Russia Travel Advice —

For the latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information please click here.

Please note that the advice can change, and you should continue to check all advice until you travel. 

The FCO advise against all but essential travel to:

• within 10km of the border with the Ukrainian Kharkiv Oblast
• North Ossetia, Karachai-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria (including the Elbrus area)

Entry Requirements 

You must ensure you have a valid passport to travel on. 

To enter Russia, you’ll need to get a visa before you travel. Make sure you allow enough time to get your visa. The Russian Embassy advised in March 2018 that it takes around 20 business days (4 weeks) to process most visa applications. 

You will require a letter of invitation to support your visa application, which will be provided by our local supplier. To obtain the letters of invitation required, you will need to send the following information to the local tour company (details will be provided on your voucher).
Last name
First name
Middle name
The date of birth
Passport number
Nationality 
Gender

Once you have received your letter of invitation, you will need to apply for a visa.

We would recommend visiting the following website as the visa application process provided by the Russian Nation Tourist Office.

http://www.visitrussia.org.uk/visa/tourist-visa.php

Standard Service – 7 working days - £115
Express Service – 2 working days - £210
(prices correct at time of print, subject to change)

As part of the visa application process, all applicants based in the UK aged 12 or over will need to visit a visa application centre to submit biometric data (scanned fingerprints). These are located in London, Manchester and Edinburgh. The Russian government has also announced plans to introduce biometric fingerprinting for all foreign nationals, including British nationals when entering Russia. No dates have been confirmed for this.

On receiving your visa you should check the details carefully including the validity dates and passport number to make sure they are correct. Make sure you’re aware of the terms and conditions attached to your visa before you travel. You should adhere to the validity and conditions of your visa while you’re in Russia, as the authorities strictly enforce all visa and immigration laws.

Immigration Cards

You must sign an immigration card every time you arrive in Russia. This will be given to you at passport control. The card is in 2 identical parts. One part will be retained by the Immigration Officer. You should keep the other part safe as you’ll need to submit this at passport control when you leave Russia. Should you lose it, your departure from Russia could be delayed. There are also many hotels and hostels that will not accept guests without an immigration card.

Health 

For information about important health advice and any vaccinations required please visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice and https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries. 

If vaccinations or other preventive measures are required, you will need to visit your health professional at least 8 weeks before your trip. 

You can normally bring prescription and over the counter medication into Russia for personal use. However, if your medication contains narcotic or psychoactive substances (details available on the Rossiyskaya Gazeta website in Russian), you must carry a prescription in your name which has been translated into Russian and then notarised. Notarisation services in the UK are available from a Notary Public.

Please note that passport, visa and health requirements can change. It is every traveller’s responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport, any required visas, and all the necessary vaccinations/health requirements as well as adequate insurance.

China Travel Advice —

For the latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information please click here.

Please note that the advice can change, and you should continue to check all advice until you travel. 

Entry Requirements 

You must ensure you have a valid passport to travel on. 

British nationals normally need a visa to enter mainland China, including Hainan Island, but not Hong Kong or Macao. With effect from 1 November 2018, all visa applicants aged between 14 and 70 inclusive will need to make their visa application in person at a Visa Application Centre. As part of the application process, biometric data (scanned fingerprints) will now have to be provided.

If you visit Hong Kong from the mainland of China and wish to return to the mainland, you’ll need a visa that allows you to make a second entry into China.

Registering with the Chinese authorities

You must register your place of residence with the local Public Security Bureau within 24 hours of arrival. Chinese authorities enforce this requirement with regular spot-checks of foreigners’ documentation. If you’re staying in a hotel, they will do this for you as part of the check-in process.

Health 

For information about important health advice and any vaccinations required visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice and https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries. 

If vaccinations or other preventive measures are required, you will need to visit your health professional at least 8 weeks before your trip.

If you’re on prescription medication, make sure you bring enough with you or have access to a supply in China. Certain medicines may not be available and you may be prohibited from bringing others into the country. For more information and advice, check with your GP and the Embassy of China before travelling.

Dengue fever is present in some parts of China mainly during the rainy season. There has been a large increase in cases of dengue fever in Guangdong province. You should take appropriate precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.

Please note that passport, visa and health requirements can change. It is every traveller’s responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport, any required visas, and all the necessary vaccinations/health requirements as well as adequate insurance.

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