Travel insurance for Russia: what to know first
For a trip to Russia, choose a travel medical policy that covers emergency treatment and hospital care inside Russia, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation, and round-the-clock multilingual assistance. Confirm the policy is valid for your entire stay and covers the regions and activities on your itinerary (such as skiing or other high-risk sports), and check how it handles pre-existing conditions before you buy. Whether insurance is mandatory depends on your visa type and nationality, so verify the current rules for your case on an official source — but medical cover is strongly recommended either way, because foreign visitors generally pay out of pocket at Russian hospitals without it.
Plans range from basic emergency-only cover to comprehensive worldwide policies. The table further down shows what a good Russia policy should include to help you match a plan to your trip and budget.
Why most Western travel insurance won't cover you in Russia
This is what catches travellers out. Because of sanctions, most Western insurers — including big names such as Allianz, AXA and World Nomads — no longer provide usable cover inside Russia, even on policies advertised as "worldwide". The practical problem is payment: a Western insurer generally cannot pay a Russian hospital or reimburse a Russian provider, so a "covered" claim can still leave you out of pocket. Before you rely on an existing policy, read its territorial exclusions and ask the insurer directly, in writing, whether it pays claims incurred in Russia.
What actually works: your real options
- A Russian insurer. Major Russian companies — Ingosstrakh, SOGAZ, AlfaStrakhovanie, Soglasie — issue travel-medical policies that bill Russian hospitals directly, which is exactly what you want in an emergency.
- A platform that sells Russian cover to foreigners. Several services now let non-residents buy a Russian medical policy online with a foreign card and issue the certificate consulates accept. This is the simplest route if your home insurer can't pay inside Russia.
- The few Western options that still pay in Russia. A small number of international providers continue to cover Russia; if you use one, get written confirmation that treatment and evacuation inside Russia are honoured.
Insurance and the Russian e-visa
If you enter on the unified e-visa, travel medical insurance valid in Russia and covering your whole stay is part of the requirements, and consular (paper) visa applications usually require an insurer's certificate too. Buy the policy before you apply so the certificate is ready. For the visa itself, see our Russia e-visa guide.
