14.12.2021
New rules governing medical screening, fingerprinting, and photographing procedures, which are mandatory for foreign citizens, were introduced by Federal law N. 357-FZ dated 02.07.2021 which entered into force on October 31, 2021, and by Federal law N. 274-FZ dated 01.07.2021 which will fully enter into force on December 29, 2021.
These new rules will be applicable to (i) the foreign citizens arrived in Russia for work, and (ii) the foreign citizens arrived in Russia for other purposes for a period longer than 90 (ninety) calendar days. The new rules will affect in particular the highly qualified specialists (VKS) to whom such requirements were not applicable previously.
Medical Screening
Upon entry into force of the said laws, foreign citizens shall undergo a procedure of medical screening aimed at detecting of (i) eventual use of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, (ii) infectious diseases (tuberculosis, leprosy, syphilis, COVID-19), and (iii) disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or lack thereof.
The foreign citizens arrived in Russia from visa required countries for the purpose of work shall submit medical documents within 30 (thirty) calendar days from the day of entry into Russia or, when there are valid reasons, on a later date but within 30 (thirty) calendar days from the date of elimination of such valid reasons. The foreign citizens arrived in Russia for other purposes for a period longer than 90 (ninety) calendar days shall submit the documents within 90 (ninety) calendar days from the day of entry into Russia.
The abovementioned medical documents shall be obtained exclusively in Russia and only by a medical organization duly authorized to carry out such medical screenings. The list of such organizations has not yet been fully completed. Currently only the Moscow Scientific and Practical Center for Dermatology-venereology and Cosmetology of the Moscow Department of Health is authorized to produce the said medical documents. A foreign citizen shall submit the medical documents personally or being accompanied by an attorney having a notarized power of attorney to a territorial body of the federal executive authorities for internal affairs.
Fingerprinting and Photographing
Starting from December 29, 2021, the foreign citizens arrived in Russia for the purpose of work will be subject to mandatory state registration of their fingerprints and to photographing within 30 (thirty) calendar days from the date of entry into Russia, or when applying for a work patent, or when obtaining a work permit. The foreign citizens arrived in Russia for other purposes for a period longer than 90 (ninety) calendar days shall preform the required actions within 90 (ninety) calendar days from the date of entry into Russia.
This procedure shall be completed once.
Period of Transition
Pursuant to latest clarifications issued by competent authorities, the foreign citizens, already present in Russia and having authorizing documents as of October 31, 2021, shall undergo the medical screening, fingerprinting, and photographing after December 29, 2021, only following the next departure from and entry into the country. At the same time, the foreign citizens who obtained authorizing documents after October 31, 2021, for the avoidance of their eventual invalidation, shall undergo the medical screening strictly by December 29, 2021.
Currently major businesses are carrying out negotiations with authorities in order to make the procedure of medical screening, fingerprinting, and photographing clearer and smoother, especially for highly qualified specialists (VKS), and to extend the list of medical organizations where the screening could be performed.
We would like to express our hope for further state orders and regulation to be issued nationally within the framework of a clarification campaign regarding the ways of practical application of the new requirements.
