AMINA becomes mandatory for certain foreign students in Moscow from 1 September 2026
From 1 September 2026, affected foreign students in Moscow and the Moscow Region will use the AMINA mobile app for migration registration. The change forms part of the experiment established by Federal Law No. 121-FZ, which runs from 1 September 2025 to 1 September 2029.
Who is covered
Sechenov University’s guidance applies to students aged 18 or over who are citizens of:
• Azerbaijan
• Armenia
• Georgia
• Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Moldova
• Tajikistan
• Ukraine
• Uzbekistan
The university states that the new procedure does not apply to foreign citizens who hold a temporary residence permit (RVP), a temporary residence permit for education (RVPO), or a permanent residence permit (VNZh).
What happens to an existing registration
A migration registration completed before 1 September 2026 remains valid until its expiry date. The student moves to registration through AMINA only when the current registration expires. Students entering Russia for the first time are given 30 days to complete migration registration.
How AMINA works
The official app is currently available only for Android through RuStore; the developer is GKU Informatsionny Gorod. The RUDN instructions say users must allow continuous location access, camera access and notifications.
Authorization can be completed by scanning the QR code on the foreign citizen card. If the card is unavailable or scanning fails, passport details and date of birth can be entered manually, followed by a selfie check. RUDN says МВД processing may take up to 24 hours, after which the app transmits location data to confirm the person’s actual place of stay.
An important compliance point
Official guidance states that if the device stops sending geolocation data for more than 3 working days, the person may be removed from registration at the authorised migration-centre address. Battery-saving settings therefore should not be allowed to disable AMINA’s background location access.
In practical terms, affected students need an Android device, the official RuStore version of AMINA and continuous background geolocation. Existing valid registrations do not need to be replaced early.
Sources:
Sechenov University: https://student.sechenov.ru/info/109403308/
RUDN University: https://www.rudn.ru/media/news/life-in-rudn/studentam-iz-stran-s-bezvizovym-rejimom-procedura-migracionnogo-ucheta-perevoditsya-polnostyu-v-cifrovoy-format
Federal Law No. 121-FZ: https://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_505834/5bdc78bf7e3015a0ea0c0ea5bef708a6c79e2f0a/
From 1 September 2026, affected foreign students in Moscow and the Moscow Region will use the AMINA mobile app for migration registration. The change forms part of the experiment established by Federal Law No. 121-FZ, which runs from 1 September 2025 to 1 September 2029.
Who is covered
Sechenov University’s guidance applies to students aged 18 or over who are citizens of:
• Azerbaijan
• Armenia
• Georgia
• Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Moldova
• Tajikistan
• Ukraine
• Uzbekistan
The university states that the new procedure does not apply to foreign citizens who hold a temporary residence permit (RVP), a temporary residence permit for education (RVPO), or a permanent residence permit (VNZh).
What happens to an existing registration
A migration registration completed before 1 September 2026 remains valid until its expiry date. The student moves to registration through AMINA only when the current registration expires. Students entering Russia for the first time are given 30 days to complete migration registration.
How AMINA works
The official app is currently available only for Android through RuStore; the developer is GKU Informatsionny Gorod. The RUDN instructions say users must allow continuous location access, camera access and notifications.
Authorization can be completed by scanning the QR code on the foreign citizen card. If the card is unavailable or scanning fails, passport details and date of birth can be entered manually, followed by a selfie check. RUDN says МВД processing may take up to 24 hours, after which the app transmits location data to confirm the person’s actual place of stay.
An important compliance point
Official guidance states that if the device stops sending geolocation data for more than 3 working days, the person may be removed from registration at the authorised migration-centre address. Battery-saving settings therefore should not be allowed to disable AMINA’s background location access.
In practical terms, affected students need an Android device, the official RuStore version of AMINA and continuous background geolocation. Existing valid registrations do not need to be replaced early.
Sources:
Sechenov University: https://student.sechenov.ru/info/109403308/
RUDN University: https://www.rudn.ru/media/news/life-in-rudn/studentam-iz-stran-s-bezvizovym-rejimom-procedura-migracionnogo-ucheta-perevoditsya-polnostyu-v-cifrovoy-format
Federal Law No. 121-FZ: https://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_505834/5bdc78bf7e3015a0ea0c0ea5bef708a6c79e2f0a/
👋 Welcome to Rusvisa Travel
Planning a trip to Russia? This channel will help you understand the visa and entry process without unnecessary complexity.
