Russia Travel Risk Overview
Official US advisory · Level 4
Do Not Travel
This decision takes precedence over the analytical baseline composite.
Is Russia safe right now? Checked 16 October 2026
Russia scores 75/100 on our travel risk index (Extreme). The US State Department rates Russia Level 4 (Do Not Travel, updated 29 Dec 2025); the UK FCDO advises against all travel to the whole country (updated 18 Sep 2026); Canada says: avoid all travel. No change in government advice in the last 7 days.
Russia has a Travel Risk Calculator score of 75 out of 100 (extreme risk tier); city-level files are available for 60 cities. The score combines five layers (security, crime and scams, health and medical access, natural hazards, current alerts) built from government advisories and open data. This page also covers nine safety categories (crime, disease & health, government advisory, political & civil unrest, natural disaster & weather, transport & route, environmental, digital security, money safety), the current US State Department advisory, GDACS disaster alerts, CDC health notices for Russia, recent news headlines, plus links to every city we have an editorial file for.
Run a personalized Russia assessmentAI safety snapshot · refreshed Oct 12, 2026
Russia maintains an extreme risk baseline safety rating with a Level 4 U.S. State Department travel advisory and a recent health alert from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. Active alerts for the country include an ongoing drought and a Level 1 global Dengue health notice.
AI-summarized strictly from the live public-source data below (US State Dept advisory, GDACS, CDC, Google News). Auto-refreshed at most once per day on the first visit. Not official advice.
Live conditions last refreshed: Oct 16, 2026 07:54 UTC
How safe is Russia to visit in 2026?
Russia is currently under a US State Department Level 4 Do Not Travel advisory. That official decision takes precedence. The 75/100 extreme baseline composite remains visible only as analytical context and must not be read as permission to disregard the advisory. The full live US State Department advisory text for Russia, current GDACS disaster alerts, CDC health notices, and recent news headlines are shown in the Live conditions section below. For city-specific files (Vladivostok, Moscow, Saint Petersburg), see the City Risk Files section below — they include neighborhood-level scam patterns, transport notes, and medical-access details where available.
Country score
Driven by: The US State Department and Government of Canada and UK FCDO advise against all travel here, so the score is held at 75 or higher.
Russia's score of 75 is higher than the scores of 91% of the 241 countries we cover.
Data file
| Source | calibrated 2026-05-09 v1.0 (knowledge-based; State Dept advisory tiers, GPI, OSAC patterns) |
|---|---|
| Last updated | 2026-05-09 11:01:52 |
| City files | 60 |
Assessment memory
Anonymous assessments help Travel Risk Calculator identify which country and city files deserve deeper review.
| Saved assessments | 0 |
|---|---|
| Average composite | No saved signal yet |
Score layers
Safety categories
Official Government Travel Advisories
Cross-referenced official travel advice from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, normalized to a unified 1–4 risk scale.
Department of State
Do not travelto Russia for any reason due to terrorism, unrest, wrongful detention and other risks. U.S. citizens in Russia should leave immediately The U.S. go…
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
FCDO travel advice for Russia. Includes safety and security, insurance, entry requirements and legal differences.
Global Affairs Canada
The Health section was updated - travel health information (Public Health Agency of Canada)
UK content contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Canadian advice provided by Global Affairs Canada under open government terms. US advice provided by the US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs.
Entry Requirements & Local Laws
Official travel advice summary from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
🛂 Entry Requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK who choose to travel against Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advice. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Russia’s current rules for the most common types of travel. The authorities in Russia set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Russian Embassy or a consulate in the UK. Biometrics Foreigners entering Russia will be required to register, on arrival, their biometric details such as fingerprints and photographs. Passport validity requirements To enter Russia, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date your visa expires. You cannot enter Russia using a visa in an expired passpor
Summary of UK FCDO advice, updated Sep 18, 2026 · Full requirements →
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Travel Advisory Level History
Historical official advisory level changes over time.
Protests, Strikes & Closures This Week
Verified recent event reports monitored for Russia within the last 7 days.
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UNREST Data Centers Become Targets in Wars in Ukraine, Russia and the Middle East - The New York TimesThe New York Times · Oct 15
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ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos · Oct 14
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Politico · Oct 14
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Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty · Oct 12
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AP News · Oct 12
What Changed This Month in Russia
Chronological record of verified security, advisory, health, and hazard updates over the past 30 days.
- Feb 11, 2026 GDACS Alert Drought is on going in Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Belgium, Belarus, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Russia, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, San Marino, Ukraine, (orange).
