Latest news about fingerprinting, photo taking, and medical examinations for foreign nationals
We have compiled in this newsletter all currently available information regarding the new rules for fingerprinting, photo taking and medical examinations applicable to foreign nationals, which will take effect on December 29, 2021[1]. To complete this compilation, we have reviewed not only the law, but also the recommendations issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs[2], as well as information from other resources.
All foreign citizens who enter Russia will be subject to fingerprinting, photo taking and medical examinations:
- If they enter Russia for more than 90 days for purposes other than work, including accompanying family members;
- If they enter Russia for work in any capacity, regardless of the intended period of stay in Russia (whether they have a patent, a simple work permit, or as a highly qualified specialist (HQS), as well as in cases where these documents are not required).
When are fingerprinting, photo taking, medical examinations required?
Foreign nationals will have to provide their medical examination results when they go for fingerprinting and photo taking, so they will first need to go for a medical examination and then for fingerprinting and photo taking. All these procedures must be completed within the timeframes specified below.
For foreign nationals who will be in Russia on December 29, 2021 and do not plan to leave:
- These procedures will need to be completed after the first entry into Russia. The obligation to go through these procedures will not arise as long as foreign nationals remain in Russia.
Foreign nationals who will enter Russia after December 29, 2021 will need to be fingerprinted and photographed:
- within 90 days of the date of entry into Russia if they enter Russia for purposes other than work;
- within 30 days of the date of entry into Russia if they enter Russia to work; or
- upon receipt of HQS work permit; or
- upon submission of documents and application for patent.
Foreign nationals who will enter Russia after December 29, 2021 will need to go through a medical examination:
- within 90 days of the date of entry into Russia if they enter Russia for purposes other than work;
- within 30 days of the date of entry into Russia if they enter Russia to work (including HQS).
How often should all this be done?
Foreign nationals will need to be fingerprinted and photographed only once.
The validity term of medical certificates is still unclear for the time being.
The law provides for the following rule: each subsequent medical examination must be completed within 30 days of expiration of the validity period of medical certificates. The validity term of these documents is set by the Ministry of Health.
Ministry of Health decrees set out that medical certificates are valid for 3 months [3], so foreign nationals should go through a medical examination every 3 months + 30 days.
We also think that the obligation for foreign nationals entering Russia for work purposes to go through these procedures is not tied to the period of stay in Russia, i.e. this obligation arises as soon as they enter Russia regardless of whether such foreign nationals have stayed in Russia fewer than 30 days.
However, based on verbal information from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, if a foreign national travels to Russia for work for fewer than 30 days each time, then the foreign national does not need to go through medical examinations.
Where to get fingerprinted and photographed?
- In migration divisions at the local offices of the Ministry of Internal Affairs;
- At the Federal State Unitary Enterprise Passport and Visa Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and its branches;
- At the Multifunctional Migration Center in Sakharovo (Moscow).
Where to go through medical examinations?
In authorized medical clinics.
The list of such clinics in St. Petersburg is quite extensive[4].
Foreign nationals who have arrived to work in Moscow, as well as those applying for a temporary or permanent residence permit may go through a medical examination only at the clinic in Sakharovo migration center. The list of clinics is more extensive for foreign nationals who have not arrived in Moscow for purposes other than work[5].
What to do with the medical certificates obtained after passing a medical examination?
Foreign citizen must personally submit medical documents to the Ministry of Internal Affairs as and when required by law. We understand that it is necessary for foreign nationals to go through a medical examination upon first entry into Russia, but they are not formally required to submit to the Ministry of Internal Affairs the medical certificate received after this first medical examination. However, this medical certificate will be required for fingerprinting and photo taking. . After the expiration of 3 months from the date of the first medical examination, it will be necessary to go through a medical examination again, and the medical examination results will need to be personally submitted to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. For now, it is unfortunately not possible to submit these documents to the Ministry of Internal Affairs under a power of attorney.
Who will not be required to fulfill the above obligations?
- Foreign nationals staying in Russia for fewer than 90 days and for purposes other than work;
- Citizens of Belarus;
- Children under the age of 6;
- Employees of international organizations, their family members, etc.
Foreign nationals with a temporary or permanent residence permit
Temporary or permanent residence permit holders, as well as other foreign nationals who have already been fingerprinted and photographed will not need to go through these procedures again. However, we recommend contacting the Ministry of Internal Affairs to get a document confirming that these procedures have been duly completed (plastic card).
According to the new rules, temporary or permanent residence permit holders who have already gone through a medical examination will not need to regularly go through such examination. In certain cases, HQS with a residence permit will need to go through a medical examination upon receipt of their work permit. However, the position held by state authorities on this issue may change.
Please note that this review does not constitute legal advice. The conclusions presented in the review are drawn from the provisions of the laws on this matter and are to be updated depending on the specific circumstances of each situation. If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact our specialists.
If you have any questions or you would like to discuss this further, please feel free to email Alexandra Yudina or Mika Kokkonen.
Truly yours,
[1] Federal Law N 274-FZ dated July 1, 2021 Amending Federal Law On the Legal Status of Foreign Nationals in the Russian Federation and Federal Law On State Fingerprinting in the Russian Federation
[2] https://xn--b1aew.xn--p1ai/mvd/structure1/Glavnie_upravlenija/guvm/news/item/27614459/
[3] Russian Ministry of Health Decree N 1079n dated November 19, 2021
[4] St. Petersburg Government Decree N 253 dated March 5, 2015
[5] Moscow Government Decree N 1517-PP dated September 28, 2021