From January 1, 2015 for citizens of most CIS countries not members of the Customs Union (Azerbaijan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) Entry into the Russian Federation is possible only with a foreign passport(without a visa). The possibility of entering Russia with an internal passport remains for residents of the EAEU: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, which is joining the union. Also (due to the difficult political situation) Citizens of all regions of Ukraine can still cross the border using an internal passport.

Without receiving special permission, CIS citizens can stay for up to 90 days during each half-year (180 days), that is, stay on Russian soil for a total of 180 days out of 12 consecutive months, without registering with the Federal Migration Service (since April 2016 - GUVM Ministry of Internal Affairs). Citizens of Tajikistan are officially allowed a 15-day stay in the Russian Federation excluding Belarus and Kazakhstan - 30 days; but for Belarusians there are no migration cards or border crossing stamps at all, so the issue of control remains open. The rest at the border must be filled in (correctly) migration card and save it: It is by the data you provide that border guards will be guided when processing departure from Russia.

If the time of presence of CIS citizens in the Russian Federation turns out to be longer than stipulated in the law, without valid and documented reasons (work, study, illness, injury, inheritance problems, funeral), then guests from neighboring countries will not be able to return to Russia within the next three years . The basis for calculating the “penalty” time is the calendar date marked at the border at the time of departure.

The 90-day “corridor” is extended if you have a temporary residence permit (TRP), a long-term residence permit, a work permit, a patent has been purchased or a contract has been issued for military service, or you are studying in Russia. In the case of RNP, type, work and patent, the period is limited according to the validity period of the issued document, and for study and military service it corresponds to the time required before receiving a diploma or stipulated by the army contract. Important: In all the mentioned cases, the FMS of the Russian Federation must include a special document in the migration card. stamp"on extension of stay".

Federal Law No. 114-FZ dated August 15, 1996 (as amended on April 20, 2014) regulates all documentary and legal aspects of crossing the border of the Russian Federation.

Registration of CIS citizens

The concept of “registration” for this category of guests is not applicable during the entire 90-day period of entry; they only talk about “ migration registration" The question is open again; the priorities of existing international agreements and internal laws of Russia come into play. However, international law has a practical advantage, plus agreements between countries; as a result, a migration card is recognized as the only accounting document for visa-free entry. Citizens of the CIS, including Ukraine, entering the Russian Federation with international passports, not obliged declare their arrival either to the FMS or to the Ministry of Internal Affairs if they have stayed in Russia for no more than 90 days in a row.

It is worth remembering that in Moscow and St. Petersburg there is a special regime, and you will need to be registered. Then contact the apartment owners or hotel employees: only they have the right to handle the registration by sending a special notification by mail or by contacting the FMS directly (copies of your passport and migration card will be needed). No one has the right to take your migration card, even temporarily, so give only a photocopy of it, and always keep the original in your passport. Remember that when checking your documents, your passport proves identity, and the card will confirm legality stay in Russia and will save you from troubles with migration control.

Work in Russia for Ukrainians and other CIS citizens

Citizens from CIS countries will receive a work permit if they have a standard employment contract with a Russian enterprise, or agreement to carry out the work agreed with the customer. The validity period of the permit is equal to the term of the agreement (contract), but not more than 1 year from the time of entry into the Russian Federation. It sounds quite serious, but for those who want to receive legal income in Russia, then everything can be repeated almost indefinitely, until it comes period 6 months before the end datepassport validity.

Main stages of the design cycle:

  • A citizen from the CIS enters Russia using a foreign passport;
  • Concludes an employment contract or signs a contract for 1 year;
  • Obtains permission to work legally;
  • Registers at the address in Russia where he lives;
  • After a year, the “work” permit is extended for another year;
  • After a 3-year period, they receive a 5-year residence permit, and then it is possible to “convert” it into a permanent one or apply for Russian citizenship.

