Last Updated on November 24, 2023 by Irena Domingo
Registration is the process by which the Russian authorities are informed of the place where a foreign citizen will be staying. In the case that you are a tourist or traveling to Russia for business or studies, you don’t need to worry because you don’t have to address any organization to notify your registration or waste your time. It’s the inviting party that should take care of the entire registration procedure. I’ll explain it in detail below.
I'm going to talk about ...
- Foreigners’ Obligations under the New Regulations
- 1. What is immigration registration in Russia?
- 2. Who Should Perform Immigration Registration?
- 3. What is the deadline for registration in Russia?
- 4. Who is not obliged to register?
- 5. How much does registration cost in Russia?
- 6. What does the registration procedure involve, and what documents are needed?
- 7. Where is the registration of a foreign citizen notified?
- 8. What happens if the inviting party doesn’t register you?
- 9. Can I check if I’ve been registered?
- 10. In conclusion
Foreigners’ Obligations under the New Regulations
Until recently, the regulations governing immigration registration in Russia were not very clear, and everyone interpreted them in their own way.
I suppose this is why there are still many articles on the internet that talk about the obligation of tourists to register and how failing to do so could lead to hefty fines, a ban on entering Russia for up to 5 years, or even deportation to Siberia to live in an ice cave and eat snow.
Jokes aside, none of this is true. The obligation to register lies with the inviting party (hotel, guesthouse, tourist accommodation, etc.). The tourist doesn’t need to waste time doing any registration; they’ve already gone through enough getting their visa processed.
Since 2020, there’s been a new regulation amending the existing legislation, clarifying many points that previously led to various interpretations. The legislation presents two possibilities:
- Registration of foreigners visiting Russia for tourism, business, studies, or visiting friends or relatives (and who do not have a residence permit). In this case, it’s the inviting party’s obligation to register.
- Registration of foreigners with temporary or permanent residence in Russia who must register at their place of residence. In this case, the foreigner must register if they own property in Russia or if they will reside in someone else’s property with the owner’s consent. There’s an electronic procedure enabled by the Russian government for requesting registration, which costs 350 rubles and must be done within 7 business days.
This article focuses on the first case, i.e., foreigners traveling for tourism, business, studies, or to visit friends or family.
1. What is immigration registration in Russia?
Registration is essentially the process by which you inform the Russian authorities, upon your arrival in Russia, about the place where you will be staying.
It’s an informative registration for the responsible immigration authorities of the Russian Federation, with, among others, the following objectives:
- Develop and implement State policy in the migration sphere.
- Have updated information on the movements of foreigners in the Russian Federation and conduct state statistical monitoring in the migration sphere.
- Contribute to the economic development of the territories of the Russian Federation.
- For crisis management such as the Covid-19 pandemic.
- To combat illegal immigration.
The objectives I just mentioned aren’t made up; they are some reflected in the regulations governing immigration registration:
- Federal Law 109 of July 18, 2006, which has undergone many amendments, the latest in 2023, regulating immigration registration in the Russian Federation.
- Decree 9 of January 15, 2007, which details the procedure for registering foreign citizens.
- Order 856 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia dated December 10, 2020, approving the administrative regulations for immigration registration, including all the official forms used in the procedure.
2. Who Should Perform Immigration Registration?
The regulations state that the registration must be done by the inviting party, which can be:
- A citizen of the Russian Federation
- A foreigner with a residence permit in Russia
- A legal entity in Russia.
In other words:
- If you travel for tourism, the hotel, guesthouse, or tourist accommodation (including health resorts, spas, etc.) must register you. It doesn’t matter if you included one hotel in your invitation letter and ended up staying in another since any hotel is obliged to carry out the registration.
- If you travel for business, the Russian company inviting you should register you.
- If you travel for studies, the Russian educational institution where you study must register you.
- If your trip is for private reasons to visit friends or family in Russia, then your friends or family should register you.
3. What is the deadline for registration in Russia?
The registration deadline depends on the nationality of the foreigner.
For foreign citizens from the vast majority of countries, there’s a 7-business-day period from the day of arrival at the place of stay to register, except for hotels, guesthouses, camps, sanatoriums, or other licensed tourist accommodations, where the registration notification must be made within 1 business day. In this case, the hotel or tourist accommodation usually does it electronically.
However, for citizens of some “friendly” countries to Russia, the registration period is longer and can extend up to 30 business days. This applies to citizens of the Eurasian Union countries: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
4. Who is not obliged to register?
The regulations establish some exceptions to the registration obligation.
