Russia – Mandatory Fingerprint Registration and Medical Examination of Foreign Nationals

Effective 29 December 2021, new rules impose mandatory fingerprint registration and photography in addition to medical examinations for foreign nationals who have arrived in Russia for employment purposes and for those arriving in Russia for purposes other than work for a period exceeding 90 calendar days.¹

Effective 31 October 2021, foreign nationals entering Russia on a work visa must undergo a mandatory medical examination (for infectious diseases, HIV infection and drug addiction) under amendments to the Federal Law.²

Employers and globally-mobile workers should be aware of the new requirements for entry into Russia.  Preparing for and undergoing these tests and fulfilling these requirements could add additional time, expense, and administration to assignments and business travel to Russia.

These additional requirements to get the work permit in Russia as well as to work in Russia apply to citizens of countries who are allowed to work without work permits. Failure to comply with them could result in not being issued a work permit. 

• On 23 June 2021, the Federation Council approved the creation of a federal information system to collect information about the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population. 
• The goals of the sanitary and epidemiological information system are:
• Timely and prompt implementation of sanitary and anti-epidemic (preventive) measures;
• Organisation of cooperation between state departments to prevent the spread of infectious diseases that pose a danger to others from work activities of foreign nationals or stateless persons who might carry infectious diseases;
• Fostering a timely decision on the “undesirable” stay (residence) of a foreign national or stateless person in Russia;
• Integration and exchange of data with the information systems of the federal executive authorities;
• Provision of federal state sanitary and epidemiological supervision.

Fingerprinting and photography of foreign nationals who have arrived for the purpose of work shall be performed:

• for EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union) citizens, within 30 calendar days from the date of arrival in Russia;
• for Commonwealth of Independent States citizens, when applying for a patent;
• for highly qualified specialists (HQS), upon obtaining a work permit.

The medical examination of such foreign nationals must be performed prior to the completion of fingerprinting, but not later than 30 days from the date of arrival.

The current version of the law provides for this obligation only for holders of a standard work permit, as well as patents. After the amendments come into effect, HQS, as well as citizens of the EAEU countries, will be required to undergo these procedures.

Fingerprinting and photographic registration will need to be completed only once. The medical examination must be repeated within 30 calendar days after the expiration of the effective term of the documents from the previous examination.

The period of temporary stay in Russia of foreign nationals can be reduced in the event of non-compliance with their obligations to undergo mandatory state fingerprint registration, photography and/or medical examination.

The requirements do not apply to certain categories of foreign nationals, for example, citizens of Belarus and children under 6 years old.

1  Federal Law No. 274-FZ of 01.07.2021 On the Introduction of Amendments to the Federal Law "On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation" and the Federal Law "On State Fingerprint Registration in the Russian Federation."

2  Federal Law No. 357-FZ of 02.07.2021. 

*  Please note that KPMG LLP (U.S.) does not provide any immigration services.  However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.

The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Russia.