- Oct 16, 2026 GDACS Alert Green earthquake (Magnitude 6.9M, Depth:143.176km) in Russia 16/10/2026 03:35 UTC, 10 thousand in MMI>=V. (green).
- Oct 11, 2026 GDACS Alert Green forest fire notification in Russian Federation (green).
- Oct 2, 2026 CDC Notice Level 1 - Global Dengue (Watch).
- Sep 23, 2026 CDC Notice Level 2 - Global Polio (Alert).
City Risk Files in Russia
Showing 60 destination files with city-specific safety data in Russia, ranked by demand and population.
Vladivostok
Tier APrimorskiy Kray
Moscow
Tier AMoscow
Saint Petersburg
Tier ASankt-Peterburg
Volgograd
Tier AVolgogradskaya Oblast’
Donetsk
Tier ARostovskaya Oblast’
Samara
Tier ASamarskaya Oblast’
Novosibirsk
Tier ANovosibirskaya Oblast’
Sochi
Tier BKrasnodarskiy Kray
Yekaterinburg
Tier BSverdlovskaya Oblast’
Novokuznetsk
Tier BKemerovskaya Oblast’
Rostov
Tier BRostovskaya Oblast’
Kemerovo
Tier BKemerovskaya Oblast’
Kaliningrad
Tier BKaliningradskaya Oblast’
Ussuriysk
Tier BPrimorskiy Kray
Krasnodar
Tier BKrasnodarskiy Kray
Perm
Tier BPermskiy Kray
Ufa
Tier BBashkortostan
Blagoveshchensk
Tier BAmurskaya Oblast’
Irkutsk
Tier BIrkutskaya Oblast’
Tomsk
Tier BTomskaya Oblast’
Orël
Tier BOrlovskaya Oblast’
Chelyabinsk
Tier BChelyabinskaya Oblast’
Orenburg
Tier BOrenburgskaya Oblast’
Nizhniy Novgorod
Tier BNizhegorodskaya Oblast’
Krasnoyarsk
Tier BKrasnoyarskiy Kray
Voronezh
Tier BVoronezhskaya Oblast’
Khabarovsk
Tier BKhabarovskiy Kray
Ulyanovsk
Tier BUl’yanovskaya Oblast’
Yaroslavl
Tier BYaroslavskaya Oblast’
Barnaul
Tier BAltayskiy Kray
Belgorod
Tier BBelgorodskaya Oblast’
Kazan
Tier BTatarstan
Rybinsk
Tier BYaroslavskaya Oblast’
Novovoronezh
Tier BVoronezhskaya Oblast’
Kireyevsk
Tier BTul’skaya Oblast’
Surazh
Tier BBryanskaya Oblast’
Tyumen
Tier BTyumenskaya Oblast’
Nalchik
Tier BKabardino-Balkariya
Belebey
Tier BBashkortostan
Izberbash
Tier BDagestan
Uzlovaya
Tier BTul’skaya Oblast’
Spassk-Dal’niy
Tier BPrimorskiy Kray
Ostrogozhsk
Tier BVoronezhskaya Oblast’
Guryevsk
Tier BKaliningradskaya Oblast’
Khadyzhensk
Tier BKrasnodarskiy Kray
Pestovo
Tier BNovgorodskaya Oblast’
Trubchevsk
Tier BBryanskaya Oblast’
Makhachkala
Tier BDagestan
Balashikha
Tier BMoskovskaya Oblast’
Yakutsk
Tier BSakha (Yakutiya)
Staryy Oskol
Tier BBelgorodskaya Oblast’
Zhukovskiy
Tier BMoskovskaya Oblast’
Noginsk
Tier BMoskovskaya Oblast’
Votkinsk
Tier BUdmurtiya
Sarapul
Tier BUdmurtiya
Ishimbay
Tier BBashkortostan
Svobodnyy
Tier BAmurskaya Oblast’
Kizilyurt
Tier BDagestan
Elektrogorsk
Tier BMoskovskaya Oblast’
Tynda
Tier BAmurskaya Oblast’
All towns in Russia (646 additional local facts pages)
These localities carry verified regional geography, nearest hospitals, airports, and natural hazard records with the country baseline risk score.
Live conditions in Russia
Country-scoped real-time data — official advisory from the US State Department, disaster alerts from GDACS, health notices from the CDC, news from Google News. For city-specific weather and air quality, open any city page below.
Official travel advisory
Level 4 · Do Not Travel
Russia - Level 4: Do Not Travel
Read full advisory → · US Department of State
Track Russia’s advisory
Get one email if the US State Department travel-advisory level for Russia changes. No account, unsubscribe anytime.