Here you’ll find practical information about:
• Russian visas and unified e-visas
• Tourist and business invitations
• Entry requirements and border procedures
• Migration registration and permitted periods of stay
• Important changes to immigration rules
• Required documents, deadlines and common mistakes
• Practical preparation for your journey
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RUSVISA.travel is an independent visa-support service. We are not a government authority or consulate, and final decisions on visas and entry are made by the competent Russian authorities.
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Planning a trip to Russia? This channel will help you understand the visa and entry process without unnecessary complexity.
Here you’ll find practical information about:
• Russian visas and unified e-visas
• Tourist and business invitations
• Entry requirements and border procedures
• Migration registration and permitted periods of stay
• Important changes to immigration rules
• Required documents, deadlines and common mistakes
• Practical preparation for your journey
We check time-sensitive information against official sources and explain the rules in clear English.
RUSVISA.travel is an independent visa-support service. We are not a government authority or consulate, and final decisions on visas and entry are made by the competent Russian authorities.
Subscribe to stay informed and prepare for your trip with confidence.
🌐 https://rusvisa.travel/
Russian e-visa: validity and permitted stay are not the same
Russia’s unified electronic visa can simplify a short visit, but two different time limits must be checked before booking travel.
For e-visas issued from 23 August 2025:
• The visa is valid for up to 120 days from its date of issue.
• The permitted stay is no more than 30 days from the date of entry.
• You must leave Russia no later than the final day of the visa’s 120-day validity period, even if 30 days have not passed since entry.
Who can apply?
The official Ministry of Foreign Affairs portal currently lists nationals of 64 countries. Eligibility depends on citizenship, not country of residence.
Before submitting an application
• No invitation or confirmation of travel purpose is required.
• Processing takes up to four calendar days, including weekends and public holidays. The submission day is not counted.
• If the application is returned for corrections, the processing period is counted again from resubmission.
• Each travelling child needs a separate e-visa application.
Check your purpose of travel
The e-visa covers tourism, private and business visits, and participation in specified scientific, cultural, economic, sporting and other events. Transit is not available as a selectable purpose. If your actual purpose falls outside the permitted categories, apply for the appropriate paper visa through a Russian diplomatic mission or consulate.
Check your route
Entry and departure must both take place through border checkpoints approved for e-visa travel. Before buying tickets, check every international airport, land crossing, railway station or seaport on your itinerary against the current official list.
Finally, compare the issued e-visa with your passport immediately. The official FAQ says data in an issued e-visa cannot be corrected; a new application is required if the visa contains incorrect personal information.
Sources:
Russian MFA e-visa portal:
https://electronic-visa.kdmid.ru/index_en.html
Official e-visa FAQ:
https://electronic-visa.kdmid.ru/faq_en.html
Eligible countries and approved checkpoints:
https://electronic-visa.kdmid.ru/country_en.html
https://electronic-visa.kdmid.ru/checkpoint_en.html
If you are not eligible for an e-visa or need a different visa category, RUSVISA.travel can help you understand the invitation options.
🌐 https://rusvisa.travel/
Russia’s unified electronic visa can simplify a short visit, but two different time limits must be checked before booking travel.
For e-visas issued from 23 August 2025:
• The visa is valid for up to 120 days from its date of issue.
• The permitted stay is no more than 30 days from the date of entry.
• You must leave Russia no later than the final day of the visa’s 120-day validity period, even if 30 days have not passed since entry.
Who can apply?
The official Ministry of Foreign Affairs portal currently lists nationals of 64 countries. Eligibility depends on citizenship, not country of residence.
Before submitting an application
• No invitation or confirmation of travel purpose is required.
• Processing takes up to four calendar days, including weekends and public holidays. The submission day is not counted.
• If the application is returned for corrections, the processing period is counted again from resubmission.
• Each travelling child needs a separate e-visa application.
Check your purpose of travel
The e-visa covers tourism, private and business visits, and participation in specified scientific, cultural, economic, sporting and other events. Transit is not available as a selectable purpose. If your actual purpose falls outside the permitted categories, apply for the appropriate paper visa through a Russian diplomatic mission or consulate.
Check your route
Entry and departure must both take place through border checkpoints approved for e-visa travel. Before buying tickets, check every international airport, land crossing, railway station or seaport on your itinerary against the current official list.
Finally, compare the issued e-visa with your passport immediately. The official FAQ says data in an issued e-visa cannot be corrected; a new application is required if the visa contains incorrect personal information.
