Get the best Russian ruble exchange rate

• How do I buy Russian rubles?
• When is the best time to buy Russian rubles?
• Can I collect my Russian rubles in person?
• How long does delivery take?
• Do I have to be at home when my Russian rubles are delivered?
• Can I have my Russian rubles sent to a different address?
• What happens if the package goes missing during delivery?
• What payment method should I use?
• Are there any limits on the amount of Russian rubles I can order?
• Is ordering online safe and secure?
• Am I financially protected if something goes wrong with the supplier?
• What checks does Compare Holiday Money carry out on the listed suppliers?
• Do I need to provide ID or other documents?
• Can I sell back any unused Russian rubles?
• Can I send money to a bank account in Russia instead?

How do I buy Russian rubles?

Using our comparison form at the top of the page, enter the amount of Russian rubles you want to buy, select your preferred payment method(s) and click 'Compare Deals'. We'll return a list of UK currency suppliers who are selling Russian rubles right now along with their latest exchange rates and delivery information. The results are sorted in order of who is offering the most Russian rubles after all fees and delivery charges have been added which means the best deals are always at the top of the table. Choose the supplier you want to order with and follow the link to their website where you can place your order with them directly.

When is the best time to buy Russian rubles?

The golden question! You can use tools like our historical Russian ruble rate chart to identify overall trends in the market which may help you to decide if now is a good time to buy relative to the past. You can also hedge your bets by buying half your currency now and half just before you travel. If you need to buy Russian rubles within the next couple of weeks, it's likely that the day-to-day changes in the exchange rate won't make a huge difference to the amount of currency you'll receive anyway, so unless you're buying tens of thousands of pounds worth our advice is to not worry about trying to perfectly time the market and instead just buy whenever is most convenient for you.

If you have more time before you need to buy, why not sign up to our monthly newsletter where we often feature currency sales and special deals ahead of time. In any case, you can be confident that the rates we compare above are some of the best on the market and you'll be hard-pressed to find a better deal online or in the high street.

Can I collect my Russian rubles in person?

Yes, some currency suppliers do allow you to collect Russian rubles from them in person. We have a dedicated Click & Collect page where you can find the nearest supplier in your area. If you plan on collecting in person, we recommend ordering or reserving your Russian rubles online first on the supplier's website to guarantee the exchange rate. Some suppliers offer lower exchange rates if you walk in off the street, but you can usually order online in advance and collect your currency in store at the better online rate.

How long does Delivery take?

Most currency suppliers will dispatch your order on the same or next working day after they receive your payment, and all orders are sent via Royal Mail Special Delivery which is a fully-insured and guaranteed Next Working Day service. However, just in case any unexpected delays crop up we recommend ordering no later than 3 working days before you are due to travel. If you've left it too late for home delivery, check out our Click & Collect page to find a local Russian ruble supplier near you. We cover most UK airports, so in the worst case scenario you can reserve your currency online (at the better online rate) and pick it up from the departure lounge before you fly.

Do I have to be at home when my currency is delivered?

No. All currency is sent by Royal Mail Special Delivery which is a fully-insured and guaranteed Next Working Day service. Somebody at your address will need to sign for the package but if nobody is home when the postman attempts to deliver, they'll leave a missed delivery card and you can either collect the package from your nearest sorting office or arrange for it to be re-delivered on a more convenient day.

Can I have my Russian rubles sent to a different address?

Generally, no. This is ultimately at the discretion of the currency supplier, but most suppliers will only deliver to the home address of the person paying for the currency (i.e. the card or bank account holder's address). This is for security reasons because a signature is required when the currency is delivered, and signatures from work or other addresses can be unreliable and difficult to prove.

What happens if the package goes missing during delivery?

All currency is sent by Royal Mail Special Delivery which is a fully-insured and guaranteed Next Working Day service. This type of postage is more secure than standard post and is meant specifically for high-value and important items because tracking is enabled by default and a signature is required as proof of delivery. It is very rare for a Special Delivery package to go missing, but in the unlikely event that it does you will be completely reimbursed by Royal Mail for the full value of the currency and the cost of postage.

What payment method should I use?

The payment method you choose is important because it affects whether or not you pay any extra fees during checkout, and also whether you are financially protected in the unlikely event that something goes wrong with the supplier. We have written a more detailed guide about choosing a payment method on our blog: A guide to payment methods.

Are there any limits on the amount of Russian rubles I can order?

Most, but not all, currency suppliers have a minimum and a maximum amount you can order from them, however we automatically factor these into our comparisons so if you tell us exactly how much you want to spend we'll only return suppliers that can fulfill your request. Most suppliers also have a minimum amount that you can order from them to qualify for free home delivery; if you order less than this amount you can still get your order delivered by you'll have to pay for postage. Again, we automatically factor these charges into our comparisons so you don't need to worry about any hidden costs during checkout.

Is ordering online safe and secure?

All of the currency suppliers we compare use SSL encryption as standard on their ordering pages. This means that when you place an order, a secure connection is created between you and the supplier and your personal and payment details are transmitted using the same level of encryption as online banking.

