New temporary migration registration rules are in effect in Russia for the FIFA Confederations Cup - 1 June to 12 July in the Russian cities of Kazan, Moscow, St Petersburg and Sochi.

New temporary migration registration rules are in effect in Russia for the FIFA Confederations Cup, 1 June to 12 July in the Russian cities of Kazan, Moscow, St Petersburg and Sochi. These temporary rules will affect both Russian and foreign citizens travelling to any Russian Federation territory.

Failure to register with authorities within one day of arrival on Russian territory may lead to financial penalties for the employer and deportation for the foreign citizen. Regular migration registration rules will be restored on 13 July 2017.

The same rules will be in place during the FIFA World Cup 2018.

Who's affected?

Restrictions affect both Russian and foreign citizens.

Any foreign citizens or stateless persons arriving for a temporary stay must register with the Ministry of Internal Affairs within one day of the date of their arrival at their place of residence.

Citizens of the Russian Federation who arrive for temporary residence in residential premises must apply to the territorial bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation for registration at the place of their stay no later than three days from the date of their arrival.

This temporary change in address registration requirement will apply to all foreign nationals, regardless of their status. Although uncommon, failure to register within one day of arrival may lead to financial penalties to the employer and deportation of the foreign national.

Note that if you travel to another city once registered, your previous registration will be cancelled and you will need to re-register when you get back. If you have no option to postpone a planned trip ahead of time, you'll still need to register within one day upon arrival to Russia.

What should you do to remain compliant?

  • Plan your travel in advance
  • Avoid entering the Russian Federation during weekends or non-working days
  • Enter the Russian Federation in the morning to give you time to register within one day of arrival
  • Try to avoid trips to other cities of the Russian Federation during this time.

There is apparently a discussion underway about not applying this rule to highly-qualified employees, as nothing official has been released confirming this, it's best to assume you must register according to the decree.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.