Fingerprinting and the foreign citizen card
Two separate procedures that are often confused: fingerprinting is required for everyone everywhere, the foreign citizen card only in some regions.
How many days you have for your citizenship, what to hand to your host and which document to keep with your passport.
Migration registration (миграционный учёт) is filed by the host — whoever you live with: the owner of the home, your employer if they provide housing, or an organisation. Your part is to hand over your documents and make sure the notification has been filed.
The deadline depends on your citizenship and runs from the day of entry.
| Citizenship | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Uzbekistan | 15 days |
| Tajikistan | 15 days |
| Azerbaijan | 7 working days |
| Moldova | 7 working days (general rule) |
| Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Armenia | 30 days |
| Belarus | 90 days |
Give your host your passport and migration card. The host files the notification — with the migration division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD), at an MFC, at the post office or through Gosuslugi. The host also pays the 500 ₽ state fee.
The tear-off part of the registration notification (отрывная часть уведомления). It is the key document of this step; keep it with your passport. Without it you won't be issued a foreign citizen card and your patent application won't be accepted.
Registration is valid for 90 days from the day of entry. Extend it in advance: apply 10 days before those 90 days run out.
If you have a patent, the extension is tied to the period your patent is paid for. In Moscow this is done in the «Амина» (Amina) app.
Federal Law 109-FZ of 18.07.2006 on migration registration. The deadlines for Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are set by bilateral agreements; the general rule of 109-FZ applies to everyone else. Liability — Article 18.8 of the Code of Administrative Offences (KoAP).
Two separate procedures that are often confused: fingerprinting is required for everyone everywhere, the foreign citizen card only in some regions.
Who needs it, by when, what it covers and where, and why the VHI policy is a separate document that does not replace the examination.
Who is exempt, why there are only three attempts, how long the certificate is valid and why it pays to take the exam at home before you fly.