Guidance

Living in Russia

Information about living in Russia – including visas, working, healthcare and driving.

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
7 March 2014
Last updated
27 January 2026 — See all updates

Advice against all travel to Russia

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office currently advises against all travel to Russia. Read the travel advice for Russia for more information.

If your presence in Russia is not essential, we strongly advise that you consider leaving.

Read about safety and security in the travel advice for Russia. This includes information on:

  • leaving Russia
  • the political and security situation in Russia
  • UK and international sanctions against Russia

Getting help with living in Russia

Help from the Russian government

For any questions about living in Russia, you may be able to get help from the:

The UK government and the British Embassy in Moscow cannot give personalised advice on living in Russia.  

Professional help in Russia

You can also get help from English-speaking professionals in Russia, including:

  • lawyers
  • translators
  • notaries
  • funeral directors
  • doctors

Help from the UK government   

Read the travel advice for Russia to understand the risks you may face if you live in or visit Russia. This includes the latest information on:

  • visas and entry requirements
  • laws and cultural differences
  • safety and security

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad.

Get help from the UK government abroad, including in an emergency.

Visas, residency and citizenship

Visas

Read the entry requirements for Russia for passport and visa requirements.

If you’re living in Russia on any type of visa, you must apply for an extension or leave before your visa expires. Read the entry requirements for Russia for information on the consequences of overstaying your visa.

Residence permits

As a British national, you may also apply for a Russian residence permit.

Read the Russian government’s guidance on how to:

You may not be able to access this guidance outside Russia.

Registering with the authorities

If you will stay in Russia for longer than 7 working days, you must register your address with the Russian authorities. For more information, read the:

If you have any problems or questions about registering with the authorities, contact:

Proving your right to remain in Russia

While in Russia, you must always carry your passport, migration card and registration certificate with you.

If you lose or damage your migration card, you can get a new one free of charge from a local migration department of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Citizenship

Russia does not recognise dual citizenship with the UK. This means that you may have to give up (renounce) your British citizenship to become a Russian citizen.

Dual nationals

If you have dual Russian-British nationality, read our guidance for dual nationals in the entry requirements for Russia.

Help with visa, residency and citizenship applications

The British Embassy in Moscow cannot help with Russian visa, residency or citizenship applications.  

For any questions or issues, contact:

Passports and travel

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • apply for a British passport from abroad
  • travel urgently without your British passport

Dual citizens travelling to the UK

When travelling to the UK, British nationals must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. Read guidance on dual citizenship.

Children aged 17 and under must carry notarised travel permission from a parent or legal guardian if they’re travelling out of Russia without their parent or legal guardian.

Contact the Russian Embassy in London or the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (in Russian) for more information. You may not be able to access the Ministry of Internal Affairs website outside Russia.

Healthcare in Russia  

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • plan your healthcare
  • take medicine abroad

Russia does not have a reciprocal health agreement with the UK.

Make sure you have appropriate health insurance to cover any healthcare costs. You can get insurance from Russian or international providers. If you work in Russia, your employer may arrange state or private healthcare cover for you.

If you have a temporary or permanent residence permit, or Russian citizenship, you can access state-funded healthcare. To do so, you must also have a state health insurance policy (in Russian).

Read our guidance on health in Russia.

To find out how to get medical treatment:

Working in Russia         

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers working abroad, including documents you may need from the UK government.

To work in Russia, you need a work permit or work visa.

You must also undergo regular health examinations. Read our guidance on health in Russia for more information. 

Driving in Russia

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • drive abroad legally
  • take your UK vehicle abroad
  • get driving licence letters

Read about road travel in Russia, in safety and security in the travel advice for Russia. This includes information on driving in Russia, including driving licence rules.

The Russian State Inspection for Traffic Regulations provides information on driving in Russia, including:

You may not be able to access this guidance outside Russia.

Getting a Russian driving licence 

If you have a Russian residence permit, you must get a Russian driving licence within a year. To get a Russian car or motorbike driving licence you must pass a local theory test in Russian.