Sources:
Russian MFA e-visa portal:
https://electronic-visa.kdmid.ru/index_en.html
Official e-visa FAQ:
https://electronic-visa.kdmid.ru/faq_en.html
Eligible countries and approved checkpoints:
https://electronic-visa.kdmid.ru/country_en.html
https://electronic-visa.kdmid.ru/checkpoint_en.html
If you are not eligible for an e-visa or need a different visa category, RUSVISA.travel can help you understand the invitation options.
🌐 https://rusvisa.travel/
Russian tourist visa: is a hotel booking enough?
A hotel reservation and a tourist confirmation are not always the same document. Using the wrong supporting document can delay a regular Russian tourist visa application.
The standard route
For a regular tourist visa, the Russian Foreign Ministry lists a confirmation of acceptance of a foreign tourist issued by an organisation included in Russia’s federal register of tour operators.
The document is commonly called a tourist confirmation, visa support document, tourist voucher or tourist invitation. It should match the traveller’s passport details, planned dates and itinerary.
When a hotel confirmation may be used
Citizens of certain countries included in a specific Russian Government list may use a booking confirmation from a hotel or other accommodation provider instead of a tourist confirmation.
This exception does not mean that every applicant can submit an ordinary booking-platform email. The accommodation provider must be included in Russia’s official register of classified accommodation, and the confirmation must meet the prescribed requirements.
Do not confuse this with an e-visa
Applicants for Russia’s unified electronic visa do not need an invitation, hotel booking confirmation or another document proving the purpose of travel. However, e-visa eligibility depends on citizenship and the actual purpose and route of the trip.
Before applying for a regular tourist visa:
• Check the instructions of the Russian consulate responsible for your place of residence.
• Confirm whether your nationality qualifies for the hotel-booking alternative.
• Make sure your name and passport number are copied exactly.
• Check that the requested visa dates and itinerary are supported by the document.
• Do not assume that payment for accommodation automatically provides valid visa support.
Requirements and submission procedures may vary by consular post, so use the instructions published by the office where you will apply.
Sources:
Consular Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry — visa categories and supporting documents:
https://www.kdmid.ru/cons/visas/
Official Russian consular guidance in English:
https://dublin.kdmid.ru/en/consular-functions/visas/applying-for-a-visa/
Official unified e-visa portal:
https://evisa.kdmid.ru/
Need a tourist confirmation for a regular Russian visa? RUSVISA.travel can help you prepare the appropriate visa-support document.
🌐 https://rusvisa.travel/
A hotel reservation and a tourist confirmation are not always the same document. Using the wrong supporting document can delay a regular Russian tourist visa application.
The standard route
For a regular tourist visa, the Russian Foreign Ministry lists a confirmation of acceptance of a foreign tourist issued by an organisation included in Russia’s federal register of tour operators.
The document is commonly called a tourist confirmation, visa support document, tourist voucher or tourist invitation. It should match the traveller’s passport details, planned dates and itinerary.
When a hotel confirmation may be used
Citizens of certain countries included in a specific Russian Government list may use a booking confirmation from a hotel or other accommodation provider instead of a tourist confirmation.
This exception does not mean that every applicant can submit an ordinary booking-platform email. The accommodation provider must be included in Russia’s official register of classified accommodation, and the confirmation must meet the prescribed requirements.
Do not confuse this with an e-visa
Applicants for Russia’s unified electronic visa do not need an invitation, hotel booking confirmation or another document proving the purpose of travel. However, e-visa eligibility depends on citizenship and the actual purpose and route of the trip.
Before applying for a regular tourist visa:
• Check the instructions of the Russian consulate responsible for your place of residence.
• Confirm whether your nationality qualifies for the hotel-booking alternative.
• Make sure your name and passport number are copied exactly.
• Check that the requested visa dates and itinerary are supported by the document.
• Do not assume that payment for accommodation automatically provides valid visa support.
Requirements and submission procedures may vary by consular post, so use the instructions published by the office where you will apply.
Sources:
Consular Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry — visa categories and supporting documents:
https://www.kdmid.ru/cons/visas/
Official Russian consular guidance in English:
https://dublin.kdmid.ru/en/consular-functions/visas/applying-for-a-visa/
Official unified e-visa portal:
https://evisa.kdmid.ru/
Need a tourist confirmation for a regular Russian visa? RUSVISA.travel can help you prepare the appropriate visa-support document.