Base package of documents required for a work permit:

  1. International passport of a citizen from the CIS (valid);
  2. Migration card;
  3. Forms (see the FMS website);
  4. Take photographs in color, black and white, matte;
  5. Receipt of paid state duty;
  6. Certificate of proficiency in Russian language;
  7. Certificate of availability of housing (valid employment contract or guarantee from the employer);
  8. Medical certificate of absence of HIV infection;
  9. Honey. certificate “confirming the absence of a list of diseases”;
  10. Certificate (notification) that you have been registered with the tax office according to your place of registration and given an individual taxpayer number (TIN).

The list may change depending on the work, the requirements for it from the sanitary and other government. services If you need documents (diploma, marriage certificate, birth certificate) issued in any foreign language, then you need translation into Russian, notarized. Remember that no one has the right to demand a translation into Russian of your passports and any data entered into it.

Entry for study, tourism, “visiting” for CIS citizens

There are no particular differences, but the Russian Federation has signed an agreement with Ukraine to simplify entry for residents of border areas through 8 checkpoints. For cases of limited migration, citizens of Ukraine registered in villages and towns on the border with Russia need a regular passport with a stamp (residence address I). Children under 14 years of age can cross the border only when accompanied by both parents, with a birth certificate or a notarized power of attorney from one of the parents. After 14, you need a passport with registration of your place of residence, plus a power of attorney. A certified extract from the house register confirming the address of permanent residence in Ukraine is attached to the birth certificate. If the Ukrainian passport was lost in Russia, then you need to obtain from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation confirming this fact certificate and follow it back.

Carefully fill out the migration card, correctly indicating the reason for visiting the Russian Federation. If you are asked about goals visit, the answer must exactly match the line filled in on the card. Tourists from Ukraine may need to confirm a hotel reservation or travel route; it is better to draw up an agreement with the tour operator in advance and, if necessary, show it at the border. If you are organizing a tourist trip yourself, then print out the route and the response about the guarantee for booking hotel rooms.

There is no need for private invitations for Ukrainians, visiting relatives or friends In Russia, border guards are calm. Sometimes they ask for your full name and what city they live in, they can clarify the approximate period from arrival to departure, and that’s all. Amount of money no one checks guests every day, but changes are possible with the adoption of new amendments to the migration laws of the Russian Federation.

Students from the CIS studying in Russia can now officially earn extra money not only during the holidays and without waiting for their diploma. New trends: now the stay of students in the Russian Federation is extended immediately after acceptance of the application from the educational institution to the FMS, and not after its consideration.

Video: about the rules of entry into Russia, in force since 2015

Visas to Russia for foreigners (non-CIS countries, Georgia, Turkmenistan)

Documentation to enter Russia:

  1. An invitation issued with the full name of the foreign citizen and his passport details;
  2. A foreign passport valid for another six months after the date of departure from Russia;
  3. A completed application form with a personal signature, printed in duplicate;
  4. Photos;
  5. Additional information may be required depending on your nationality, visa type and duration.

Basicstages of registration:

  • Determined deadlinesand frequency of visits: when you plan to cross the border, how many days of stay in Russia are needed for the trip, what is preferable - a single visit or a multiple-entry visa.
  • Grounds for further issuance of a visa: a summons to enter the Russian Federation, a telex number (visa instruction), or a tourist voucher. A business call is issued on special. on the form of the FMS or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia and is attached to the package of documents in the original. The telex number is simply entered into the form; copies (e-mail, fax possible) of the tourist voucher are allowed for foreigners from Australia, Japan and the USA, South Korea, Canada, New Zealand and the European Union. Others should ensure that they receive the original voucher.
  • Fillquestionnaire(visa application): only on the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, print it out and be sure to personally sign. As a place for issuing a travel permit, you can choose a consular department or a special visa processing center, indicating a specific state and city. Data from questionnaires is stored for 2-3 weeks, during which time it can be edited.
  • Submitpackage of documents– to the Russian consulate or specialized visa center, opening hours are specified on the website.
  • Receiptpassports with Russian visa: It is important to immediately check its validity period, frequency of visits, number of days for the visit. If inaccuracies are not discovered immediately, then after crossing the Russian border nothing can be corrected. The basic rule is that if a foreigner entered on this visa, it means that he agrees with all the conditions specified in it.