Am I financially protected if something goes wrong with the supplier?

The level of financial protection you receive is determined by the payment method you choose. For more information see our FAQ above: What payment method should I use?

What checks does Compare Holiday Money carry out on the listed suppliers?

All currency suppliers are required to complete a comprehensive onboarding questionnaire before we list them on the Compare Holiday Money website. This questionnaire provides us with information on the supplier's background, financial history, directors and technical capabilities, as well as document any legal and regulatory requirements the supplier may have. Our compliance team verify the answers by cross-referencing them with various online registers such as Companies House, the Supervised Business Register and the Financial Conduct Authority, and we then make a decision as to whether to list them. Once a supplier has been listed we run regular audits to check the ongoing status and accuracy of the information provided, and if any issues are flagged up we immediately suspend the listing until the supplier corrects the issue or provides us with clarification. Despite these stringent checks, we cannot guarantee the solvency of any suppliers who appear on the Compare Holiday Money website and we urge all customers to conduct their own research before transacting with a company.

Do I need to provide ID or other documents?

It depends. You may need to provide some ID, typically a copy of your passport or driver's licence, depending on how much currency you are ordering. Most suppliers won't ask for ID if you're ordering less than £1,000 but most will if you're ordering £2,500 or more. If you're ordering £10,000 or more you may need to provide additional information on the source of the funds. The exact requirements vary from supplier to supplier, but they will make it clear what form(s) of ID and other documents they require before you place an order.

Can I sell back any unused Russian rubles?

Yes, we have a section of our website dedicated to currency buybacks: Exchange Russian rubles for pounds sterling.

Can I send money to a bank account in Russia instead?

Yes, we can facilitate the transfer of currency into an overseas bank account; see our Money Transfers page for more information.

The Russian ruble (sometimes spelled 'rouble') is the official currency of the Russian Federation. It is also used in the Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of South Ossetia. The currency code is RUB and the symbol ₽. The Russian ruble was the first currency in the world to become decimalised (divisible by units of 10) in 1704 when the ruble was sub-divided into 100 kopeks (sometimes 'kopecks') which remains to the present time. The current ruble was first issued in 1992 to replace the Soviet ruble. It is the second oldest currency in the world after the pound sterling. All banknotes are printed at the state-owned printing works Goznak in Moscow which was founded in June 1919. Coins are minted in Moscow at the Saint Petersburg Mint which has been minting coins since 1724.

The current series of coins was first issued in 1998 in denominations of 1 коп., 5 коп., 10 коп., 50 коп. 1₽, 2₽, 5₽ and 10₽. The 1,5 and 10 коп. coins are rarely used today because of their low value. All 'kopek' coins feature an image of St. George, while 'ruble' coins feature images of the Russian coat of arms and the emblem of the Bank of Russia. Russian ruble banknotes were first issued in 1998, with the exception of 1000₽ and 5000₽ denomination notes which were added later. All notes feature images of political, religious and cultural buildings in Russia. The denominations are 5₽ (featuring an image of the Millennium of Russia monument), 10₽ (Kommunalny Bridge across the Yenisei River), 50₽ (Petropavlosk Fortress in Saint Petersburg), 100₽ (Old Saint Petersburg Stock Exchange), 200₽ (Quadriga on the portico of the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow), 500₽ (Monument to Peter the Great and Solovetsky Monastery), 1,000₽ (Monument to Yaroslav I the Wise and John the Baptist Church in Yaroslavl) and 5,000₽ (Monument to Nikolay Muravyov-Amursky in Khabarovsk and Khabarovsk Bridge over the Amur). The 1₽ and 10₽ notes are no longer issued and are not often seen in circulation.

You will need to obtain a visa before you travel to Russia. The Russian Embassy is advising it can take up to four weeks to process visa applications, so booking early is recommended. As part of the application process, applicants aged 12 or over will need to visit a visa application centre to submit biometric data. These centres are in London, Edinburgh and Manchester. When you receive your visa, check the details carefully including the dates it is valid for and your passport number. It is important to be aware of the terms and conditions attached to your visa before you travel as the Russian authorities strictly enforce all visa and immigration laws. Cruise passengers can visit Russia for 72 hours without a visa if they have booked tours through officially licensed companies. You are free to use any authorised travel agency, not just cruise ship tour companies. If you plan to leave by land or air you must obtain an exit visa from the Russian Embassy.

Your passport must be valid for six months starting on the date you are planning to leave Russia. You must also sign an immigration card every time you arrive in Russia; this will be given to you at passport control. The card is comprised of two identical parts: one must be handed to an immigration officer upon arrival in Russida and the other must be retained by you and shown whenever requested. If you lose your immigration card your departure from Russia could be delayed and many hotels and hostels will not accept guests without one.

If you are travelling to Belarus through Russia you should check the regulations carefully because they are different depending on how you travel. All information on this can be found on the Russian Embassy website or the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office website.