As of January 01, 2025, the following entered into force Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of 30.12.2024 N 1126 “On temporary measures to regulate the legal status of certain categories of foreign citizens and stateless persons in the Russian Federation in connection with the application of the expulsion regime [1] (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 1126).

This Decree provides for temporary measures that allow foreigners whose information may be included in the Register of Controlled Persons in connection with migration violations to regularize their legal position (status) in Russia in accordance with Federal Law No. 115-FZ “On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation” dated July 25, 2002  (hereinafter – Federal Law No. 115), i.e. to legalize and solve all problems with documents for the right to stay (residence) in Russia.

The timeframe for settling one’s situation without leaving the Russian Federation is limited – from January 1 to April 30, 2025.

The second option is independent departure from the Russian Federation (clause 1 of Decree No. 1126).

Foreign citizens who decide to regularize their legal status in Russia must meet the following conditions:

a) Such citizens have provided their biometric personal data in accordance with the laws of the Russian Federation or have been identified by biometric personal data;

b) such citizens have undergone medical examination for the presence or absence of the fact of using narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances without prescription or new potentially dangerous psychoactive substances, infectious diseases that pose a danger to others, provided by the established list [2], and the disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-infection), in accordance with Federal Law No. 115 (hereinafter – medical examination) within 1 year prior to the date of submission of an application for the issuance of permissive documents;

c) such citizens have submitted a document confirming their command of the Russian language, knowledge of Russian history and the basics of Russian legislation at the appropriate level, [3] stipulated by Article 15.1 of Federal Law No. 115, exceptions are also established by Article 15.1 of Federal Law No. 115, decrees of the President of the Russian Federation, and in the case of filing an application on the basis of paragraph 4 of Decree No. 1126.

d) such citizens have voluntarily repaid existing debts on compulsory payments payable in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation;

e) in respect of such citizens there are no grounds for refusal to issue or revocation of a patent, work permit, work permit / work permit for the purpose of education, residence permit provided for by Federal Law No. 115, or grounds for refusal to issue or revocation of a visa provided for by Federal Law No. 114-FZ of August 15, 1996 “On the procedure for leaving the Russian Federation and entering the Russian Federation”.. (paragraph 2 of Decree No. 1126).

What actions should be taken?

If a foreign citizen meets all of the above conditions, i.e. has supporting documents, he or his employer/customer of works (services) (in cases established by Federal Law No. 115) should submit:

  • applications, petitions and other documents necessary for the issuance of authorization documents [4],

– to the territorial body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation directly or

– through an FSUE authorized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation and under its authority (e.g., FSUE PVS of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation in St. Petersburg https://pvsmvd.ru/branches/78 ) or

– on the territory of Moscow – also through an organization authorized by that constituent entity of the Russian Federation (paragraph 3 of Decree No. 1126).

Documents are accepted without taking into account the stated purpose of entry into the Russian Federation [5].

Foreign citizens who have the right to carry out labor activities in the Russian Federation without a patent / work permit submit to the above state bodies / organizations:

  • an application for extension of the period of temporary stay in the RF;
  • a copy of the employment contract or civil law contract for the performance of work (provision of services) concluded with the foreign citizen certified by the employer/customer of works (services) (clause 4 of Decree No. 1126).

If foreign citizens do not have a migration card, a duplicate copy is issued in accordance with the procedure established by Russian legislation (paragraph 5 of Decree No. 1126).

Medical examination in the period from 01.01.25 to 30.04.2025 can be carried out without a migration card or visa (paragraph 10 of Decree No. 1126).

With regard to foreign citizens who have concluded a contract on military service in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation or military formations:

a) earlier decisions on deportation, readmission, non-permission to enter the Russian Federation, undesirability of stay (residence) in the Russian Federation, reduction of the period of temporary stay in the Russian Federation shall cease to have effect and shall not be enforced;

b) the above decisions are not taken on grounds arising prior to the date of submission of the relevant applications. (clause 7 of Decree No. 1126)

The meaning of the amnesty: Decree No. 1126 allows foreign citizens to legalize in the country without leaving the Russian Federation without violations, but within a limited period of time. For those citizens who settle their legal status in Russia within the established time limits, decisions on non-permission to enter the Russian Federation on the grounds provided for by subparagraph 8 of Article 26 or subparagraphs 12 – 14 of paragraph one of Article 27 of the Federal Law of August 15, 1996 N 114-FZ “On the procedure for leaving the Russian Federation and entering the Russian Federation” and arising before February 5, 2025, are not taken.

Since February 5, 2005, information on foreign citizens staying in the Russian Federation and not having legal grounds for stay (residence) in the Russian Federation is subject to inclusion in the Register of Controlled Persons.

After leaving the Russian Federation, decisions on non-permission to enter the Russian Federation on the relevant grounds are taken in accordance with the established procedure in respect of foreign citizens who have not applied to the authorized body for settlement of their legal status.

[1] More information on the expulsion regime –  Expulsion regime, register of controlled persons and other changes in laws concerning foreign citizens (stateless persons)

[2] Annex to the Procedure for medical examination, including chemical and toxicological examinations of the presence in the body of a foreign citizen or stateless person of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances or new potentially dangerous psychoactive substances and their metabolites, for the presence or absence in a foreign citizen or stateless person of infectious diseases that pose a danger to the surrounding community and the disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-infection), approved by the President of the Republic of Belarus, approved by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan

[3] stipulated by Article 15.1 of Federal Law No. 115, exceptions are also established by Article 15.1 of Federal Law No. 115.

[4] stipulated by Federal Law No. 115 and Federal Law No. 114-FZ of August 15, 1996 “On the procedure for leaving the Russian Federation and entering the Russian Federation”,

[5] P. 1 Methodological Recommendations for the implementation of the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of December 30, 2024 N 1126 “On temporary measures to regulate the legal status of certain categories of foreign citizens and stateless persons in the Russian Federation in connection with the application of the expulsion regime”,

Labor and migration Migration Migration law