Rules for registration of foreigners from non-CIS countries

  1. Notificationabout arrival: filling out is mandatory for each visa entry, even if it lasts only a day or several days. Registration must be received within 7 days from the date of border crossing.
  2. A foreigner cannot getregistration, registration is carried out by the inviting party - either a Russian citizen or a Russian company.
  3. Registration - at the place of stay, Whereovernight stay planned. For any moves, especially between regional territorial units, notification of local FMS offices is required. Exceptions are one-day excursions to another city.
  4. Tear-off coupon form ( Notificationabout arrival) must contain a mark from the local department of the Federal Migration Service, or a stamp from the post office indicating that such a notification was accepted for dispatch. It is the coupon that guarantees confirmation of fulfillment of the obligation to register foreign citizens.
  5. At violationimmigration rules: for the first time - a fine of up to 7,000 rubles, the violation is classified as administrative. Repeatedly within one year - a fine, plus deportation from the territory of Russia and a ban on entry for up to 5 years.

Private invitation for a foreigner

Many friends live far outside Russia, but I really want to invite them to visit. It is for such cases that you will need a private invitation; you can arrange it yourself, and foreign friends themselves will take care of obtaining a private visitor visa to the Russian Federation.

How Right issue an invitation for a foreign citizen, in accordance with all laws, to enter the territory of Russia?

  • Indicate the date planned for the visit;
  • Collect documents and some information:
  1. Copy of passport and personal data;
  2. Place of work: company, address, position, office telephone and fax;
  3. Type of visa – “by private invitation”;
  4. Cities to visit, length of stay in the Russian Federation;
  5. Contact the Federal Migration Service at your place of registration and pay the state fee. duty;
  6. Provide guarantees for the provision of foreigners for the entire duration of the visit - material, housing, medical;
  7. Apply for an invitation to the passport and visa department. Usually the response is received within 30 days (working days);
  8. Once you receive the official invitation form, send it to your potential guest. Based on this invitation, he receives the right to come and submit an application form for a visa to Russia at the consulate.

Business invitations and business visas

Optionsregistration for all business invitations:

  • Special forms from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Federal Migration Service have serious degrees of protection. A summons on a paper form can be sent to the addressee by mail at any point, then the completed form is presented at the place where the visa is issued. To issue an invitation by letter, EU citizens must have a previous Russian visa.
  • An electronic call – telex – leaves the Russian Foreign Ministry only to the specified consulate of a certain country where it is planned to obtain a Russian visa. If the location for submitting documents has changed, the telex must be redirected and resent, this will take up to three days.
  • Business invitation more Notgives foreign citizens rightsto receive income and business activity, including hired work. A business visa is provided for employees of foreign companies who come to Russia for forums, for business meetings and important negotiations, and for the implementation of joint projects. It is impossible to make a business invitation to a person who does not have a permanent job.

Goalsfor entry on a business visa:

  1. Humanitarian - for personnel of international organizations (Red Cross, charity workers, volunteers)
  2. Scientific and technical communications: congresses and seminars, training programs
  3. Cultural connections: museum employees accompanying exhibitions, concerts, etc.
  4. Maintenance - indicate if the arrival of personnel from foreign supply companies is necessary, for example, for assembly or adjustment of equipment.

Entry procedure: you can stay in Russia for no more than 90 days in six months; if this clause is violated, your business visa will be cancelled.
Processing time: single invitations in 1-5 working days, multiple invitations from two to three weeks.

Please payattention on the expiration date of the passport - it is required that a period of 6 months remain after the end of the visa period. Countries included in the Schengen Agreement area allow you to obtain visas to Russia not in your country of citizenship, but at your place of work or actual residence. In such conditions, for registration you will need a work permit or residence permit, with a translation, necessarily certified by a notary, into Russian or English.