🌐 https://rusvisa.travel/
Migration registration in Russia: who is responsible after arrival?
A Russian visa or e-visa allows travel, but it does not replace migration registration after arrival. Registration records the foreign visitor’s actual place of stay.
The general rule
An arrival notification normally has to be submitted within seven working days after the foreign citizen arrives at the place of stay.
The receiving party usually handles the notification. Depending on the accommodation, this may be:
• a hotel or other accommodation provider;
• the owner or lawful occupier of a private residence;
• an organisation providing accommodation or acting as the receiving party in a legally permitted case.
Staying at a hotel
Official guidance states that hotel staff carry out migration registration for their foreign guests. The law gives hotels and similar accommodation providers a shorter filing deadline: generally one working day after arrival.
Give the hotel your passport, visa where applicable, and migration card or other requested entry document. Ask for confirmation that registration was completed and keep it with your travel documents.
Staying in a private apartment
Agree with the host before arrival who will submit the notification and what documents are required. The notification may be submitted through the relevant Ministry of Internal Affairs office, Russian Post or a Multifunctional Centre (“My Documents”), subject to the applicable procedure.
Important distinctions
• A tourist invitation or visa-support document is not migration registration.
• Booking accommodation does not itself prove that the arrival notification was filed.
• If you change your place of stay, ask the new receiving party about registration at the new address.
• Bilateral agreements, immigration status and special regional procedures may change the standard deadline or process.
Moscow and the Moscow Region are also operating a special migration-registration experiment for certain foreign nationals. Travellers covered by that programme should follow its specific requirements rather than relying only on the general seven-working-day rule.
Sources:
Official Russian MFA e-visa FAQ:
https://electronic-visa.kdmid.ru/faq_en.html
Federal Law No. 109-FZ on migration registration:
https://government.ru/docs/all/98160/
Federal Law No. 121-FZ on the Moscow and Moscow Region experiment:
https://government.ru/docs/all/159135/
Always confirm the procedure with your accommodation provider or receiving party before travelling.
A Russian visa or e-visa allows travel, but it does not replace migration registration after arrival. Registration records the foreign visitor’s actual place of stay.
The general rule
An arrival notification normally has to be submitted within seven working days after the foreign citizen arrives at the place of stay.
The receiving party usually handles the notification. Depending on the accommodation, this may be:
• a hotel or other accommodation provider;
• the owner or lawful occupier of a private residence;
• an organisation providing accommodation or acting as the receiving party in a legally permitted case.
Staying at a hotel
Official guidance states that hotel staff carry out migration registration for their foreign guests. The law gives hotels and similar accommodation providers a shorter filing deadline: generally one working day after arrival.
Give the hotel your passport, visa where applicable, and migration card or other requested entry document. Ask for confirmation that registration was completed and keep it with your travel documents.
Staying in a private apartment
Agree with the host before arrival who will submit the notification and what documents are required. The notification may be submitted through the relevant Ministry of Internal Affairs office, Russian Post or a Multifunctional Centre (“My Documents”), subject to the applicable procedure.
Important distinctions
• A tourist invitation or visa-support document is not migration registration.
• Booking accommodation does not itself prove that the arrival notification was filed.
• If you change your place of stay, ask the new receiving party about registration at the new address.
• Bilateral agreements, immigration status and special regional procedures may change the standard deadline or process.
Moscow and the Moscow Region are also operating a special migration-registration experiment for certain foreign nationals. Travellers covered by that programme should follow its specific requirements rather than relying only on the general seven-working-day rule.
Sources:
Official Russian MFA e-visa FAQ:
https://electronic-visa.kdmid.ru/faq_en.html
Federal Law No. 109-FZ on migration registration:
https://government.ru/docs/all/98160/
Federal Law No. 121-FZ on the Moscow and Moscow Region experiment:
https://government.ru/docs/all/159135/
Always confirm the procedure with your accommodation provider or receiving party before travelling.
Mount Elbrus: Europe’s Dormant Volcano with Cable Car Access
Mount Elbrus is a dormant stratovolcano in Russia’s western Caucasus, rising to 5,642 m and earning its status as the continent’s highest peak. The mountain presents two volcanic domes: the taller western summit and a slightly lower eastern summit rising to about 5,621 m, separated by a saddle and a crater on the eastern dome. Glaciers cloak its slopes and the peak feeds several glacier-born rivers flowing toward both the Black and Caspian Seas.
