What is the best travel insurance for Russia in 2025?

If you're travelling to Russia, travel insurance is mandatory to obtain your visa. Beyond the administrative formality, insurance is especially your best ally once you're there.

Indeed, in the event of an accident or health problem, everything can quickly become complicated in the United Kingdom. The local healthcare system works differently. Public hospitals are often reserved for locals, and some private clinics can charge very high rates. Without good insurance, a simple consultation can lead you to spend £85 out of your pocket.

Today, despite the war in Ukraine, travelling to Russia remains possible, but the geopolitical and security context requires careful preparation. Between transport restrictions, regional tensions and increased administrative requirements, it is all the more essential to take out appropriate travel insurance to guarantee your safety.

So what exactly is the situation right now? Is travel insurance still compulsory? How do you get it? How much does it cost? In this article, we answer all your questions so that you can leave with peace of mind.

Why trust HelloSafe?

HelloSafe is an international travel insurance comparison specialist that advises more than one million travellers every month. Our experts have analysed 67 local travel insurance contracts and here is their view on this contract.

Travel Insurance for Russia: Key Points

• Travelling to Russia is formally discouraged by the government.
• Travel insurance is mandatory for a Russian visa.
• It must cover at least £26,000 of medical expenses.
• Most European insurers no longer cover Russia, but it is still possible to subscribe via international insurers.
• Bank card insurance does not currently cover Russia.
• The price of travel insurance for Russia starts at around £15 for one week.
• Healthcare is expensive for foreigners in Russia.
• Compliant proof is required for the visa.

Travelling to Russia: What does the Foreign Office recommend?

The government strongly advises against all travel to Russia due to the military aggression against Ukraine.

Air travel between Europe and Russia is heavily disrupted, increasing the risk of being stranded in Russia for an indefinite period. Nationals present in Russia are advised to exercise increased vigilance, avoid mass gatherings and follow the instructions of the local authorities. It is also reminded that photographing or filming military equipment or installations is strictly prohibited in Russia.

For up-to-date and detailed information, please consult the official travel advice page for Russia on the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office website.

Is travel insurance mandatory for your visa to Russia?

Yes, travel insurance is always mandatory to obtain a visa for Russia.

In 2025, to travel to Russia, you must apply for a visa. Among the required documents is a travel insurance certificate covering at least £30,000 of medical expenses, valid for the entire duration of your stay.

⚠️ Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022, relations between the European Union and Russia have deteriorated sharply. In this context, many European insurers have suspended coverage for trips to Russia.

Specifically, this means that:

• most standard insurance companies no longer cover travel to Russia.
• insurance included with bank cards also excludes Russia.
• however, it is still possible to take out travel insurance covering Russia through specialist or international insurers.

Expert Advice

Some Russian providers or visa intermediaries offer local insurance policies specifically designed for visa applications. However, these insurance policies meet the administrative criteria but often offer very limited guarantees in the event of a serious problem on site.

💡 If you can, always choose a recognised international travel insurance policy, with solid guarantees and 24/7 assistance.

What is the Purpose of Travel Insurance for Russia?

Travel insurance for Russia provides indispensable financial and medical protection for anyone travelling to the Russian Federation.

It is all the more useful because it is a condition for obtaining a Russian visa.

Attention

Since February 2022, due to the war in Ukraine, international economic sanctions have been directed against Russia. It has become much more difficult to find insurance covering Russia. Traditional insurers almost all exclude the country from their guarantees. You can still turn to specialised or international insurers.

Typically, travel insurance for Russia includes a set of essential coverages, starting with medical expense coverage. This is a crucial coverage because in Russia, healthcare for foreigners is almost exclusively provided in private clinics, where prices are often high.

Example: a simple broken leg in Moscow can cost you over £6,800 between private ambulance fees, surgery, and hospitalisation in a clinic. Without travel insurance, these costs are entirely your responsibility.

Travel insurance also covers:

• medical consultations
• hospitalisation costs
• medications
• repatriation costs to your country in case of a serious problem

Example: An Italian traveller hospitalised in Saint Petersburg after food poisoning had to stay in a private clinic for 3 days. Total cost: £2,150. Fortunately, their insurance covered the costs and organised their repatriation.

What guarantees are covered by travel insurance for Russia?

⚠️ In 2025, due to international sanctions against Russia, most European insurers no longer offer coverage for this country. However, it is still possible to take out travel insurance tailored to your needs from specialist or international companies.

The guarantees offered for Russia are similar to those of a classic travel insurance policy, but it is imperative to check that Russia is indeed in the coverage area, and that the ceilings are sufficient to cover potentially high medical expenses on site.

Here is a summary table of the main guarantees you should look for in travel insurance covering the United Kingdom:

💡 Good to know: Some local insurance policies offered by Russian visa centres only cover the bare minimum required for the visa. They do not guarantee the quality of assistance or coverage in case of a real problem. It is therefore better to opt for a complete and reliable coverage if possible. You can compare different travel insurance contracts on the Hellosafe comparison tool.

What is the price of travel insurance for Russia?