Work visa for citizens from foreign countries

Purpose of receipt – legal employment on the territory of the Russian Federation, providing income from legal activities. A “work” visa gives its holders the right to continuously, without leaving, stay in Russia for the entire specified time. Validity period is from 1 to 3 years, but foreigners can only work in the organization that invited it. The cost of issuing work invitations through agencies ranges from 75 - 95 thousand rubles per year to 135 thousand rubles for three years; this will take from 1.5 to two months. Documents confirming qualifications (diplomas, certificates), as well as a passport, with a notarized translation into Russian, are required.

Decorwork visa by the employer himself: the process is complex, multi-stage.

  • The employer receives a quota for the right to attract specialists from a specific foreign country, as well as Georgia and Turkmenistan.
  • Information about the employer and the available vacancy is submitted to the state. employment service.
  • Permission from the Federal Migration Service to accept foreign workers.
  • Registration of “plastic” is the legalization for a foreigner of the personal right to official work.
  • Submitting documents for an invitation for a potential employee.
  • Visa application form - application, in the “purpose of travel” column indicate “employment”
  • Obtaining a passport with a work visa.

Foreigners with a work visa are required to apply registration at the place of residence, and after each crossing of the borders of the Russian Federation. They also have the right to apply for a visa for their loved ones, indicating in their application the purpose of entry as “accompanying family member.”

Invitation and visa for tourist

Touristcall from tour operators accredited by the Federal Migration Service and the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs - an official condition for issuing a Russian tourist visa to a foreigner from far abroad for a period of no more than 30 days, single or double. The document is issued by hand or sent by fax or e-mail. The type of invitation issued for tourists does not matter; only the content specified in the laws is important - reliable personal data and details of the inviting party. The dates and routes of travel, places to stay, excursions and transport services for a foreign tourist must be indicated.

Touristvisa:

  1. It is important to check with the consulate whether the original invitation is needed or whether a copy will be sufficient
  2. Return tickets required
  3. Tourist insurance from a national or local insurance company, and its duration must cover the entire validity period of the visa (single and double entry).
  4. Completed forms, passport, photographs
  5. Delivery time 1 – 2 weeks; registration is possible in 1-2 days, but only by personal order of the consul.
  6. It is recommended to indicate in the “travel duration” column – up to two weeks, otherwise you will need to book and pay for a hotel for the entire duration of your stay, as well as provide a detailed plan for the tourist’s route.

What is an exit visa?

Foreigners (from the list of countries with a visa regime with Russia) are prohibited from staying on the territory of the Russian Federation without a functioning visa. An exit visa is issued if the current one has expired for any reason. The cost of obtaining a legal exit varies and is related to the type of visa entry, citizenship and the length of validity of the expired permit.

Requireddocumentation:

  • A passport with a visa that is no longer valid;
  • Original migration card filled out when crossing the border;
  • Photos 3 cm x 4 cm, color matte, 2 pcs.;
  • Tear-off part of the arrival notification coupon (original);
  • Grounds for obtaining an exit visa.

Why can you be refused a visa to Russia?

Are commongrounds for entry ban: the validity of the valid passport is insufficient, there are no more blank pages and it is impossible to affix a visa, the application form was filled out incorrectly or the data was inaccurate.

Refusalin obtaining a tourist visa:

  1. No tourist voucher;
  2. Inconsistency between the type of visa and the purpose of the trip: the application form indicates “to visit friends or relatives,” but the invitation is a tour. voucher or telex;
  3. The “place of residence” is not a hotel, but a relative’s apartment, a friend’s own house;
  4. The visit dates indicated by the tourist in the questionnaire do not correspond to the start and end dates of the tour. invitation;
  5. If a foreigner is not working at the time of receiving a visa, then a bank account statement for the past 3 months is required. The balance must correspond to the minimum amount required for each of the declared days of stay and is calculated separately according to the country. The document is certified by a bank stamp or seal; a regular printed copy is not suitable;
  6. Request for a double-entry visa: you will need valid air or railway tickets, a travel plan “Russia - one of the countries in the CIS - Russia” and booked hotel rooms in the cities indicated for visiting.

