The Azerbaijani Visa Application Centre and Consulate will be closed on the following days:

• 15th-19th of June (Ramadan)
• 26th of June (Army and Navy Day)
• 22nd - 23rd of August (Gurban Bayramy)
• 9th November (National Flag Day)
• 25th - 26th December (Christmas and Boxing Days)

As a result, there will be no visa application submissions or collections on these days and these days will not count towards the visa processing time. For any further information, or if you have any questions, please contact our visa team.

From February 1, 2016, citizens of United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Japan, China, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore will be able to obtain a 30-day single entry visa in all international airports of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani e-visas are now available. For more details, please contact our visa team.

The Belarus Consulate will be closed on the following dates:

• 9th of May (Victory Day)
• 2nd - 3rd of July (Republic's Day)
• 24th-26th December (Christmas Eve to Boxing Day)

As a result, there will unfortunately be no visa application submissions or collections on these days and these days will not count towards the visa processing time. For any further information, or if you have any questions, please contact our visa team.

The Chinese Visa Application Centre and Consulate will be closed on the following dates:

• 1st-2nd October 2018 (Chinese National Day)
• 25th-26th of December (Christmas and Boxing Days)
• 1st of January (New Year's Day)

As a result, there will unfortunately be no visa application submissions or collections on these days and these days will not count towards the visa processing time. For any further information, or if you have any questions, please contact our visa team.

Fingerprinting to be Introduced for Chinese Visas in the UK

The Chinese Visa Application Centre in London, Manchester and Edinburgh will be implementing fingerprinting as part of the visa application process for all UK nationals and residents.

This will apply to customers applying independently from 1st November, however, customers applying with Real Russia have been given a grace period and the new requirements will not come into effect until Monday 12^th November. This gives Real Russia customers until Friday 9^th November to submit their applications to the visa application centre as they close on weekends.

If you are applying for your Chinese visa after the 12th November you will need to travel to London to give your fingerprints as part of your visa application.

On the day you arrive in London to give your fingerprints, our courier will meet you with your documents, and talk you through the fingerprinting process. 

Our systems and website are being updated to match these changes, ensuring we continue to offer a simple Chinese visa service which gives you peace of mind and comprehensive support. We will also keep you updated on this situation through our website and via Facebook and Twitter. 

Effective from 1st January 2017 citizens of 45 countries including United Kingdom, United States of America, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Singapore, Australia, Japan and most EU countries are exempt from visa requirements for visits up to 30 calendar days. This arrangement is prolonged till 31 December 2018.

For any further information, or if you have any questions, please contact our visa team.

In accordance with the law «About introduction of a visa-free regime for citizens of some states within 60 days» nationals of the following countries can visit Kyrgyzstan without a visa till 31 December 2020: Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei-Darussalam, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Vatican.

For any further information, or if you have any questions, please contact our visa team.

The Mongolian Consulate will be closed on the following dates:

• 11th - 15th of July (Naadam Festival)
• 1st November (Genghis Khan Commemoration Day)
• 26th November (Republic Day)
• 25th - 26th December (Christmas Day and Boxing Day)
• 29th December (Independence Day)

As a result, there will be no visa application submissions or collections on these days and these days will not count towards the visa processing time. Please also note that Consular and Visa sections of Mongolian Embassy are closed every Wednesday and Friday.

For any further information, or if you have any questions, please contact our visa team.

The Russian Visa Application Centre and Consulate will be closed on the 5th of November (Day of the National Unity).

As a result, there will be no visa application and business invitations submissions or collections on this day and this day will not count towards the processing time. For any further information, or if you have any questions, please contact our visa team.

Following the presidential order, as of 10th December 2014 all applicants over 12 years of age applying for their Russian visas in the UK, Denmark, Myanmar and Namibia are required to provide their biometric data at the time of having their visa documents submitted for processing at the consulate.

Information on the requirements and the new process may be found here.

The Tajikistan Consulate will be closed on the following dates:

• 6th November (Constitution Day)
• 25th-26th of December (Christmas and Boxing Days)
• 1st of January (New Year's Day)

As a result, there will be no visa application submissions or collections on these days and these days will not count towards the visa processing time. Please also note that the Tajikistan Consulate is closed every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. For any further information, or if you have any questions, please contact our visa team.

The Turkmenistan Consulate will be closed on the following dates:

• 12th of December (Day of Neutrality)
• 25th - 26th of December (Boxing & Christmas Days)

As a result, there will be no visa application submissions or collections on these days and these days will not count towards the visa processing time. For any further information, or if you have any questions, please contact our visa team.

The Ukrainian Consulate will be closed on the following dates:

• 14th October (Independence Day)
• 25th - 26th of December (Boxing & Christmas Days)
• 1st - 2nd January (New Year's Day)
• 7th - 8th January (Orthodox Christmas)

As a result, there will be no visa application submissions or collections on these days and these days will not count towards the visa processing time. For any further information, or if you have any questions, please contact our visa team.

The Uzbekistan Visa Application Center and Consulate will be closed on the following dates:

• 1st October (Teachers' Day)
• 8th December (Constitution Day)
• 25th-26th December (Christmas and Boxing Days)
• 1st January (New Year's Day)

As a result, there will be no visa application submissions or collections on these days and these days will not count towards the visa processing time. Please also note that Consular and Visa Sections of the Uzbekistan Embassy are closed every Tuesday and Thursday. For any further information, or if you have any questions, please contact our visa team.

The Vietnam Embassy will be closed on the following dates:

• 25th-26th of December (Christmas and Boxing Days)
• 1st of January (New Year's Day)

As a result, there will be no visa application submissions or collections on these days and these days will not count towards the visa processing time. For any further information, or if you have any questions, please contact our visa team.

On 22 June 2015, the Vietnamese Embassy received formal notification that the Government of Vietnam will not require a visa for British, German, French, Spanish and Italian citizens travelling to Vietnam (for all purposes) for a period of up to 15 days, and on the basis of meeting all conditions prescribed by Vietnamese laws.

The visa exemption period has been extended from 01 July 2016 to 30 June 2021. If you wish to enter Viet Nam at least two consecutive times without visa, the next entry must be at least 30 days after the previous exit. Otherwise, you still need a visa.