Russian Registration Rules Change for 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup

According to  a recent RF Presidential Decree on Special Aspects of Taking Enhanced Security Measures during the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in the Russian Federation dated 9 May 2017, a very strict migration registration procedure for foreign citizens will be introduced in the cities of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan and Sochi during the period from 1 June through 12 July 2017.

The Decree states that registration at the place of stay (or registration at the place of residence) in the above-mentioned cities during the period from 1 June through 12 July 2017 must be handled by the appropriate local authority of the Ministry of the Interior of Russia within 24 hours of the foreign citizen’s arrival date at the place of stay (or place of residence).

The Decree covers almost all categories of foreign citizens, including citizens who need a visa to enter Russia or who don’t need a visa to enter Russia, highly qualified specialists and their family members, foreign citizens entering the country for commercial negotiations, tourists, etc. Thus, the time limit for registering almost all foreign citizens at their place of stay (or registration at the place of residence) is being shortened to one day from the date of their arrival.