WhyYou can be refused a business visa:

  • It is incorrectly indicated who invited. The names of the organizations indicated in the call and the data entered in the questionnaire do not match.
  • The periods of stay indicated in the call and the questionnaire are different. Ideally, they should coincide 100%, or at least not be higher than the requested period of entry permission.
  • Purpose of the visit: the visit is not called “business”, but the column indicates “job search”. It should be remembered that a business visa is not intended for legal work and income generation.
  • The application was submitted before the consulate received the required visa instruction (telex). Important! Telex can be sent and received at the consulate from 10 to 17 hours, so it makes sense to fill out the form only the next day after the date of sending the visa instruction.
  • The locality indicated in the call does not correspond to the place of residence stated in the application form. It is important to fill out the “travel route” column correctly and enter the locality mentioned in the invitation.
  • “Failure” at an interview: consular officers may call the applicant for an interview or interview him over the phone. Subject – basic information about the company making the call, the name of the organization and its location.
  • Indication in the application form of regions closed to foreigners. In these cases, special permits are required.
  • The violation of the “90-day rule” is recorded very often. Exceeding the maximum period of stay in Russia with a multiple visa, recorded earlier, will become a valid reason for refusing entry into the territory of the Russian Federation.

Customs rules for import and export

The customs rules of the union (Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus) are applicable to citizens of all countries, both near and far abroad.

Allowedimport duty free:

  1. Goods intended only for personal use, costing no more than 1,500 euros (air - up to 10,000 euros), total weight no more than 50 kg.
  2. Alcohol, beer – up to 3 l
  3. Tobacco and cigarettes - only 250 g, or 200 cigarettes or 50 pcs. cigars
  4. Used goods imported by refugees or migrants
  5. Items received by inheritance, with documents confirming this fact
  6. Goods imported by people who have lived outside Russia for more than a year; cost up to 5000 euros
  7. Items previously exported and returned in the same condition must be previously specified in the declaration
  8. Urns with ashes, remains in coffins.

Included in the declaration, border control:

  • Goods with a cost of more than 1,500 (air - over 10,000) euros, weighing more than 50 kg;
  • Cash, traveler's checks – over $10,000;
  • Bills, checks and securities;
  • Drag. metals and jewelry stones;
  • Cultural values, state awards of the Russian Federation;
  • Rare animals and flora, products made from them;
  • Weapons and ammunition (with permission);
  • Potent pharmaceuticals. medications (with prescription);
  • Alcohol over 3 liters;
  • Radio electronics, including built-in;
  • Encryption tech. facilities;
  • Dust and ashes in urns, remains.

Prohibited for export from the Russian Federation Forfor personal use:

  1. Drag. metals and jewelry stones worth more than $25,000;
  2. Seafood and fish - over 5 kg;
  3. Sturgeon caviar - more than 250 g.

Allowedto cross the border only under special conditions. documents:

  • Weapons and their parts, ammunition (with permission from the Department of Internal Affairs);
  • Cultural values ​​(permission from Rosokhrankultura);
  • Rare representatives of fauna and flora (Rosprirodnadzor);
  • High-frequency and radio-electronic devices (Roskomnadzor);
  • Encryption tech. funds (FSB Center for Special Licensing).

Medical insurance

Insurance is mandatory for all foreigners from foreign countries; its presence is checked at the border along with the passport.

What expenses should it cover: inpatient and outpatient treatment, emergency care, dental care for acute pain or injury, medical care. transportation, unscheduled returns, repatriation of remains and obstetric care up to 29 weeks of pregnancy.

(No ratings yet)

    Tanya said:

    Good afternoon Your article says that “Also (due to the difficult political situation) citizens of all regions of Ukraine can still cross the border using an internal passport.”
    So, will a foreign passport be enough?

    Suomela said:

    I'm interested in the same question that Yuri asked.
    Does a citizen of Ukraine need a foreign passport for a short-term (up to 7 days) trip to Russia? And what regulatory documents confirm this?
    Unfortunately, I didn’t see an answer to Yuri’s question.
    Thank you.

