Russian media reports says new rules that came into effect on December 29 impose mandatory fingerprint registration and photography in addition for medical examinations for foreign citizens arriving in Russia for employment purposes and those arriving in Russia for purposes other than work for a period exceeding 90 calendar days.
These additional requirements to get the work permit in Russia as well as to work in Russia reportedly apply to citizens of countries who are allowed to work without work permits. Failure to comply with them could result in not being issued a work permit.
According to some sources, fingerprinting and photography of foreign nationals who have arrived for the purpose of work shall be performed: for EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union) citizens, within 30 calendar days from the date of arrival in Russia; for Commonwealth of Independent States citizens, when applying for a patent; and for highly qualified specialists (HQS), upon obtaining a work permit.
The medical examination of such foreign nationals must be performed prior to the completion of fingerprinting, but not later than 30 days from the date of arrival.
These requirements reportedly do not apply to certain categories of foreign nationals, for example, citizens of Belarus and children under 6 years old.
These requirements also do not apply to senor representatives of international (inter-state, intergovernmental) organizations entering the Russian Federation in connection with the performance of official duties, as well as members of their families.
The fingerprint registration and photography will also not be imposed for foreign nationals being chiefs of diplomatic missions, representative offices, consulates, officials, members of the diplomatic staff, consular officers, and members of administrative and technical staff of diplomatic missions and consulates.
Under rules that came into force on October 31, 2021, foreign nationals entering Russia on a work visa must undergo a mandatory medical examination (for infectious diseases, HIV infection and drug addiction).
On June 23, 2021, the Federation Council approved the creation of a federal information system to collect information about the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population.
