According to the information kindly provided by CERBA Corporate Member – Intermark Relocation, please be informed that on 1 July 2021 the President of Russia signed a law which introduces obligatory fingerprinting and medical examination for foreign nationals who arrive in Russia for work purposes or stay in Russia for other purposes longer than 90 days.
The changes will take effect on 29 December 2021.
Which law introduces the changes?
Federal law No. 274-FZ of 1 July 2021
What are the changes?
1. The law introduces the obligatory fingerprinting and photographing procedure for the following foreigners:
- Those who enter Russia for the purpose of work
- Those who enter Russia for other purposes and stay longer than 90 days
Deadlines are as follows:
- HQS – upon collection of work permit
- Patent holders – upon filing application for patent
- Other employees, including EAEU nationals and standard WP holders – within 30 days from entry
- Those who enter for non-work purposes for longer than 90 days – within 90 days from entry
Specifics of procedure:
- Foreigners undergo it only once and receive a confirmation document upon passing it
- Medical check-up certificates are required for the process
2. The law introduces obligation of the above-mentioned categories to pass a medical check-up:
- Upon entry for work purposes – within 30 days from entry
- Upon entry for longer than 90 days – within 90 days from entry
- Repeated check-up upon expiry of previously received certificates – within 30 days from expiry
NB! The medical check-up includes tests for narcomania, HIV and a number of infectious diseases included in the list approved by the Ministry of Health.
Specifics of procedure:
- Check-up is conducted by medical institutions located in Russia
- The list of authorised medical institutions is to be approved by authorities in each Russian region
- The validity period of issued certificates is to be approved by the Ministry of Health
3. The law exempts the following foreign nationals from passing fingerprinting, photographing and medical check-up:
- citizens of Belarus
- children under 6 years old
- employees of intergovernmental organisations, employees of foreign diplomatic missions on the basis of reciprocity and their family members
4. In case a foreign national fails to attend fingerprinting or medical check-up, their allowed term of stay will be reduced.
In case narcomania or listed infectious diseases are detected, the term of stay will be reduced and additionally the authority can decide that the foreigner’s stay in Russia is undesirable.
Intermark comments
Once the law takes effect, all foreign employees, both visa-required and visa-free, HQS and EAEU nationals included, will become subject to the fingerprinting procedure requirement and will have to occasionally pass medical check-ups (the frequency will depend on the validity period of issued certificates).
Dependents who plan to stay in Russia longer than 90 days continuously will also fall under these new requirements.
In our estimation the law will make immigration cases more complex with foreign nationals becoming more involved in the process (necessity of in-person visits to authorities and clinics). In addition, difficulties with interpreting the law and putting it into practice might take place at the beginning. Specifically, the law does not specify course of action for those foreign employees who will be staying in Russia at the moment of its entry into force.
We will be closely monitoring official comments from state authorities as well as adoption of sub-laws elaborating on these new requirements.
Who is affected?
Foreign nationals who enter Russia for the purpose of work or enter for other purposes and stay longer than 90 days.
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