Traveller notes from government advice
LGBT+ travellers
Homosexuality is not illegal in Russia but there are considerable legislative restrictions which target the LGBT+ community. In January 2024 a Russian Supreme Court judgement came into force banning the so-called ‘international LGBT movement’ and designating it as ‘extremist’. ‘LGBT propaganda’ legislation bans people from promoting ‘non-traditional sexual relations’. If charged, foreign citizens could face:
fines
up to 15 days in jail
deportation
Attitudes towards the LGBT+ community and LGBT+ issues are less tolerant than in the UK and vary in different locations. Government officials have made derogatory comments to LGBT+ individuals. Same-sex couples showing affection in public may receive negative attention.
There are no laws to protect LGBT+ people from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Recent laws targeting LGBT+ communities include:
in 2012, Moscow Pride was banned for 100 years
in 2022, a ban on the ‘demonstration of LGBT information, promotion of non-traditional sexual relations…
Read the full UK government advice
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 18 Sep 2026. Full advice
Local laws and customs
Personal ID
Always carry your passport with you as ID. Police carry out random checks, especially during periods of high security. You could get a fine or be detained for up to 48 hours if you cannot show your passport when asked. Copies are not accepted.
Illegal drugs
You can be prosecuted for possessing even small quantities of any drugs, including cannabis. You should expect a long jail sentence and heavy fines for possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs, including when transiting through the airport.
Airports in Russia have excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items. This is also used to scan the baggage of transiting passengers.
Restricted military areas
Access to some areas, such as military and border zones, is restricted. You must get permission from local authorities before entering. If you do not have permission, the authorities may arrest, fine or deport you.
Read the full UK government advice
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 18 Sep 2026. Full advice
Entry requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK who choose to travel against Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advice. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Russia’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in Russia set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Russian Embassy or a consulate in the UK.
Biometrics
Foreigners entering Russia will be required to register, on arrival, their biometric details such as fingerprints and photographs.
Passport validity requirements
To enter Russia, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date your visa expires.
Check the official entry requirements for your nationality before you travel.
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 18 Sep 2026. Official entry requirements
Disaster alerts
Active Disaster Alerts
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Drought is on going in Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Belgium, Belarus, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Russia, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, San Marino, Ukraine, ORANGE · country-wide · 2026-02-11
The Drought notification level is Orange.
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Green earthquake (Magnitude 6.9M, Depth:143.176km) in Russia 16/10/2026 03:35 UTC, 10 thousand in MMI>=V. GREEN · country-wide · 2026-10-16
On 10/16/2026 3:35:32 AM, an earthquake occurred in Russia potentially affecting 10 thousand in MMI>=V. The earthquake had Magnitude 6.9M, Depth:143.176km.
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Green forest fire notification in Russian Federation GREEN · country-wide · 2026-10-11
On 09/10/2026, a forest fire started in Russian Federation, until 12/10/2026.
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Green forest fire notification in Russian Federation GREEN · country-wide · 2026-10-09
On 08/10/2026, a forest fire started in Russian Federation, until 12/10/2026.
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Drought is on going in China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia GREEN · country-wide · 2026-07-14
The Drought notification level is Green.
“~N km away” = event centroid within ~500 km of this location; “country-wide” = a national/regional alert that may not be near this specific city. Source: GDACS · fetched 2026-10-16 07:54:07 UTC
Health notices
Health Notices for this Destination
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Level 1 - Global Dengue WATCH · 2026-10-02
Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2–5 years. Travelers to risk areas should prevent mosquito bites. Country List : Colombia, Vietnam, Maldives, Bolivia, Cambodia, Kenya, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Mar
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Level 2 - Global Polio ALERT · 2026-09-23
Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines. Country List : Afghanistan, Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Nig
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Level 1 - Global Measles WATCH · 2025-05-28
Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel. Country List : Afghan
Source: CDC Travelers’ Health · fetched 2026-10-16 07:26:45 UTC
Recent headlines
No recent national headlines were returned for Russia. This is not evidence that conditions are quiet; check local and official sources.
Automated safety monitor
Recent safety-relevant news for Russia
Headlines are an early-warning monitor, not risk assessments. Verify material developments with official authorities and the linked publisher.