It is not mandatory to register in the following cases:
- Foreign citizens staying in Russia for a period not exceeding 7 business days, except those staying in hotels or other licensed tourist accommodations, where the registration notification must be made within 1 business day. The 7-business-day period starts from the day following the foreigner’s arrival. This count of business days excludes weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) and holidays in Russia. For example, if you arrive in Russia on a Saturday with a private visa to visit a friend or family member and leave the following Tuesday, your friend or family member in Russia won’t need to register you since you will have been in Russia for a period not exceeding 7 business days.
- Heads of State or Government of foreign countries, as well as members of parliamentary delegations or international organizations invited by the Russian Government, and their family members.
- Crew members of ships, aircraft, trains, or other international transport vehicles, under certain conditions detailed by law.
5. How much does registration cost in Russia?
Registration is free for trips for tourism, business, studies, or visiting family or friends. The inviting party cannot charge any amount to the foreigner for this service. Although I must say, I’ve received emails from people traveling to Russia who have turned to companies offering registration services and have been asked for more than $150 to carry out the procedure.
For foreigners traveling to Russia with temporary or permanent residence permits, there’s a small fee of 350 rubles through the electronic procedure enabled on Gosuslugi, the informative website of the Russian Government where multiple electronic administrative procedures can be performed.
6. What does the registration procedure involve, and what documents are needed?
If you’re traveling for tourism, the procedure is as follows:
Step 1: Upon your arrival, the hotel reception or administration will request the following documentation:
- Passport: The hotel will make a copy of the personal information page and, if applicable, the paper visa and entry/exit stamps. If you’re traveling with an electronic visa, they will also make a copy.
- Immigration card: This card is given to you upon entering Russia. If lost, you’ll need to replace it to proceed with the registration.
Please note that the hotel cannot keep your original passport or immigration card; thus, they must make copies of your documents.
Step 2: With your passport and immigration card details, the hotel will fill out the “notification form for the arrival of a foreign citizen to the Russian Federation” and notify the Russian immigration authorities within 1 business day. Russian authorities need to approve the registration, which usually happens quickly (less than 1 day). The tourist accommodation will provide you with the approved registration certificate. Sometimes hotels do not hand this certificate to the client, but you can request it.
Some points I’d like to highlight:
- The form filled out by the hotel is entirely in Russian, making it impossible for a foreign tourist to fill it.
- If you change accommodations, your new hotel will take care of registering you there.
- The police cannot request the registration certificate from you on the street.
- Upon exiting Russia, you only need to present your passport and visa. The registration certificate is not required.
7. Where is the registration of a foreign citizen notified?
Hotels and tourist accommodations usually notify the Ministry of Interior electronically, but it can also be done in person at municipal public services, Ministry of Interior offices, or through any post office.
8. What happens if the inviting party doesn’t register you?
Sometimes, the inviting party may not proceed with the registration. This might occur in apartments without a tourist license. There’s no problem. The responsibility lies with the inviting company, which might face a fine (ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 rubles), not the tourist.
In any case, I recommend booking accommodation with a tourist license. On major Russian accommodation booking platforms like Ostrovok, hotels and apartments with a tourist license are advertised, so they typically handle the registration without issues.
9. Can I check if I’ve been registered?
If the inviting party hasn’t provided you with the registration certificate, you can request it. As far as I know, the Russian government hasn’t set up any electronic procedure for foreign citizens to check it themselves.
10. In conclusion
If you’re traveling to Russia for tourism or business, forget about the registration. Just follow the instructions of the inviting party regarding the documentation required (passport, visa, and immigration card), and most importantly, enjoy your trip 🙂
I hope this article has provided you with a better understanding of how the registration procedure works in Russia. Below, you can share your experience.
Hello Irena ,
I need a help.
I entered Moscow on 23rd December 2019 and will depart on 31st Decemebr .Do my host need to register ?
it will be total 9 days – 2 satuarday and Sunday = 7 -1 christmas Holiday = 6 days
please help me and reply ,Do i need to register or not ?
Heena
Hi. Is it still OK to do the registration from any post office?
Hello. I am looking for a document that would allow me to request information on registration of a biological parent in 1992. Is there a form that is available for this request?
Hello, to everyone who is wondering about the registration.
I visited Russia last year and had read about this. When I entered Russia I didn’t bother in registering and nothing really happened, I didn’t get any questions asked by any officers when I left Russia whatsoever. My stay was for 3 weeks. I honestly don’t think that you will have a problem if you do not register, however, it is supposedly legal procedure registering upon entering Russia. Just don’t get into trouble and you will be fine.
