Countries of entry without a migration card

Registration of a migration card is a mandatory procedure for those who would like to stay in Russia for permanent residence and legally get a job. A migration card is issued to all foreign citizens who enter the country through checkpoints, regardless of whether they have a visa or are traveling under a visa-free regime.

A migration card is an ordinary piece of paper with a unique number and series, which contains basic information about the person and the purpose of the visit. Since migration registration on the territory of the Russian Federation is carried out by the Federal Migration Service, all information from the cards is stored in its databases, and a stamp is placed on the card itself about legal border crossing, and it is issued to a foreign citizen.

What is a Russian migration card

A migration card, or migration card, is a document that contains all the basic information about a foreigner entering Russia: full name, date of birth, gender, citizenship, passport and visa number, purpose of visit, receiving party, length of stay in Russia.

Each Russian migration card has a unique serial number; upon entry into Russia, a border guard officer enters it into the electronic database for registering foreign citizens. Data in the database is updated every hour. Thanks to this database, information about visitors becomes available to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Here is when a foreigner needs to present a migration card:

1. If he registers for migration at his place of residence, he is registered.
2. If you apply for a patent or work permit.
3. When he receives a temporary residence permit - TRP, or a residence permit - residence permit.

What is a migration card

This document is mandatory for every foreigner; the form is given to them free of charge on the plane or train, or at the border when traveling in a personal car. Its absence indicates illegal entry into the country and may lead to deportation.

The document contains all the necessary personal data about the visitor, as well as the address of his initial stay in Russia, which can be the location of an apartment, a private house, a dormitory at a factory or a hotel. When passing through passport control at the border, the service officer copies the unique serial number of the document into the electronic database for registering foreign citizens in the Russian Federation.

Life of migrants in the Russian Federation

This database, automatically updated every hour, begins to display information about the migrant, which becomes available to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which indicates that the visiting citizen has been registered for migration.

The official card, which looks like a small form or questionnaire to be filled out in all fields, is issued, depending on the type of transport used by the foreigner, by the following persons:

• Members of the crews of aircraft and passenger ships.
• Conductors if you enter the country by train.
• When transporting tourists or migrant workers by bus, as well as when carrying out international passenger flights, the driver always has these documents.
• Border guards when passing through customs directly at the state border checkpoint.

Important! A citizen of a foreign state is required to fill out a migrant card, entering personal information from his ID card or as a keepsake, in the airport arrival hall, in a train compartment, in general, wherever he likes, but strictly before passing border control, since the completed document template must be handed over to a border control officer.

All foreigners should also remember that the card can only be issued when crossing the border. This means that all advertisements for the purchase of this document are fraudulent and it is better to avoid contacting the telephone numbers indicated in the advertisement.

Sample migrant card

When and where do you get a migration card?

Migration is mandatory for all foreigners with rare exceptions. For example, citizens of Belarus do not need it. And if a foreigner came to Russia from Belarus, there is no need to get a new migration card - you can use the one issued at the Belarusian border.

The absence of a migration card is a violation of migration legislation. This will result in a fine of 2,000 to 5,000 rubles, and they may also be deported from the country.

In some cases, the need for a migration card for some reason raises questions. I will analyze the most common of them. Here's who needs to fill out a migration card and when:

• Residents of the DPR and LPR with Ukrainian documents or documents from unrecognized republics need to fill out a migration card when entering Russia, like other foreigners.
• Citizens of Ukraine living in Crimea also need a migration card. They are required to receive it upon entry into Russia.
• Citizens of Kazakhstan need to fill out a migration card if they come to Russia for more than 30 days with a foreign passport. If they enter with an internal passport, which cannot be stamped with a border crossing stamp, they will have to fill out a migration card regardless of the length of stay in the Russian Federation.

If you have a temporary residence permit and residence permit

If a foreigner has a temporary residence permit or residence permit, he still needs to fill out a migration card when crossing the border.

How can a foreigner entering Russia obtain a migration card?

Almost every foreigner applies for a migration card. A migration card form is issued:

• for foreigners traveling by their own transport or entering on foot - at the border control checkpoint;
• traveling by train, bus or plane - either while on the road by employees of the carrier company, or upon arrival by a border control officer.

The migration card does not require payment. If a person manages to lose it, you can get a copy of the migration card from the FMS without a fee.

How to fill out a migration card?

The migration card has two different forms. Form “A” remains with the border guards, and form “B” must be stamped with a stamp indicating legal entry into the Russian Federation, after which it will be issued to a foreign citizen. Filling out both forms is mandatory.