If you apply for a lorry or bus driving licence, you must pass the theory test and also:

  • complete compulsory training
  • take a practical driving test
  • present a ‘fit to drive’ medical certificate

To find out how to apply for a driving licence, read the Russian government’s guidance on how to get a Russian driving licence for the first time (in Russian).

Disabled drivers

You may be able to apply for Russian benefits for disabled drivers. Read the Russian State Road Safety Management Inspection’s guidance for disabled drivers (in Russian) to find out what benefits you may be eligible for. You may not be able to access this guidance outside Russia.

To access benefits for disabled drivers, you need to get your car added to the federal register of disabled drivers’ cars by applying:

You must also get your disability noted in your car registration certificate when you first register your car (in Russian) or by amending your car registration. You may not be able to access this guidance outside Russia.

You can then display a disabled driver sign on your car windscreen.

If you have a UK Blue Badge and live in Russia, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority.

Money and banking

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the UK government has imposed sanctions against a range of Russian companies and individuals. These sanctions may affect transactions in, or connected with, Russia.

Find out more about UK sanctions relating to Russia including how sanctions prohibitions and requirements apply to British nationals.

Check the ‘Current list of designated persons: Russia’ in guidance on financial sanctions for Russian banks targeted by UK sanctions.

You can read information about restrictions on accessing money in the entry requirements for Russia in our travel advice.

To open a bank account in Russia you need:

  • a valid UK passport
  • a Russian visa
  • a migration card

All banks in Russia, including branches and subsidiaries of international banks, are Russian legal entities governed by Russian domestic law.

Most international money transfer services, including Western Union and Moneygram, are currently not available in Russia.

Tax

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers tax, including paying UK tax and National Insurance.

The UK has now suspended the UK-Russia Double Taxation Convention. This follows Russia’s actions to suspend material provisions of the convention in August 2023.

Read our guidance on the UK-Russia Double Taxation Convention to find out how this affects tax on British nationals in Russia.

Get professional advice on paying tax in Russia. To do this, find an English-speaking lawyer in Russia.

Pensions

Claiming your UK pension

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:

  • how to claim your UK State Pension
  • where the UK government pays an annual increase in the State Pension

The UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) may not be able to transfer your UK pension to your Russian bank account. You also may not be able to access your UK bank account from Russia. Contact  the International Pension Centre for any questions.

Claiming a Russian pension

You may be eligible for a Russian state pension if you are a permanent resident in Russia. You will need to meet requirements around your age and time spent working in Russia.

Contact your local State Social Fund (in Russian) to find out whether you can claim. You may not be able to access this website outside Russia. 

Benefits

Claiming UK benefits

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to claim UK benefits abroad, including Child Benefit.

Claiming Russian benefits

If you have a permanent residence permit, you can claim disability or loss of subsistence provider in Russia. You can also apply for state benefits at your local State Social Fund.

For more information, contact your local State Social Fund (in Russian). You may not be able to access this website outside Russia.

Buying and renting property in Russia    

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers buying and renting property abroad.

Contact an English-speaking lawyer in Russia if you’re considering buying property or land.

Voting in Russia

UK elections

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • vote in UK elections from abroad
  • register as an overseas voter

Russian elections

You cannot vote in Russian elections unless you hold Russian citizenship.

Studying in Russia

You can access state-funded primary, secondary and vocational education in Russia if you have either:

  • a permanent residence permit
  • Russian citizenship

If you meet these criteria and pass the required tests with a high enough score, you can also get a state-funded university education in Russia.

For more information:

You can also contact the:

You may not be able to access these websites outside Russia.

Children

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers moving abroad with children, including:

  • getting permission to take your child abroad
  • claiming UK Child Benefit abroad
  • child maintenance payments if a parent lives abroad

For more information read our guidance on parental child abduction in Russia.

Schools and education

The Russian Ministry of Enlightenment provides information about the school system in Russia.  

All children aged 7 to 16  must attend school or home school in Russia.

For more information, read the Ministry of Enlightenment’s Order N458 (in Russian) (PDF, 1.45MB), which explains the process and requirements to enrol your child in school.

You may not be able to access these guidance pages outside Russia.

Childcare   

The Russian Ministry of Enlightenment is responsible for childcare services in Russia. State and private daycare centres are available for children aged 18 months to 7 years old.

