Foreign nationals planning to visit Russia will soon face new requirements: a digital declaration of entry purposes must be submitted at least 72 hours in advance, the Russian government has announced.

The new entry rules, which come into force on June 30, are part of a broader push to digitize migration controls and apply stricter monitoring procedures.  

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan has already issued a notice to its citizens, advising them to comply with the upcoming changes.

According to the new policy, travelers must submit their entry declaration through a mobile app called RuID, which is currently under development and intended to function like the Russian Gosuslugi platform for foreigners.

Exceptions will be made in emergency cases — such as urgent medical needs, serious illness, or the death of a close relative — when the declaration may be submitted up to 4 hours before arrival.

While Russian law does not currently authorize border officials to deny entry solely due to missing declarations, the final decision will be made at the point of entry.

The new requirements will apply to all foreign nationals, including citizens of Tajikistan, and are part of the second phase of an ongoing federal experiment.

An experiment that could become the norm

These new regulations are part of Phase Two of an ongoing experiment to test rules and procedures for the entry and exit of foreign nationals and stateless persons to/from Russia.

In Phase One, running from December 1, 2024, to June 30, 2026, biometric data collection (facial photographs and fingerprints) was implemented at the following points of entry: Moscow’s major international airports — Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo, and Zhukovsky — and the Mashtakovo land border in Orenburg Oblast.

Foreigners must complete the biometric procedures within 90 days of arrival, or within 30 days for work-related travel.

Exemptions apply to:

• Belarusian citizens
• Diplomats and their families
• Representatives of international organizations with official passports
• Children under six years old

According to the Ministry of Digital Development, if the initiative proves successful, it could become a permanent system, designed to streamline entry procedures and improve electronic interaction between foreign nationals and Russian state institutions.