Oh, and just for anyone wondering, I’m from Canada
Hi I will be in russia visiting 3 cities for 10 days. 2 will fall on weekend and 1 on public holiday. That makes my “official” stay in Russia exactly 7 days. Do i have to register?
Hellow ,I am a student in Saint peterburg and i have been registered for a specific time till my last visa has ended ,and already i renew the visa ,but after recieving my passport i remembered that i have to get registered again after 15 days the registration finished ,is it a problem? can i normaly register again even after 15 days ?
hi lrena i am citiizen of canada i separated with my wife 2016 may i give my profile in one dating site after that i never check then in 2018 april one girl send me email with the photo and i don’t check my email so many day when i check the email she look like very nice then i reply her after 10 or 20 day she reply every day i wrote every day she wrote everyday she sent me picture i sent picture etc she told me she orphanage
and i decide i want help to her and i will get the company with her. i am living alone. decide like that
last 9th of October she send me ticket detail and she told me i don’t have enough money please send me 510 dollar us i send that money to her after that she send me ticket detail i am visiting Canada 11th October
after that she send the email when i go to fly to Canada i want show the money us dolor 2500 i sent to her
2600 us dolor when i sent her that she send me ticket detail 22nd October she is coming Canada. but after
that she send the email i don’t have Russian registration i paid all that 2700 us dollar now she is asking me 2500 dollar us its true its fraud i am scared if its true if don’t send to her she do something wrong with her then i am in problem if i will send to her then i am in problem because i already send her $4300 Canadian
if i will send more i am in problem these day i am already suffering with financial crises
can you advise me in this matter.
Hi Irena, I am visiting Rostov on a tourist visa for ten days. Attempted to register, with my host, at ГУВМ. We were rudely kicked out as we came at the “wrong time”. Should we report this unprofessional behavior to avoid questions at the airport when I depart?!
I am right now in one of the immigration office and they asked me to pay 5,000 Rubles plus 150 Rubles for administration fee. I am going to stay about for a month.
To my knowledge, the fee for 14 day stay is 2,500 Rubles and less than 7 days are exempt of paying this up going fee.
The interesting thing is that in the Russian consulate which they gave me the visa , they never mentioned of existing such a fee.
Hi Irena
Great detail you’ve offered here. Thank you.
I have quite a question: I am in SPb on a multi entry tourist visa for 3 weeks and was not aware I need to register where I am staying! I am in a private residence. Should my host and I simply go to the post office and try to register? We are leaving for a week in Georgia starting Saturday. What am I in for if I don’t take care of this before I leave? Plus how does the visit work for 3 year multi tourist? 180 days in Russia one day out? Or 180 out? Can it be a week in a week out?
Thanks
Mark
HI Irena,
i’m Shahla From Syria , i’m going to Travel to Russia on a study Visa , i’ll arrive to Mosocw for 1 day only then i’ll travel again to another city in which the university is located, but i want to live in my friend’s apartment ” Russian citizen ” instead of the university dormitory cause i’m going to travel with my dog, and i have question cause i am bit confused and i apologize about it :
***Should i register in this case in Moscow and re-register in the next city upon my arrival ? or it will be enough to register in the destination where is the university located ? and could my friend register me if i’m on a study Visa ? or the university itself should do it ??
Thanks in Advance !!!
hello~! i am Changhyung from Korea. i will visit russia for the world cup period. i will stay in my friend’s house but she rent it so she cant make registration for me.. in your article it says there are some agency which could make registrarion for me. could you please tell me how to find thoses agencies?..
Hi Irena
We will be visiting during the world cup, one night in Moscow at a hotel, then 3 nights Sochi in hotel (there they make the registration) and then again Moscow private apartment 5 days. Would we need to register in Moscow for the last 5 days? Many thanks
hello, im from mexico, im visiting russia for the world cup, your article its really clear by the way, thanks for that, i just have 1 question.. i will be 3 days in st . petesburgo, then 2 days in samara, then 2 days in moscow… (29 june – 6 of july) do i need to register in all 3 cities.. or just in the first city (st . petesburg) when i arrive!! im staying in airbnb in all 3 cities!! thanks
Hi Irena,
Thanks so much for your article.
I have the same question here. does “arrivals between FIFA cities” mean the whenever I arrive each city who host FIFA, I have to register once?
Also, does anyone know detailed definition of “the first day”?? does this mean the first 24 hours or the date when I enter Russia? I will arrive Russia around 9pm and I’m worried that I cannot make registration at the day.
HI Irena,
Do you have a link to a russian government site that explains this registration process? I am thinking of using airbnb during the world cup as there are no hotels or hostels and just want to make sure they are aware.