If your child has additional needs or you are a single parent with a low income, you may be eligible for social benefits to help with childcare costs. To be eligible, you must have a Russian residence permit or passport. For more information, contact your local State Social Fund (in Russian).

You may not be able to access these websites outside Russia.

Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships

Births

If your child is born in Russia, register the birth with the Russian authorities (in Russian).

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • register the birth with the UK authorities
  • apply for your child’s first British passport

Russian naming practices

Russian babies are given a patronymic as well as a first name and surname. A patronymic is a middle name based on the father’s first name. For example, if the father’s first name is Ivan, the baby is given the middle name ‘Ivanovich’ (for a boy) or ‘Ivanovna’ (for a girl).

If you do not want your child to have a patronymic on their Russian birth certificate, show the Russian authorities this information note on change of name in the UK (PDF, 647KB). This confirms that there is no tradition to give patronymics to children in the UK.

The British Embassy in Moscow will provide a signed copy of the information note addressed to you for a fee. Contact the British Embassy for more information or to request the information note.

Deaths

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:

  • what to do after someone dies abroad
  • how to register the death with the UK authorities

If someone dies in Russia, read the guidance on:

If you live in Russia, make sure that:

  • your family are aware of your wishes in the event of your death
  • they have up to date contact details for you
  • you record up to date contact details for your next of kin in your British passport

Marriages and civil partnerships

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get married or get a civil partnership abroad.

Same sex marriages and civil partnerships are not legally recognised in Russia. For information about LGBT+ rights in Russia, read the guidance on safety and security in the travel advice for Russia.  

Divorce and separation

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get a divorce or end a civil partnership.

The  Russian State Services Portal offers guidance on how to get a divorce in Russia (in Russian). Depending on your circumstances you may have to file your request for divorce with either a local registry office or a State Services Centre, or a local court. You can make your application online or in person.

If you plan to divorce in Russia, consider taking legal advice from an English-speaking lawyer in Russia.

Birth, death and marriage certificates

In Russia, birth, death and marriage certificates are issued in Russian. You can get an apostille certificate in Russia from the issuing Russian authority. This will make the document valid outside of Russia.

For more information, read the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (PDF, 288KB).  

Documents for British people in Russia

Read our guidance on documents for British people abroad. This covers: 

  • legalising and certifying UK documents
  • marriage and civil partnership documents
  • affirmations and affidavits
  • witnessing signatures

Lawyers, translators and notaries

To find an English-speaking lawyer, translator or notary in Russia, read guidance on professional services if you’re abroad.

Pets

If you want to bring your pet with you to Russia, read guidance on:

Returning to the UK

Read returning to the UK permanently. This includes information on bringing family members back to the UK, tax and access to services.

For more information on leaving Russia, read about safety and security in the travel advice for Russia.

You may not be able to exit Russia if you have any unpaid debts, fines or penalties in Russia. Check if you have any outstanding payments using the Russia State Bailiff’s Services portal (in Russian) or Russian State Services portal (in Russian). You may not be able to access these portals outside Russia.  

Disclaimer

We provide this information as a guide only.  For definitive information, contact the Russian authorities.

Read our consular information disclaimer.

Updates to this page

Published 7 March 2014
Last updated 27 January 2026 show all updates

  1. Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand. Includes new information about dual citizens travelling to the UK ('Passports and travel' section), and about accessing benefits for disabled drivers ('Driving in Russia' section).

  2. Added information on local accommodation services, checking for outstanding fines, penalties and tax debts, and accessing a UK pension from Russia.

  3. A new section on mobile phone services in Russia has been added: Russian authorities now require foreign nationals to pass biometric checks to access local mobile phone services.

  4. Information added in the Driving in Russia section on the requirement for British holders of Russian residence permit or passport to obtain a Russian driving licence.

  5. Information on visas, dual nationality, dual taxation and driving has been updated.

  6. This guidance has been reviewed and updated for British people currently living in Russia. We continue to advise against all travel to Russia.

  7. Updated with information about coronavirus and vaccines for UK nationals

  8. First published.

Sign up for emails or print this page

Contents

Related content