you do not yet have a public profile, additional PR work with specialists who build your case may be needed. After five years of living in the country on a Global Talent visa, you can apply for British citizenship.
FAQ
Do Russians need a visa for the UK?
How long does a UK visa take?
Are there direct flights from Russia to the UK?
Where do I submit biometrics for a UK visa?
Is the UK visa fee refunded after a refusal?
Don’t want to figure this out alone?
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