Surgery in Moscow for Foreigners: Planning, Visa, Payment and Travel
Medical tourism in Russia raises practical questions long before the operation: which visa to apply for, how to pay, how long to stay and what is included. This guide sets out what our clinic can confirm, what you should check on official sources, and what to ask your coordinator before you book a flight.
What foreign patients come to Moscow for
City Medical Centre is a multi-specialty surgery clinic in Moscow for international patients, at 1-Y Volkonskiy Pereulok, 15. It is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00 Moscow time. Medical services are provided by AKC POMOSHCH LLC under medical licence No. Л041-01137-77/00754324.
The main procedures and their starting prices, in US dollars, are below. All prices are also listed on the clinic home page.
| Procedure | Price | Time in the clinic |
|---|---|---|
| Hair transplant, FUE | $2,200 | One day, home the same day |
| Hair transplant, DHI | $2,500 | One day, home the same day |
| Primary rhinoplasty | $4,200 | One day and night |
| Breast augmentation | $4,700 | One day in hospital |
| Sleeve gastrectomy | $3,600 | 1–5 days |
| Gastric bypass | $4,000 | 1–5 days |
Details for each service: hair transplant in Moscow, rhinoplasty, breast augmentation and weight loss surgery.
How planning works, step by step
- Free consultation. The first consultation is free, and patients from other countries can have it online. Send photos or medical records as requested.
- A fixed quote. The cost is quoted at the consultation and fixed in the contract. For some operations, such as rhinoplasty, the exact price is confirmed after an in-person examination.
- Booking a date. For hair transplant, a deposit is paid by card at the clinic or online by bank transfer.
- Preparation. You receive a list of tests and instructions. Many tests can be done at home before you travel.
- Surgery and recovery. A personal coordinator guides you from the first enquiry through recovery.
Combined operations are sometimes possible, but they are decided individually after the consultation.
Visa and entry: check the official rules for your nationality
Entry rules depend on your passport, and they change. Treat everything in this section as a starting point and confirm it on official sources before you book.
Russia runs an official unified electronic visa portal. According to the portal, only citizens of countries on a government-approved list can apply. The e-visa covers private or business visits, tourism and participation in scientific, cultural, socio-political, economic and sporting events, and allows a stay of up to 30 days. Medical treatment is not named among those purposes, and the portal says that other purposes need a regular visa. Ask the Russian consulate in your country which visa type fits a trip for surgery.
Other points from official guidance worth knowing:
- The portal states that e-visa applications are processed in no more than 4 calendar days and that a fee is charged. It is valid only at approved border crossing points.
- Consulates require your passport to stay valid for a set period after the visa expires, so check the minimum for your nationality before you apply.
- Foreign visitors must be registered at the address where they stay; hotels normally do this for guests, and your coordinator can explain how it works for your trip.
The clinic's site does not state that it provides visa invitations or visa support. If you need a letter from the clinic, ask your coordinator whether one can be issued.
Entry requirements and insurance
Before you travel, check the current entry requirements for your nationality and whether your travel and health insurance cover the trip. Your coordinator will help with the practical details of the visit. The NHS also points out that travel insurance usually does not cover complications of cosmetic surgery abroad.
Paying for treatment as a foreigner
Plan payment before you fly. Bank cards issued abroad, including Visa and Mastercard, may not work in Russia, which means you may not be able to pay or withdraw cash with them. Do not assume a card issued abroad will work at the clinic, in shops or at a cash machine.
What the site does state: prices are quoted in US dollars and fixed in the contract; for hair transplant, the deposit can be paid by card at the clinic or online by bank transfer; and hair transplant can be paid in 0% instalments. How foreign patients pay in practice is not stated, so ask your coordinator which payment methods are available to you before you travel.
How long to stay in Moscow
There is no single number. It depends on the procedure, how you heal, and your surgeon's decision about when you can fly. Some reference points from the clinic's own guidance:
- Hair transplant: one day at the clinic under local anaesthesia; you go home the same day. Healing takes about 10 days.
- Rhinoplasty: one night in the inpatient unit; nasal splints are removed on day 7 and stitches on day 14.
- Breast augmentation: one day in hospital; the compression garment is worn for 4 to 6 weeks.
- Bariatric surgery: 1 to 5 days in hospital; travel should be planned no earlier than a month after surgery.
NHS guidance on cosmetic surgery abroad recommends not flying for 5 to 7 days after breast surgery and 7 to 10 days after facial cosmetic procedures, because of the blood clot risk. Your surgeon makes the final decision on the date you fly.
Hotel, transfers and language
The site does not say whether accommodation, airport transfers or interpreters are included, or which languages the doctors and coordinators speak. Do not assume any of these are part of the price. Ask at the free consultation, and get the answers in writing before you book flights.
Questions to ask your coordinator
- Which visa type do you recommend for my nationality, and can the clinic provide any document for it?
- How can I pay from my country, and when is each payment due?
- Which tests can I do at home, and in what format should I send them?
- How many days should I plan in Moscow for my procedure?
- Is accommodation or an airport transfer arranged, or do I book them myself?
- Which languages do the surgeon and staff speak? Will an interpreter be present?
- How does follow-up work once I am home, and who do I contact with a concern?
Aftercare once you are back home
Good aftercare is what makes surgery abroad workable. For hair transplant, follow-up appointments are scheduled at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, with photo progress tracking. Breast surgery includes a year of follow-up by the plastic surgeon, and after bariatric surgery the team follows up during the first year. Online consultations are available for patients in other countries. Information for patients travelling from specific cities is on our locations page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the Russian e-visa for surgery?
The official e-visa portal lists the purposes it covers: private or business visits, tourism and certain events. Medical treatment is not named, and the portal says other purposes need a regular visa. Check the rules for your nationality on the official portal and with the Russian consulate before you plan your trip.
Will my Visa or Mastercard work in Moscow?
Do not rely on it. Cards issued abroad, including Visa and Mastercard, may not work in Russia, so you may not be able to pay or withdraw cash with them. Ask your coordinator which payment methods are available for foreign patients and plan how you will pay before you travel.
Does the clinic arrange hotels and airport transfers?
The clinic's site does not state that hotels or transfers are included. Ask your coordinator at the free consultation what is arranged and what you book yourself, and get the answer in writing before you buy flights.
How much does surgery in Moscow cost?
Prices at City Medical Centre are in US dollars: FUE hair transplant $2,200, primary rhinoplasty $4,200, breast augmentation $4,700, sleeve gastrectomy $3,600 and gastric bypass $4,000. The final cost is quoted at the consultation and fixed in the contract.
Can I have the first consultation online?
Yes. The first consultation is free, and patients from other cities and countries can have it online. It is the right moment to ask about visa documents, payment, length of stay and aftercare, as well as about the procedure itself.
Sources
Get a free consultation and a fixed quote
Send your name and phone number, and a coordinator will call you back. You can also send photos and questions on WhatsApp.
- The first consultation is free, online consultations are available
- The doctor names the cost after the assessment, and it is fixed in the contract
- A personal coordinator guides you from the first message to recovery
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