Russia's "don't Travel" Warning Hits Dual Nationals Hardest

Both the UK FCDO and US State Department maintain their highest-level advisories for Russia and honestly, they aren't softening anytime soon. The UK updated its guidance on April 13, 2026, adding specific language on dual nationals; the US advisory, issued December 29, 2025, holds firm at Level 4: don't Travel. These aren't new warnings, they've been in place since the Ukraine invasion began, but the dual-national provisions make them sharper than ever.

The risks are real and stacking. Drone strikes hit Moscow and border regions regularly, wrongful detention of foreign nationals continues and Russian authorities treat dual nationals solely as Russian citizens , meaning no consular access, no embassy intervention, no exceptions. Remote workers with foreign affiliations can, turns out, trigger "treason" investigations just for who they work for.

Dual nationals are the most exposed group here. Russian law requires anyone holding a second citizenship to notify authorities within 60 days of acquiring it or returning to Russia, non-compliance carries fines up to 200,000 RUB (roughly a year's average income) or 400 hours of compulsory labor. You must enter and exit on a Russian passport and if that passport's expired, you could be stuck waiting months for renewal with no way out.

Nomads and expats face a separate layer of friction:

• Western bank cards don't work , cash only and transfers are blocked by sanctions
• SIM cards for foreigners face 24-hour internet and text restrictions
• Electronic devices can be searched at any point, with foreign content potentially used as evidence
• Consular help is limited outside Moscow and in some regions, essentially nonexistent

Don't go. That's the straightforward read here. If you're already in Russia or considering it for any reason, weigh the wrongful detention risk seriously , US and UK citizens have been held on fabricated charges with minimal diplomatic recourse. Martial law zones in Bryansk, Kursk and other border regions enable curfews, property seizures and foreigner detentions with little legal framework to challenge them.

Check the latest nomad news for ongoing advisory changes and read our full Russia guide for the complete picture.