Here you can

The fields on form “A” that need to be filled out do not differ from the fields on the other form and look like this:

• FULL NAME. – these are three required fields, where the person crossing the border must write his last name, first name and patronymic (if there is one). You can write in both Cyrillic and Latin;
• The date of birth is the same as on your passport or visa. The date is entered in the format dd.mm.yy;
• Check the box next to your gender;
• Please indicate your nationality;
• In the “Identity document” column, indicate your civil passport number;
• If you have any Russian visa, then it is also advisable to fill in the “Visa number” field;
• In the next field, you need to highlight the purpose of your visit - official, tourist, commercial, educational, work, private or transit. Do not deceive the border guards under any circumstances for the purpose of your visit (for example, you are going to the country to earn money, but you indicated in the column that you are a tourist). If your deception is discovered, you will be fined and, most likely, expelled from the country;
• If you were invited to the country by any organization, you must provide its details. Most often, only the name and address of the company's main office is sufficient;
• Finally, you need to sign in a special field.

A sample of filling out a migration card can be downloaded here:

What does a migration card look like: form and sample filling

These certificates are required to be completed by everyone who enters the territory of Russia, regardless of age and other parameters. However, if a person is not able to fill out these papers on his own due to certain circumstances (age, health, illiteracy, etc.), then his fellow travelers can do this for him. The same form is issued for a child as for adults, which can be filled out by the child himself or his accompanying persons.

What to write in the “Purpose of visit” column

There are 7 options to choose from, you need to mark the correct one. At a minimum, mistakes will prevent you from obtaining a work patent or enrolling in a university, and at maximum, they will lead to fines and deportation.

What may be the purpose of the visit in the migration card:

• official - for diplomats, participants of government delegations;
• work - for employment;
• tourism - for recreation, excursions, inspection of cultural and historical sites;
• study - for admission to educational institutions;
• commercial - for holding business meetings, negotiations with business partners;
• transit - for entering other countries through the territory of the Russian Federation;
• private - for visiting relatives and friends, treatment and for other reasons.

The purpose of the visit is “transit” in the migration card

My migration card indicates transit, what does this mean? and how many months can I stay in the Russian Federation?

When entering the Russian Federation, a foreign citizen is required to receive and fill out a migration card form in the prescribed form. The purpose of entry may be indicated on the migration card: business visit, tourism, commercial visit, study, work, private visit, transit. In accordance with the Federal Law of August 15, 1996 N 114-FZ “On the procedure for leaving the Russian Federation and entering the Russian Federation”, unless otherwise provided by federal law or an international treaty of the Russian Federation, transit passage through the territory of the Russian Federation of foreign citizens and stateless persons to the state of destination by all means of transport are allowed upon presentation of a Russian transit visa, an entry visa to a state adjacent to the Russian Federation along the route, or a visa of the destination state and travel tickets valid for leaving the Russian Federation or a confirmed guarantee of their purchase at the point of transfer to territory of the Russian Federation. A transit visa is issued for a period of up to ten days to a foreign citizen for the purpose of transit through the territory of the Russian Federation. Transit travel through the territory of the Russian Federation without a visa is permitted to a foreign citizen or stateless person in cases where they: 1) make a direct flight by air through the territory of the Russian Federation; 2) are traveling on an international airline with a transfer at an airport on the territory of the Russian Federation and have duly executed documents for the right to enter the destination state and an air ticket with a confirmed date of departure from the transfer airport on the territory of the Russian Federation within 24 hours from the moment of arrival, with the exception of cases of forced stop; 3) live on the territory of a state with which the Russian Federation has a corresponding international treaty.

A foreign citizen or stateless person who entered the territory of the Russian Federation in violation of the established rules, or who does not have documents confirming the right to stay (reside) in the Russian Federation, or who have lost such documents and have not submitted an appropriate application to the territorial body of the federal executive body authorized to exercise control and supervision functions in the field of migration, or those who evade leaving the Russian Federation after the expiration of their period of stay (residence) in the Russian Federation, as well as those who have violated the rules of transit passage through the territory of the Russian Federation, are illegally staying on the territory of the Russian Federation and bear responsibility in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation.

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Validity period and is it possible to extend it?

With this card you can stay in the country for no more than 90 days. To extend their stay in the Russian Federation, many foreigners (we are talking about countries with a visa-free regime) use a certain trick - after the expiration of the MK, they leave the Russian Federation and, a day later, enter again, receiving a new migration card.

It is worth remembering that this method is not entirely legal and if you use it often, you will attract the attention of FMS employees and border guards.

An exception is made only if you have received a job offer. Then you can legally stay in the country for up to 12 months from the date of entry, even if your migration card has already expired.

Extension of the validity period of the card can be carried out either at the request of the inviting party or at the request of the foreign citizen himself. Extension is possible for the following reasons:

• If a foreign person has received a temporary residence permit or has just submitted documents to receive it;
• If a foreigner submits documents to obtain citizenship (then the validity period of the MK will be extended until a decision is made on the issuance/non-issuance of a passport);
• If the employer has submitted an official request to the migration control authorities to extend the person’s stay on the territory of the Russian Federation. In this case, the extension is for 12 months, after which the employer will have to send a second request;
• A foreigner must obtain political asylum in Russia;
• If a foreign person has an official work permit or a patent, then the validity period of the MC is extended until the expiration of the patent/work permit.

