Scroll to top
Request Consultation

Moscow Travel Safety Guide: Essential Reading Before You Go

Travel safety assessment for Moscow, Russia. Given FCDO advice against all travel, this guide covers the risks, legal exposure, and protocols for those with unavoidable requirements.

  • Home
  • Guides
  • Moscow Travel Safety Guide: Essential Reading Before You Go

Moscow is the capital of Russia and the country’s economic, political, and cultural centre. This page exists for those with genuine requirements that make Moscow travel necessary. It is not a recommendation to travel.

FCDO advises against all travel to Russia. The US State Dept rates Russia Level 4: Do Not Travel.

The Risk Landscape

The risks facing Western business travellers in Moscow are categorically different from other cities in this guide. Street crime is not the primary concern. The risks are:

Arbitrary detention. Russia has detained foreign nationals on charges with no equivalent in Western legal systems. The risk is higher for nationals of countries involved in sanctions, for journalists, for individuals with any government or security-adjacent role, and for those with public profiles on Russia-related issues.

Exit restrictions. Russian authorities can impose exit bans on individuals under investigation or as leverage in commercial or diplomatic disputes. There is no reliable mechanism to challenge an exit ban from outside Russia.

Asset exposure. Companies and individuals with Russian assets or operations face expropriation risk under current conditions.

Financial isolation. Western banking infrastructure does not function in Russia. All transactions require advance cash planning.

For Those Who Must Travel

If travel to Moscow is unavoidable:

  • Obtain specialist legal advice on your specific exposure under Russian law before departure
  • Consult your government’s travel advisory team for a current risk assessment
  • Carry clean devices with no corporate system access
  • Plan all financial requirements in cash (USD or EUR for exchange)
  • Confirm return routing and have contingency routes identified
  • Brief your organisation on your itinerary and agree a check-in schedule

Emergency Contacts

  • Emergency (all services): 112
  • British Embassy Moscow: +7 495 956 7200 (confirm current operational status)
  • US Embassy Moscow: +7 495 728 5000 (reduced staffing)

For security assessment of Russia travel, contact us directly.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

FCDO advises against all travel to Russia. Most Western governments have issued equivalent advisories. The risks are not primarily street crime but legal exposure: arbitrary detention of foreign nationals, asset seizure, exit restrictions, and the possibility of being used as a bargaining chip in geopolitical disputes. For most business purposes, travel to Moscow is not advisable and most multinational companies have suspended Russia operations. The decision requires specialist legal and security advice.

Russia has detained foreign nationals, including US and EU citizens, on charges that would not constitute offences in their home countries. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was detained from March 2023 to August 2024. Marc Fogel, Paul Whelan, and others have been held for extended periods. Foreign nationals in sectors with any government or security adjacency carry elevated detention risk. This risk cannot be managed by standard security protocols.

Western bank cards (Visa, Mastercard) no longer function in Russia following sanctions imposed after the 2022 invasion. Russian banking is isolated from SWIFT. Cash (USD or EUR) brought into the country can be exchanged for roubles at Russian banks. Plan cash logistics for the full visit duration plus significant contingency. Do not rely on any card-based payment on arrival.

Russia’s FSB has extensive signals intelligence capability. Standard mobile and internet communications should be treated as monitored. Use encrypted communications (Signal) for sensitive content, but this provides protection against criminal interception rather than state surveillance. Consider using a dedicated clean device for Russia travel with no access to corporate systems.

Direct flights between Russia and most Western countries were suspended following the 2022 invasion. Connections via third countries (Turkey, UAE, Serbia, Armenia) are available. The journey is longer and more complex. Return flight availability should be confirmed before departure as a contingency measure.
Get in Touch

Request a Consultation

Describe your security requirements below. All enquiries are confidential and handled by licensed consultants.

Confidential. Your details are never shared with third parties.