The government of Russia has officially extended the experiment to test new rules for the entry and exit of foreign nationals. The corresponding decree, prepared by Russia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, has been published on the official portal of legal information. The pilot regime, originally scheduled to end on June 30, 2026 (more details in our earlier report), will now remain in effect until December 31, 2027.
The decision to extend the experiment is based on positive results achieved during the project’s implementation, as well as the need for consistent modernization of border crossing points and further refinement of biometric identification software.
Mandatory entry declaration via RuID
Russia is currently in the second phase of the migration experiment. Foreign nationals arriving under a visa-free regime are required to submit electronic declarations of their intended visit through the RuID mobile application, which is integrated with the unified state services portal.
Entry rules are becoming stricter:
- Foreigners planning to work or study in Russia must now confirm the purpose of their visit using official information contained in the entry declaration.
- Data on the purpose of travel will be verified automatically upon crossing the border.
Special procedure for international truck drivers
The government decree has approved a list of documents for professional drivers engaged in international road haulage. This category of foreign nationals entering Russia under a visa-free regime must now provide an expanded set of information together with their entry declaration. The new requirements are aimed at strengthening controls on transport routes and at border crossing points.
Biometrics and the migrant’s digital profile
The experiment also involves large-scale collection of foreign nationals’ biometric personal data when crossing the border.
The key goal of the new measures is to create a digital profile of each foreign citizen. This enables:
- Advance checks for entry bans or restrictions prior to travel.
- Full-cycle control — from visit planning to departure from the country.
- Greater transparency of migration flows and crime prevention.
Frequently asked questions
1. Until what year has the migration experiment in Russia been extended?
The Russian government has extended the migration experiment until December 31, 2027. It was originally scheduled to end on June 30, 2026.
2. What new entry rules for foreigners come into effect on June 1, 2026?
Starting June 1, 2026, labor migrants and foreign students entering Russia under a visa‑free regime will have the purpose of their visit confirmed by information from the electronic entry declaration submitted via the RuID app.
3. What is the RuID app and why do migrants need it?
RuID is a mobile application integrated with the State Services portal. Foreign nationals use it to submit electronic entry declarations for Russia 72 hours before travel, providing their personal data and the purpose of their visit.
4. Is biometrics mandatory for foreigners when entering Russia?
Yes, as part of the experiment, starting December 1, 2025, collection of biometric personal data is being carried out at border crossing points of the Russian Federation wherever technical capability exists.
5. What are the new requirements for professional international drivers?
The government decree has approved a separate list of documents for professional drivers engaged in international road haulage who enter Russia under a visa‑free regime. They must submit this information together with their entry declaration.
6. What is a foreign citizen’s digital profile?
A digital profile is a comprehensive information system that collects data on a migrant from the moment of entry planning until departure from the Russian Federation. It allows foreigners to find out about entry bans in advance and simplifies oversight by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
7. What are the goals of extending the migration experiment until 2027?
The extension is necessary for the consistent modernization of border crossing points, further development of biometric identification software, and improved control over migration flows. The positive experience from the first phase has confirmed the effectiveness of digital record‑keeping methods.
Photo source: https://ru.freepik.com/
For more information, please contact the consultants of the Confidence Group company.
* The texts of the newsletters are intellectual property of Confidence Group, protected by the copyright laws of Russia. The information may not be reproduced in any form whatsoever without linking to this web site or to pages of this website.