During the current situation on the territory of Ukraine, citizens of this country can submit an application an unlimited number of times, even if there are no reasons from the list above. FMS employees have no right to refuse to renew a migration card for Ukrainians. But it is not recommended to abuse the special provision, since this measure is temporary. It is advisable to have time to complete all the necessary documents during this time in order to stay in the Russian Federation for permanent residence.

To extend the validity period of your migration card, you will also need the following documents (not all documents from the list are required, it all depends on the situation):

• Application from a foreigner to extend the MK. You can obtain a sample form at the branch and on the website of the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation;
• If you are employed somewhere, you will need to provide an employment contract with the employer;
• For those who are going to obtain Russian citizenship or temporary residence permit, you need to provide a special application from the passport office;
• Be sure to provide a copy of your civil passport and Russian migration card;
• Again, for those who work or intend to work in Russia, you need to provide

Extension method without leaving

First, an application is submitted to the FMS. It specifies the reasons for the extension. The application is written by the receiving party (not a foreigner).

The reasons may be as follows:

• Obtaining a working patent;
• Increasing the term of a working patent;
• Obtaining a temporary residence permit;
• Medical report on referral for treatment, advanced pregnancy, etc.;
• Start of studies (contract);
• Start of processing documents for citizenship.

The employer, medical, educational or other institution sends the application and the collected package of documents to the FMS. The service checks all documents. If a foreign citizen has no offenses in the Russian Federation and has no other reasons for refusal, service employees put a stamp on the card indicating an extended temporary stay.

Migration card of the Russian Federation

– this is a mandatory procedure for those who would like to stay in Russia for permanent residence and legally get a job in 2021. A migration card is issued to all foreign citizens who enter the country through checkpoints, regardless of whether they have a visa or are traveling under a visa-free regime.

Filling out the MK migration card is an ordinary piece of paper with a unique number and series, which contains basic data about the person and the purpose of the visit.

Since migration registration on the territory of the Russian Federation is carried out by the Federal Migration Service, all information from the cards is stored in its databases, and a stamp is placed on the card itself about legal border crossing, and it is issued to a foreign citizen. The migration card has two different forms. Form “A” remains with the border guards, and form “B” must be stamped with a stamp indicating legal entry into the Russian Federation, after which it will be issued to a foreign citizen.

Filling out both forms is mandatory.

Here you can download The fields on form “A” that need to be filled out do not differ from the fields on another form and look like this: Full name. – these are three required fields, where the person crossing the border must write his last name, first name and patronymic (if there is one). You can write in both Cyrillic and Latin; The date of birth is the same as on your passport or visa.

The date is entered in the format dd.mm.yy; Check the box next to your gender; Please indicate your nationality;

Overdue, restoration, duplicate migration card

An expired card that is not renewed in a timely manner threatens the foreigner with a fine. This is the main type of censure, according to Art. 18.8 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation in the first part. Sometimes the violator may be sent outside the Russian Federation.

The fine for late payments in different regions of the Russian Federation varies from 2,000 to 7,000 rubles (the highest amount is for the capital).

If a document is lost, you can restore it by writing a statement about the loss. The statement is written at the territorial police station (or at the nearest one after the card is discovered missing). After submitting the application, the foreigner is issued a certificate. With this certificate, presenting your passport and a statement about the reasons for the need for a duplicate with justification, you need to contact the Federal Migration Service in your territory.

Application for a duplicate migration card

By the way. Of course, a duplicate will be issued only if all time limits for stay are met, the goals are indicated correctly, and the applicant has not committed any violations. If the document is expired, its duplicate will be refused.

The fine for loss, as well as for late payment, ranges from 2,000 to 7,000 rubles. Loss or unintentional damage must be reported no later than three days after it happened.

If the issuance of a duplicate is refused, the next step will be the expulsion of the foreigner from the Russian Federation.

Replacing a migration card when passport data changes

A rather difficult question is whether a foreigner who has changed his passport in Russia needs to change his migration card. As you know, in many countries it is common practice for citizens living abroad to change their passport through the embassy or consulate of their country. But what if such a replacement occurred after the card was filled?

It should be noted that as of the end of 2015, this issue is regulated by Russian legislation in an extremely vague manner. On the one hand, the migration card must contain all the information about the foreigner in Russia. On the other hand, in the rules for using a migration card, the only case provided for replacing this document without leaving the country is loss/damage.

In this situation, we still recommend contacting the FMS with an application to replace the card. A photocopy of your old and new passports must be attached to your application. You should apply no later than 3 days after the new passport has been issued. Whether the card will be replaced or not - this question remains within the competence of the FMS itself, but the foreigner can be sure that there will definitely be no complaints against him in this regard.

Migration card upon departure

This document is no less important when leaving the Russian Federation. The exit part (B) with a service mark placed on it upon entry is kept for the entire period of stay, even if it is a year. When a person leaves the Russian Federation, the document is handed over to the control officer at the checkpoint.

If a foreign national leaves the country without a migrant card, he will be asked to fill out Part B on a blank form upon departure, making a corresponding note (that he did not have a card with him) in the service column. This will be taken into account during subsequent visits and may result in denial of entry.