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| Visa | A valid passport is required by all visitors. It is important to carry a photocopy of your ID at all times while traveling in Russia. A visa is required by all except nationals of CIS countries provided arriving from their country of origin. Types of visa: Tourist, Multiple-entry, Business, Private and Transit visas. A transit visa is required by all passengers, except those remaining in the transit zone of Moscow Sheremetievo airport for less than 24 hours with an onward or connecting flight. Passengers must hold onward tickets and all documents for the next destination. | | Time | There are 11 time zones; Moscow is GMT/UTC plus three hours | | Electricity | 220V, 50 Hz European two-pin plugs are standard | | Weights and Measures | Metric | | Health | Vaccinations
An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for those arriving from infected areas. Make sure your immunizations for diphtheria, poliomyelitis, and tetanus are up to date. Health concerns include typhoid and hepatitis A and B. Visitors staying for more than three months must produce a certificate proving they are HIV-negative. Rabies is present and increasing. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. | | Health Care | The highly developed health service provides free medical treatment for all citizens. If a traveller becomes ill during a booked tour, emergency treatment is free, with small sums to be paid for medicines and hospital treatment. If a longer stay than originally planned becomes necessary because of the illness, the visitor has to pay for all further treatment. This can be very expensive; air evacuation can cost up to 80,000 Pound. All visitors are strongly advised to have full medical cover including medical evacuation. It is advisable to take a supply of medicines that are likely to be required (check first that they may be legally imported).
Water and Hygiene
All water should be regarded as being a potential health risk. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled. | | Communication | Emergency: Dial 01 in case of fire, 02 for police, and 03 to summon an ambulance. The international access code for Russia is +7. When placing an outgoing international call, you have to dial 810 plus the relevant country code. | | Money | The currency is the Rouble (Rbl). If you would like to know the most recent exchange rate for this country's currency, go to the Oanda website. Major European and international credit cards, including American Express, Visa and Diners Club, are accepted in the larger hotels and at foreign currency shops and restaurants. But cash (in roubles) is preferred. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars. Foreign currency should only be exchanged at official bureaux and all transactions must be recorded on the currency declaration form which is issued on arrival. It is wise to retain all exchange receipts. Bureaux de change are numerous and easy to locate. Large shops offer their own exchange facilities. Banking hours are from 0930-1730 on Monday to Friday. The import and export of local currency is prohibited. All remaining local currency must be reconverted at the point of departure. The import of foreign currency is unlimited, subject to declaration. The export of foreign currency is limited to the amount declared on arrival. | | Links | Tourism Board Russia
Oanda Currency converter
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