Thanks in advance
Sorry on train on 24 night not 21july
Hi
I will visit Russia 2 cities 21-28 July.2018
Moscow 21-24 = 2 business days
on train = 1 night = 21jul
St peter 25-28 = 3 business days
In this case should I register? Bc of wold cup?
It is explained in the article: In May 2017 a new regulation was issued. Foreigners must register the first day of their arrival between May 25, 2018 and July 25, 2018 in the cities hosting the World Cup in Volgograd, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Kaliningrad, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov-on-Don, Samara, St. Petersburg, Saransk and Sochi.
Hello, I will reach Moscow on Saturday and will leave Moscow on following Saturday. In this case, should I register?
No, except during Football World Cup
Hi Irena .We will be travelling to Russia from South Africa in October 2018. If we stay in Moscow DME for two days then travel by train to St Petersburg and stay for 6 days excluding the Saturdays and Sunday(12/10/2018 to 20/10/2018)(we will be travelling back to Moscow on the Monday 21/10/2018 by train) Will be a total of 9 days in Moscow. Do we need to register at both Moscow and St Petersburg accommodation? We will be staying 2 days at the first accommodation in Moscow and when we return at a different accommodation in Moscow. Do we need to register at both? Regards Salome
Do we need to register at both Moscow and St Petersburg accommodation? Yes
Hi Irena. We will be visiting St Petersburg next June, for three days on a cruise ship. We plan on taking one organized tour, but applying for our own tourist visas, so we can get around the city independently on the other two days of our visit. If we need to register that visa upon arrival, how do we go about it? Thank you
Hi Julie,
If you are staying in Russia less than 7 business days, you don’t need to register
Hi Irena,
Thank you for all the helpful information! Me and my girlfriend will be arriving in St. Petersburg soon and stay there for 5 days. By nighttrain we’ll then go to Moscow and stay there for 2 days and with our 30 days Visa we’ll travel down to Lake Baikel with several stops in between and finally leave the country over the Mongolian border. Knowing that 1) all seperate stops will be less than 7 days and 2) our Airbnb host in St. Petersburg can’t/won’t help with visa registration, would it be wise, sufficient and easiest to stay in an hotel in Moscow and register through them?
Thanks in advance!
Cas
Hey Irena. My name is Mehrad. Actually I have my residence in Russia for some long while. but as i remember there were some new law during 1st June till 1st July for non Soviet citizen that we had less thay 24 hours for registration. I just wanna make sure this law is not standing anymore?
Yes, but only during the celebration of the Confederations Cup (already finished) and during the next World Cup 2018
hello .irena. i lives in zelenorgrad. And my girlfriend comes to moscow . she uses tourist visa (30days). i rent apartment. the host of apartment tells no need to register in local FMS. so i confuses need to register or not.
She needs to register
Hello Irena,
Today I went to the local FMS to register my Visa and they asked for a full copy of my passport.
Usually I supplied for years and years only a copy of the main page and a copy of the Visa page.
They said that the requirements have changed.
It’s an awful waste of paper, could you, please, tell me if this is right or if this is a “local” change?
Thanks a lot and all the best
Usually it’s a copy of the main page and a copy of the Visa page.
Hi Irena,
Thank you for writing these tips and information. I have booked an accommodation through airbnb and our first host (that we will rent her apartment for 15 days in St. Petersburg) refuses to register that for us. (Our second host in Moscow for the last part of our travel is wiling to do that for us but we have to register first in SPB).
I don’t need a visa to enter Russia so I have no agent or know any locals to register that for me.
1. Could you recommend me any other ways? (Is there anyone you know that I can pay for the service?)
2. Do I really need locals to do that for me? Can I just print the receipt with address that I am renting to show the officer at the governmental office?
Hi Irena
Thank you for your extremely helpful website. I have a registration question. We will stay a few days first in a St Petersburg apartment and then a few more days in a Moscow hotel. I suspect that it will be easiest to register in the Moscow hotel. Am I right in presuming it doesn’t matter where you register first providing it is within the first 7 business days?
Stewart
Yes
Hi Irena,
Thanks for this. Just to be clear, we will visit Russia for 30 days, but won’t stay in any city for more than 7 business days. We must be registered within the first 7 business days of our visit, but should not need to register again in any other city?
I do have another query, relating to the July 2016 law about importing prescription medications to Russia. My wife will need to bring diabetes and asthma medication. She will have a letter from her doctor explaining the need for the medications. Does she need to have the letter translated? The Embassy in Canberra FAQ states that the medications are allowed, but gives no other details. http://australia.mid.ru/web…
Yes. I do not know if they request translation, you’d better ask the Consulate.