Expanded period for foreigners with violations' legal status remains valid until September 10th.
11:00 AM, May 2ndHot Off the Press: New Chances for Foreigners in Russia
Hold onto your passports, guys! A yuge change is brewin' for those of you livin' it up in the motherland. On April 28, 2025, the big man himself,PREZIDENT OF RUSSIA, signed a brand spankin' new decree, changing the game for certain foreigners and stateless persons residing in the land of bears, babushkas, and borscht.
Before we dive into the deets, let's get a little historical. Back in December 30, 2024, another decree (Number 1126, in case y'all were wonderin') set some rules for anyone overstayin' their visit in Russia. But fear not, those deadlines have been pushed back, thanks to decree Number 272. Now, instead of sortin' things out by the end of April 2025, you folks have until September 10, 2025. Solid news, right? We got this information straight from the Migration Issues Department of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Nizhny Novgorod region.
Now, here's the catch: you still have to go through the fingerprintin' (dactyloscopies, if y'all fancy the fancy terminology) and medical exams if you want to stay legal in Moscow, St. Petersburg, or wherever. No dactyloscopies, no legal residency, my friends. It's as simple as that.
But fear not, foreigners who take advantage of the extended deadline to clean up their acts will receive some leniencies. No decisions on entry bans will be made against them, and their past document issues or working without permission won't be used against them either. Sweet, huh? Don't be shy to apply at your local offices of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia or at the Nizhny Novgorod branch of the Passport and Visa Service.
What happens if you miss out on this golden opportunity? Simple: you'll need to bid farewell to the land of vodka, caviar, and the Kremlin. So, don't miss out! Get your docs in order, folks, before the deadline on September 10, 2025, hits.
Now, we know what you're thinkin': "What about these other developments in Russia's migration policies, like the mutual visa recognition agreement between Belarus and Russia, or the Eurasian Economic Union and Commonwealth of Independent States, and the electronic travel authorization requirement?" Well, those are interesting tidbits, but they're not directly related to this new decree. But hey, it's always good to keep yourself informed about what's goin' down in the world of immigration. Stay tuned!
Enrichment Insights:- Belarus and Russia have entered a mutual visa recognition agreement, allowing for certain border crossings by railway and specific land borders since January 11, 2025.- Russia's migration policies are aligned with the mobility rights of the Eurasian Economic Union (which includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (which includes countries like Ukraine and Georgia, but excludes Turkmenistan).- An electronic travel authorization (ETA) will be required for travelers from visa-exempt countries starting June 30, 2025.- A presidential decree issued on April 2, 2025 (No. 205), aims to enhance public administration in the sphere of migration, but specific details are not provided in the search results.
- In response to the signing of a decree on April 28, 2025 by the President of Russia, foreigners and stateless persons residing in Russia have been given an extended deadline to regularize their stay until September 10, 2025, pushing back an earlier deadline set by a December 30, 2024 decree (Number 1126).
- For foreigners who choose to take advantage of the extended deadline, certain leniencies will be granted, such as no decisions on entry bans or past document issues or working without permission being used against them.
- To legalize their residency, foreigners must undergo dactyloscopies (fingerprinting) and medical exams at their local offices of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia or at the Nizhny Novgorod branch of the Passport and Visa Service.
- Failure to regularize their stay by the September 10, 2025 deadline may lead to foreigners having to leave Russia, as the land of vodka, caviar, and the Kremlin sets forth new policies and regulations in its ongoing process of managing immigration.
