We have been informed by the Russian Embassy that all visa processing times are to be extended. They have not yet clarified when these new processing times will be implemented, but from our contacts at the visa processing centre there is a strong suggestion that the changes will be implemented immediately.

The Russian Embassy’s statement outlines the following:

• The Processing time for Russian visas applied for in the UK with ‘Express processing’ will be increased from two working days to three working days
• The Processing time for Russian visas applied for in the UK with ‘Standard processing’ will be increased from six working days to twenty working days
• Other consular services (such as providing consular assistance to Russian citizens in the UK) will also be affected

Whilst we have not been informed when these changes will come into effect, they may affect current and future visa applications. Please take this into account when planning your visa application and travel itinerary.

We are continuing to work with the Embassy and the Russian Visa Application Centre to clarify the situation.

If you do have an application that is currently being processed, our visa specialists will be in touch shortly with more information.

As more information becomes available, we will update this page, our service status page, and our Facebook and Twitter channels.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our visa specialists.