Visitors can appreciate the rugged volcanic slopes and glaciated panoramas even without technical climbing.
Plan your trip and arrange a Russian visa invitation online:
https://rusvisa.travel/?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=tourist_tr-21_en
#RusVisa #VisitRussia
Mount Elbrus is a dormant stratovolcano in Russia’s western Caucasus, rising to 5,642 m and earning its status as the continent’s highest peak. The mountain presents two volcanic domes: the taller western summit and a slightly lower eastern summit rising to about 5,621 m, separated by a saddle and a crater on the eastern dome. Glaciers cloak its slopes and the peak feeds several glacier-born rivers flowing toward both the Black and Caspian Seas.
Visitors can appreciate the rugged volcanic slopes and glaciated panoramas even without technical climbing.
Plan your trip and arrange a Russian visa invitation online:
https://rusvisa.travel/?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=tourist_tr-21_en
#RusVisa #VisitRussia
Rostourism launches new online service for travel info in various Russian regions
TASS, 2026-08-27: Rostourism has launched a new online service for tourists to search up-to-date information on routes, accommodation facilities, excursions and events in various regions of Russia. In practice, this provides one online resource to look up current routes, places to stay, tours and events across different Russian regions.
TASS, 2026-08-27: Rostourism has launched a new online service for tourists to search up-to-date information on routes, accommodation facilities, excursions and events in various regions of Russia. In practice, this provides one online resource to look up current routes, places to stay, tours and events across different Russian regions.
✈️ Transit through Russia: when do you need a visa?
The key question is not simply how long your connection is. It is whether you will remain in the airport’s international transit zone without passing Russian border control.
✅ A transit visa is generally not required for an airside connection of up to 24 hours if you stay in the international transit area and do not pass border control.
⚠️ You may need a regular transit visa if you must:
• collect and re-check baggage;
• change airports;
• leave the transit zone or terminal;
• pass border control for an overnight stay;
• continue by train, car or another route that requires entry into Russia.
For air travel, a Russian transit visa can be issued for up to three days. The usual supporting documents include confirmed onward tickets and, where required, a visa or other entry document for the destination country, in addition to the standard visa application documents.
Important: Russia’s unified e-visa is not a substitute for a transit visa. “Transit” is not an eligible e-visa purpose. If your real purpose is transit and you must enter Russia, apply for the appropriate regular visa rather than selecting an inaccurate tourism or business purpose.
Connections involving Belarus or Kazakhstan can be subject to special routing and border-control rules. Confirm the exact itinerary with the airline and the competent Russian consulate before departure.
Before you book, ask the airline in writing:
1. Is my baggage checked through to the final destination?
2. Must I pass Russian border control?
3. Is the connection entirely within the international transit zone?
Official sources:
• Russian MFA — visa information: https://www.kdmid.ru/cons/visas/
• Russian Embassy in Denmark — transit visa guidance: https://denmark.kdmid.ru/en/consular-functions/visa-application-procedure/transit%20visa/
• Russian MFA — unified e-visa FAQ: https://electronic-visa.kdmid.ru/faq_en.html
• Russian Embassy in Ireland — visa and transit guidance: https://dublin.kdmid.ru/en/consular-functions/visas/applying-for-a-visa/
#RussiaVisa #TransitVisa #TravelToRussia
The key question is not simply how long your connection is. It is whether you will remain in the airport’s international transit zone without passing Russian border control.
✅ A transit visa is generally not required for an airside connection of up to 24 hours if you stay in the international transit area and do not pass border control.
⚠️ You may need a regular transit visa if you must:
• collect and re-check baggage;
• change airports;
• leave the transit zone or terminal;
• pass border control for an overnight stay;
• continue by train, car or another route that requires entry into Russia.
For air travel, a Russian transit visa can be issued for up to three days. The usual supporting documents include confirmed onward tickets and, where required, a visa or other entry document for the destination country, in addition to the standard visa application documents.
Important: Russia’s unified e-visa is not a substitute for a transit visa. “Transit” is not an eligible e-visa purpose. If your real purpose is transit and you must enter Russia, apply for the appropriate regular visa rather than selecting an inaccurate tourism or business purpose.
Connections involving Belarus or Kazakhstan can be subject to special routing and border-control rules. Confirm the exact itinerary with the airline and the competent Russian consulate before departure.