    Rasul Said:

    Hello, I left Aktau (Kazakhstan) 07/04/2015 crossed the border 07/05/15 I have a passport, crossing the border of both Kazakhstan and Russia, they did not give me a migration card, they told the residents of Kazakh. you don’t need a ticket if up to 30 days, I was driving to Makhachkala and Derbent along the way, according to estimates there were about 14 traffic police posts, when I stopped they asked for a ticket, of course I didn’t have one, they wanted to deport me, threats, etc., in general, by the time I got to Derbent it took a lot money to travel further. and now I can’t understand who is right???? where was I deceived?))))

    Olga Said:

    Good afternoon Your article says that “Also (due to the difficult political situation) citizens of all regions of Ukraine can still cross the border with an internal passport.” What official document regulates this?

    Nina Said:

    They write on the Internet that as of March 15, 2015, the rules for entering Russia from Ukraine have changed. Now you need an official invitation, medical insurance, etc. Is this really true?

    Vasily Said:

    At our university in Lugansk, foreign students study who did not leave the city during the hostilities, among them 18 graduates from Nigeria, India, Iran and other countries. To obtain Russian-style diplomas for our domestic graduates, we draw up documents under the academic mobility program, and in general there are no problems. What about foreigners, what documents do they need to have in order to enter the Russian Federation, Rostov and also study under the academic mobility program, the duration of stay is from 7 to 90 days, depending on the discrepancy between the curricula?

    Anna said:

    Hello! I am a citizen of Ukraine received the status of temporary asylum on the territory of the Russian Federation, in connection with the conduct of military operations in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions. A misfortune happened in my homeland. My grandmother died, there is no one to bury me, I need to go there for a week, but they say that when I cross the border I will lose my status and I will not be able to enter the Russian Federation. What do you recommend doing?

    Oleg Said:

    Good evening. I am a citizen of Ukraine, when crossing the Russian border I was given a migration card, but they did not put the corresponding stamps in my foreign passport. what do you recommend doing?

    Sergey Said:

    How many politicians have shouted that from 2015 there will be new rules of stay for the countries of the customs union and you can stay without a visa or registration as long as you want and you can transport any amounts in any quantity.
    AND SO, 2015 HAS COME. All the old rules remain. NOTHING HAS CHANGED. BITTER AND HURTING.

    Lyudmila Said:

    It’s not clear to me, on the one hand, it is announced that citizens of Uzbekistan can enter Russia only with foreign passports, on the other hand, no one in Uzbekistan issues these foreign passports.

    Olloa Said:

    Hello! I am a citizen of Ukraine, I entered the territory of the Russian Federation on December 21, 2014. From January 1, 2015 There is a law that for those citizens who indicated the purpose of their trip as “work” on their migration card, it is necessary to obtain a patent within 30 days from the date of entry. But applications for new patents have not been accepted since December 18, and taking into account the holidays, it is impossible to meet the deadline for submitting documents until January 21. The Federal Migration Service said that the new rules do not apply to those who arrived in December, i.e. You can apply for a patent during the period of your migration card. Who has encountered this? What can you tell me?

    Denis said:

    I am a citizen of Ukraine, now I am in the Russian Federation, I have a private patent, do I need to leave the Russian Federation? Since on January 1 the law comes into force that entry and exit are only with foreign passports, but I crossed the border with an internal passport.

    Bema Said:

    Hello! If the purpose of the visit is indicated on the migration card: private, is it possible to apply for and obtain a patent? Will this be legal and will there be any problems later when leaving and entering the territory of the Russian Federation?!

    Olga Said:

    Good afternoon. A Lithuanian (EU) citizen resides in Norway on a work visa. He really wants to come to Russia for 1 month. Can he apply for a visa there and what documents are needed? Thank you!

    Christina Said:

    Good afternoon! Please tell me the question: my friend is flying to me from Odessa to Moscow on December 25, 2014, and returns back on January 18, 2015. Does she need a passport?

    Muzaffar Said:

    Hello. My mother and I are citizens of Uzbekistan and live in Uzbekistan. My father is a citizen of the Russian Federation and lives in the Russian Federation. Father Mother divorced in 1998. Can I obtain citizenship through my Father before 5 years?