Determining a single price for travel insurance to Russia is difficult, as rates vary according to several criteria:​

• The extent of the chosen coverage
• The compensation limits
• The age of the insured
• The number of people covered
• The duration of the stay
• The total cost of the trip (especially for the cancellation option)
• The planned activities on-site
• The reason for the trip (tourism, business, etc.)

⚠️ Due to international sanctions, most insurers no longer offer coverage for Russia. However, it is still possible to take out suitable travel insurance through specialised or international companies.​

Here are some examples of travel insurance prices for Russia:

* These rates are indicative and may vary depending on the chosen coverage and the specifics of each insurer.

💡 It is always recommended to compare several offers to find the best value for money option for you.

How to pay less for your travel insurance for Russia?

First of all, be aware that your travel insurance must meet certain criteria required by the Russian government:

• A health insurance cover of at least £30,000
• Medical repatriation
• The certificate itself must be precise and include the following elements: the date the contract was signed, the insurance policy number, the full name of the insured, the list of medical services, the mention of repatriation of the body in the event of death, the insurer's contact details, the insurer's stamp and signature.
• The policy must cover the entire duration of the stay in Russia for single or double entry visas and the first stay for multiple entry visas
• The territory of coverage must include Russia / the Russian Federation

Once these elements have been taken into account, it's up to you to determine the guarantees you need, depending on your personal situation.

Be aware that the United Kingdom has a healthcare system that can be quite expensive, so it's worth focusing on medical cover to avoid having to spend large sums of money in the event of illness or hospitalisation.

Here are some examples of healthcare costs in the United Kingdom:

* These rates are indicative and may vary depending on the institutions and regions.

It is therefore essential to take out appropriate travel insurance to avoid unforeseen and potentially high expenses.

Knowing this, here are some suggestions to optimise the cost of your travel insurance in Russia while maintaining good coverage:

How to obtain travel insurance confirmation for your visa to Russia?

It is still possible to obtain travel insurance covering Russia, but options are limited.

Indeed, since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, many European insurance companies have suspended coverage for Russia. This situation is linked to the economic sanctions imposed by the European Union against the Russian Federation. The objective is twofold:

• discourage tourist travel to Russia in the context of war;
• protect European citizens by reducing the risks associated with stays in an area with high geopolitical instability.

If you still need to travel to Russia — for professional, family, or urgent reasons — and you need to provide proof of travel insurance to obtain your visa, you can use the HelloSafe travel insurance comparison tool.

Good to know

The certificate must include certain mandatory information to be accepted by the Russian authorities. A simple proof of insurance is not enough. Be sure to include the following:

Your full name, the insurance policy number, the exact duration of coverage, the territory of coverage, the amount of coverage for medical expenses (min. £30,000), the guarantee of repatriation of the body in the event of death, the complete contact details of the insurer, the official stamp of the insurer.

Does health insurance cover you for your trip to Russia?

No, your health insurance does not cover you in Russia.

As the Russian Federation is not part of the European Union or the European Economic Area (EU/EEA), you cannot use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to assert your rights there. Your health insurance will not reimburse any of your health costs for treatment received in Russia.

👉 It is therefore strongly recommended to take out international medical insurance including at least:

• Medical expenses (consultations, hospitalisation, medication…)
• Medical repatriation
• 24/7 assistance

Without adequate cover, you will have to pay all of your medical expenses on the spot, often in private facilities, where prices are very high for foreigners. This can amount to several hundreds or even thousands of pounds, even for routine care.

Can your bank card cover you for your trip to the United Kingdom?

❌ If you have a standard bank card, you generally have no integrated travel insurance, or only in a very limited way.

✅ However, with a premium bank card (such as Visa Premier, Mastercard Gold or Platinum, or certain American Express cards), you can benefit from included travel insurance in normal times, covering:

• medical expenses abroad,
• repatriation,
• public liability,
• or sometimes cancellation or loss of luggage.

Examples of common benefits with a premium bank card:

Warning

Currently, Russia is excluded from most contracts related to European bank cards.

Even if you paid for your trip with a Visa Premier or similar card, you are probably not covered for a stay in Russia.

Here are some recommendations:

• Check the general conditions of your bank card agreement, especially the geographical exclusions.
• Call your bank's partner insurer (AXA, Europ Assistance, etc.) for written confirmation.
• Take out additional travel insurance specifically for Russia, via an international insurer or a specialised platform.

💡 Expert Tip: Never rely solely on your bank card insurance when travelling to Russia. Even in normal times, these guarantees are often insufficient to cover hospitalisation or repatriation in this country. Use a comparison tool like HelloSafe to find the best travel insurance for Russia.

A. Fruchard

Insurance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and an experienced entrepreneur in the insurance and personal finance sector, Antoine uses his experience and in-depth knowledge of the market to help Internet users make the right choices. With an MBA in economics, he is a committed expert whose mission is to make personal finance and insurance issues simple and understandable. With a rich career marked by the creation of innovative companies, Antoine's ambition has always been to bring transparency to complex issues and to give power back to consumers. With HelloSafe, he continues to translate this vision by providing accurate advice, impartial comparisons and detailed explanations of travel insurance. He has analysed hundreds of contracts to reveal the best options available on the market.