Before you book, ask the airline in writing:
1. Is my baggage checked through to the final destination?
2. Must I pass Russian border control?
3. Is the connection entirely within the international transit zone?
Official sources:
• Russian MFA — visa information: https://www.kdmid.ru/cons/visas/
• Russian Embassy in Denmark — transit visa guidance: https://denmark.kdmid.ru/en/consular-functions/visa-application-procedure/transit%20visa/
• Russian MFA — unified e-visa FAQ: https://electronic-visa.kdmid.ru/faq_en.html
• Russian Embassy in Ireland — visa and transit guidance: https://dublin.kdmid.ru/en/consular-functions/visas/applying-for-a-visa/
#RussiaVisa #TransitVisa #TravelToRussia
Russian migration card: check it before leaving border control
A migration card is separate from your visa and from migration registration. Under the standard procedure, foreign visitors receive or complete it when entering Russia, and the border officer records the entry.
What to check on arrival
Before leaving the border-control area, make sure that:
• your name and passport details are correct;
• the stated purpose of travel matches your journey;
• the entry mark is present and legible;
• you have received the part of the card that must remain with you.
The card is completed for each foreign traveller, including children. If you do not speak Russian, the official guidance allows personal details to be written in Latin letters exactly as shown in the passport.
Keep it throughout your stay
The retained part of the migration card should be kept for the entire stay in Russia. It is normally presented with the passport and other documents when migration registration is completed at a hotel, private address or other place of stay.
Do not confuse these documents:
• a visa or e-visa authorises travel for the approved purpose and dates;
• a migration card records entry and temporary stay information;
• migration registration records the visitor’s place of stay.
If the card is lost or damaged
Do not wait until departure. Official consular guidance says that a foreign citizen must notify the territorial office of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs at the place of stay within three days. After the traveller’s entry documents and records are checked, a duplicate is issued free of charge.
Take your passport and entry documents with you, and ask your hotel or host to help identify the correct migration office. Keep a photograph or scan of the card as a practical backup, but remember that a copy is not a replacement for the original or an official duplicate.
On departure, the retained part of the migration card is handed to the border officer. Special categories and international agreements may provide different procedures, so follow the instructions given at your checkpoint and by the competent authorities.
Sources:
• Russian MFA Consular Department — migration card guidance: https://www.kdmid.ru/cons/visas/migration-card/
• Consulate General of Russia in Toronto — English guidance: https://toronto.kdmid.ru/en/news/582/
• Federal Law No. 115-FZ, Article 30: https://government.ru/docs/all/97329/?page=23
#TravelToRussia #MigrationCard #RussiaVisa
A migration card is separate from your visa and from migration registration. Under the standard procedure, foreign visitors receive or complete it when entering Russia, and the border officer records the entry.
What to check on arrival
Before leaving the border-control area, make sure that:
• your name and passport details are correct;
• the stated purpose of travel matches your journey;
• the entry mark is present and legible;
• you have received the part of the card that must remain with you.
The card is completed for each foreign traveller, including children. If you do not speak Russian, the official guidance allows personal details to be written in Latin letters exactly as shown in the passport.
Keep it throughout your stay
The retained part of the migration card should be kept for the entire stay in Russia. It is normally presented with the passport and other documents when migration registration is completed at a hotel, private address or other place of stay.
Do not confuse these documents:
• a visa or e-visa authorises travel for the approved purpose and dates;
• a migration card records entry and temporary stay information;
• migration registration records the visitor’s place of stay.
If the card is lost or damaged
Do not wait until departure. Official consular guidance says that a foreign citizen must notify the territorial office of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs at the place of stay within three days. After the traveller’s entry documents and records are checked, a duplicate is issued free of charge.
Take your passport and entry documents with you, and ask your hotel or host to help identify the correct migration office. Keep a photograph or scan of the card as a practical backup, but remember that a copy is not a replacement for the original or an official duplicate.
On departure, the retained part of the migration card is handed to the border officer. Special categories and international agreements may provide different procedures, so follow the instructions given at your checkpoint and by the competent authorities.
Sources:
• Russian MFA Consular Department — migration card guidance: https://www.kdmid.ru/cons/visas/migration-card/
• Consulate General of Russia in Toronto — English guidance: https://toronto.kdmid.ru/en/news/582/
• Federal Law No. 115-FZ, Article 30: https://government.ru/docs/all/97329/?page=23
#TravelToRussia #MigrationCard #RussiaVisa