Registration in Russia

More than 7 working days in Russia

Foreign travelers arriving in Russia are subject to mandatory registration when staying on the territory of the Russian Federation for an extended period of time. If you stay in Russia or in one of the Russian cities for more than 7 working days, you may register in the city where you are currently staying as a traveler during the first 7 days of your stay. All persons visiting one of the Russian cities for more than seven working days are required to register their visa. Registration must be done well in advance, i.e. within the first seven working days of arrival. Weekends and public holidays do not apply to the 7-day deadline. The de-registration is also necessary in order to provide proof of timely departure.

Registration obligation in a nutshell

Registration is required to stay more than 7 days in one place on the territory of Russia or the Russian Federation as a whole.
Registration is carried out at a post office or at a branch of the Federal Migration Service (FMS).
The registration period is 7 working days
Hotel or host is responsible: the host is not necessarily the person, organization or company that invited you.
Cancellation is also required
No registration is required for trips of up to 7 days

Example of mandatory registration

Example 1

You are going on a trip to Russia. First you are going to St. Petersburg for 3 days. Then you will go to Moscow. There you will stay for two more days. Finally, you will travel to Kazan, where you will stay for three days before flying home. In total you will be here for 8 days. Therefore, you will need to register. It doesn't matter which of the three cities you register in. The main thing is that you must register no later than the seventh day of your trip.

Example 2

Upon arrival in Russia, you will travel to Perm. The very next day you will travel to Moscow. You will stay there for seven days. In this case, you must register in Moscow before the 7-day period expires.

Example 3

On your next trip to Russia, a 1-day stay in Kazan is planned. The next day you will travel from Kazan to Moscow and stay there for another six days. Thus, you will be in Russia for a total of seven days. Since the seventh day is also your departure day, you do not need to register.

Note: If you are registering, you must have the following documents.

A valid migration card - you will receive this when you enter the country
A passport with an original visa and a visible entry stamp.

Your registration via Buch-dein-Visum.de

Registration in Russia is a time-consuming but necessary procedure. We are happy to take care of this task (only possible for holders of tourist and business visas, including invitations from König Tours). We charge a fee for the registration service. Below you can familiarize yourself with how registration in Russia takes place through us.

Registering through us is how it works!

1. You send us your documents by e-mail:

We need copies of your passport, visa and migration card. Send us these documents by e-mail, e.g. from an internet cafe or using your smartphone. You can find out how to take photos and submit the documents on the registration page on the russia-visa.eu website. In any case, it is necessary to take a photo of the open passport in its entirety, so that the side of the passport with the visa and entry stamp and the opposite side are visible.

2. You are registered by a partner company in Russia:

We will send your files to an accredited Russian partner office. They will carry out the notification.

3. You will receive a certificate from us:

We will email you the registration certificate in 2-3 days.

4. Print the certificate:

You are required to have your confirmation with you. Please print out your registration confirmation and put it in your passport.

Detailed information on registration in Russia

Who makes the report?

If you are staying in a Russian hotel with a state license, you have the opportunity to check in directly upon check-in. It is advisable to inquire about check-in formalities at the hotel prior to departure.

In all other cases, you or the host is responsible for check-in. The host party is not automatically the same as the inviting party listed on your invitation letter. Rather, the person who is hosting you privately is responsible for check-in. For example, if you are in China on a business visa based on a company invitation letter, but are staying with a friend or work colleague, your private host (or an authorized representative residing in Russia) is obliged to register you within 7 days. It is not the place of work that matters, but the place of residence.

Where is the notification sent to?

If registration is not carried out by the hotel or us, please visit the relevant Federal Migration Service, FMS, (formerly Ovir) or post office accompanied by your host. Please note: it seems that not all post offices carry out registration in Russia. While in large cities such as St. Petersburg and Moscow, the registration process goes smoothly, post offices in smaller cities have more difficulties. In this case you should contact the FMS. Post offices usually charge a small fee, while processing your registration application at the migration authority is free of charge.

What information and documents are required?

You and the receiving party must identify yourselves at the appropriate authority or post office. In addition to your passport with the original visa, you will need a valid migration card. You will receive it when you enter the country. The registration form is issued by the FMS or the local post office. Your invitee fills it out and submits it, along with photocopies of the above-mentioned documents, to the FMS office or post office within seven working days. If the registration is successful, you will receive a receipt, also known as a voucher, which you must carry with you until you leave the country.

How does de-registration take place?

Before leaving Russia, deregister by returning the receipt to the hotel or host party. The person in charge will forward the letter to the migration authorities (FMS). In theory, this procedure should be carried out for each city in which you are staying for a few days. If you are traveling to other regions for a few days, registration and deregistration are also required. The goal of the Russian authorities is to prevent travelers from failing to leave the country or overstaying their visa and knowing where they are staying. In practice, registration usually takes place only at the first destination and deregistration only at the airport.

What happens if I don't register?

If you fail to register your visa on time or at all, you or your host country will face fines and complications in leaving the country. If the Russian Federation expels you because of formal errors, you may be banned from re-entering the country for up to five years.

Please note that entry requirements are subject to change at short notice. Please contact the Russian Embassy or Consulate General for legally binding information .