Welcome to the website for the Russia Visa Application Centre

To meet the increasing demand for Russia Visas, while maintaining high standards of service, the Embassy of the Russian Federation has outsourced its Visa Application Processing to M/s VF Services (UK) Ltd. The Russia Visa Application Centre commenced operations since 23rd January 2009. This new procedure does not only avoid queuing and waiting lists but also focuses on delivering the visa within a short period of time.

This service is available to all nationals resident in the United Kingdom who wish to apply for a Russia visa. Visa applications may be submitted without a prior appointment.

Holders of foreign diplomatic and service passports intending to visit Russia on official business will continue to apply in person at the Russian Embassy, London.

Apply for a Russian Visa

Important notice: Applicants have to submit their online visa application forms within 30 days from the date the forms have been created. Forms created more than 30 days ago will be considered as expired.

Visitors from most countries will need a visa, it cannot be obtained at the border; therefore you should apply for a Russian Visa prior to travelling.

All Russia Visa Application forms must be completed electronically and be signed by the applicants. The granting of a visa is at the discretion of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in London and its Consulates. All payment made towards visa fees and service charges are non refundable and do not guarantee the issuance of a visa should your application be declined.

Important notice: The new online application for all nationalities is available on the website now. Kindly complete the application form online and submit the same at Russia Visa Center either by post or in person. Kindly note, handwritten changes are not accepted. PDF version of this form can not be accepted after October 1st, 2009.

Important update:

 In view of the changes to the Federal Law "On the procedure of entering and leaving the Russia Federation" on 15^th August 1996 № 114-FL effective from 12^th March 2010,  applications will be accepted from citizens of the Russia Federation lawfully staying in UK, to issue visas for members of their families who are foreign nationals (spouses, children under the age of 18, incapacitated children of any age) to enable them to enter the territory of the Russian Federation accompanied by the citizen of the Russia Federation, who signed the visa request form. The applications can only be submitted for the issuance of a single entry/double entry private visa effective for up to 3 months. The minimum time for processing such applications is 5 working days.

All the required documents (except of a private letter of invitation, issued by a Russian Federal Migration Service agency) must be provided as per "General Requirements" section of this website.

Also the following requirements have to be met:

1.     Citizen of the Russia Federation must be present in person at the time of application submission to sign the visa request form (this must be signed with presence of the Visa Centre officer). Hence, no postal application can be accepted. Presence of their family members is not required.

2.     It is necessary to present originals or certified copies of the documents confirming kinship of applicants - citizens of the Russian Federation with the foreign citizens specified in the application - members of their families. These documents are considered as issued by the authorized bodies of the Russian Federation or the foreign state marriage certificate (for spouses), birth/adoption certificate (for minor children), and birth/adoption certificate and the medical certificate confirming incapacity (incapacitated children of any age). Copies of the valid passport and the proof of stay in the UK on the lawful basis of applicants - the valid UK visa for the citizens of the Russian Federation should also be enclosed.

3.     The procedure of the migration registration implies informing (notifying) a relevant territorial office of the Federal Migration Service of a foreign citizen's arrival to the place of sojourn. We would like to remind about the responsibility of the inviting person that this must be carried out in the course of three working days after arrival of the foreign citizen to the Russian Federation.

Russian Version