- Politics Japan Protests Russia’s Detention of Journalist Accused of Spying - The New York Times www.nytimes.com · Oct 15, 2026 05:04 UTC · via Googlenews
- Politics Japan summons Russian ambassador to protest journalist's arrest on spying charges - Euronews.com www.euronews.com · Oct 14, 2026 10:55 UTC · via Googlenews
- Politics Chinese business visit to Russia-held Kuril Islands prompts protest from Japan - South China Morning Post www.scmp.com · Oct 14, 2026 07:59 UTC · via Googlenews
- General Russia’s Bipolar Economy Opening Door to Disaster Ahead - The Jamestown Foundation jamestown.org · Oct 13, 2026 19:38 UTC · via Googlenews
- Politics Crowd gathers in Galleria area to protest President Trump's diesel deal with Russia - KHOU www.khou.com · Oct 12, 2026 02:55 UTC · via Googlenews
- Politics Japan protests Russia’s extradition requests for ICC president Tomoko Akane and 8 other court staff - Japan Today japantoday.com · Oct 9, 2026 09:33 UTC · via Googlenews
- Safety 'The days of safety are over': Russian airports face record closures - Euronews.com www.euronews.com · Oct 9, 2026 09:27 UTC · via Googlenews
- Politics Russia requests ICC leaders' extradition, draws Japan protest - Japan Wire by Kyodo News english.kyodonews.net · Oct 9, 2026 03:53 UTC · via Googlenews
This country currently has a Level 4 US advisory. Compare the high-risk-country watchlist →
1991–2020 climate normals
Seasonal risk & best time to visit Russia
The most weather-stable two-month window for Russia is July–August, when typical daily temperatures run from about 14°C to 23°C and monthly rain averages 80 mm.
Seasonal planning flags include extreme cold in February and December. These are climate patterns, not forecasts.
Climate normals are planning context, not a short-range forecast. Source: Open-Meteo Climate API. Refreshed Jul 22, 2026.
Calculate risk for these travel dates Compare seasonal windows →
Emergency Numbers
| Police | 102 |
|---|---|
| Ambulance | 103 |
| Fire | 101 |
| General emergency | 112 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Russia safe to visit right now?
Follow the current official advisory. The baseline composite is analytical context and does not weaken that decision. Composite baseline: 75/100 (Extreme risk). Always cross-check with your home country's foreign-ministry advisory within 7 days of departure; the live US State Department advisory is shown above. Last refreshed October 2026.
What is the current travel advisory for Russia?
The current US State Department advisory level for Russia is shown in the Live conditions section above and is re-fetched every 6 hours from the official RSS feed. UK FCDO, Canada GAC, and Australia DFAT also publish advisories — for high-stakes trips, cross-check at least one foreign-ministry advisory in addition to your home country's. See our travel advisory guide for how to read each tier system.
Is it safe to visit Russia in October 2026?
For October 2026, the baseline composite for Russia is 75/100 (Extreme risk). Live data — advisories every 6 hours, disaster alerts every 30 minutes, health notices every 12 hours, news every hour — is shown in the Live conditions section above. For a personalized risk briefing for your specific trip and traveler profile, use the Travel Risk Calculator linked above.
How are these country-level travel risk scores calculated?
Each category is scored 0-100 from government advisories (US State Dept), crime indices, Global Peace Index data, WHO/CDC health context, and curated regional editorial knowledge. The composite is a weighted sum across nine categories — see /methodology for the full weight breakdown. Live data (advisories, news, disaster alerts, health notices) is layered on top of the baseline at request time.
Where can I find city-specific safety information for Russia?
City-specific files for Russia are listed in the City Risk Files section above. Each city page covers the same nine categories at city scope, plus city-specific scam patterns, transport-hub safety notes, medical-access detail, and (where available) neighborhood-level guidance. Use the header search to find a specific city directly.
When was this page last reviewed?
The baseline scores for Russia were last reviewed on May 9, 2026. Live intelligence (advisory, disaster alerts, health notices, news) refreshes automatically on the cadences described above.
Is this a substitute for an official travel advisory?
No. Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated risk information for planning purposes only. Always check your home country's official travel advisory and any health notices from your national health authority before traveling.
When is the best time to visit Russia?
July–August is the most weather-stable two-month window in the stored 1991-2020 normals. The most weather-stable two-month window for Russia is July–August, when typical daily temperatures run from about 14°C to 23°C and monthly rain averages 80 mm.
What is the rainy, hurricane, or severe-weather season in Russia?
extreme cold: February and December.
Community Safety Sentiment
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Disclaimer
Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated travel-threat information for preparation purposes only. It does not replace official government advisories, medical advice, emergency alerts, immigration rules, insurance advice, police guidance, embassy information, or professional security consultation.