MVD of Russia Order No. 322 dated 05/22/2026 has been published, approving new Administrative Regulations for the provision of the state service for processing, issuing, reissuing, and canceling patents for foreign citizens and stateless persons, as well as issuing duplicates and amending patent information. The document enters into force on December 17, 2026 and will replace MVD Order No. 695, which has been in effect since November 2020. The new regulations are set to remain in effect until December 17, 2032.
The regulations apply to adult foreigners who have arrived in Russia on a visa-free basis and are applying for a patent for employment.
Timeframes for providing the service
The overall timeframe for providing the service is no more than 10 working days from the receipt of the application and required documents. At the same time, the special timeframes established by Law No. 115-FZ are preserved:
- if there is information confirming the applicant's registration with the tax authority - no more than 5 working days;
- issuance of a duplicate or refusal to issue one - 3 working days;
- correction of errors caused by MVD employees - 1 working day;
- correction of errors made by the applicant - up to 5 working days.
Electronic filing of applications
The new regulations expressly provide for the possibility of filing an application through the Unified Portal of State Services (Gosuslugi) for processing, issuing, and reissuing a patent, obtaining a duplicate, and amending information. The MVD registers documents no later than the next working day and informs the applicant of the review progress.
Cancellation of a patent through Gosuslugi is not provided for. This concerns only the electronic filing of the application, not the complete set of documents: the passport and a number of other papers must still be presented in original form to the MVD migration division or through the PVS/MMC Sakharovo. The service is not provided through the MFC. The completed patent is issued only in paper form and in person.
Requirements for passport validity period
The new regulations remove the requirement that the passport, when applying for the issuance or reissuance of a patent, must be valid for at least one year. The only ground for refusing to accept documents is now the expiration of the passport.
State fees and payments
The state fee for issuing or reissuing a patent is set at 4,200 rubles, and for a duplicate or amendment of information - 2,100 rubles. These amounts were introduced by Law No. 271-FZ as of September 1, 2025 (more details in our news), and the new order merely transfers them into the description of the procedure. The monthly advance payment for personal income tax is preserved, and its amount depends on the region.
Medical documents
The regulations preserve the requirement to submit medical documents; however, starting September 1, 2026, under Law No. 162-FZ, medical examination results are transmitted to the MVD in electronic form through the interagency interaction system, and medical certificates are excluded from the list of mandatory documents.
An internal contradiction is found in the text of the order: in one section, medical documents are classified as "the applicant has the right to submit," while in another, their non-submission is listed as a ground for refusal. The order was signed on May 22, while the law that changed the procedure for medical examination was adopted on June 10, and registration with the Ministry of Justice took place only on September 17. The text was probably prepared under the previous version of the legislation.
What remains unchanged
The medical examination, fingerprinting, and photographing are still conducted in person. The obligation to confirm knowledge of the Russian language, history, and fundamentals of Russian legislation in cases provided for by law remains, as does the monthly payment of personal income tax and notification of the MVD about employment within two months. Violation of these requirements may result in cancellation of the patent. The possibility of working under one patent in two neighboring regions, in effect in Moscow and the Moscow Region since September 2025, also remains. We also remind you that starting January 1, 2027, foreign citizens working on the basis of a patent are also required to pay personal income tax for accompanying family members (more details in our news).
Frequently asked questions:1. How to obtain a work patent in 2026?
A foreign citizen, within 30 calendar days from the date of entry into Russia, submits an application and documents to the MVD migration division in person, through an authorized organization (for Moscow - MMC Sakharovo), or electronically through Gosuslugi. Starting December 17, 2026, the new regulations expressly establish the possibility of electronic filing of the application.
2. What are the timeframes for processing a patent in 2026?
The overall timeframe for providing the service is no more than 10 working days. However, special timeframes are preserved: if there is information confirming registration with the tax authority - up to 5 working days; issuance of a duplicate - 3 working days; correction of errors caused by MVD employees - 1 working day.
3. Can an application for a patent be filed through Gosuslugi?
Yes, the new regulations provide for electronic filing of an application through the EPGU for processing, issuing, and reissuing a patent, obtaining a duplicate, and amending information. Cancellation of a patent through Gosuslugi is not provided for.
4. What medical documents are needed for a patent?
Starting September 1, 2026, medical examination results are transmitted to the MVD in electronic form through the interagency interaction system, and medical certificates are excluded from the list of mandatory documents. However, the new regulations retain an internal inconsistency: in one section, medical documents are classified as "the applicant has the right to submit," while in another, their non-submission is listed as a ground for refusal.
5. Is it necessary to take a Russian language exam for a patent?
Yes, to obtain a patent it is necessary to confirm proficiency in the Russian language, knowledge of Russian history, and the fundamentals of Russian legislation. Exempt are persons who have an education document issued in the USSR before September 1, 1991 or in Russia after that date.
6. Can one work under one patent in two regions?
Yes, since September 1, 2025, it has been possible to work under one patent in two bordering regions: Moscow and the Moscow Region, Saint Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. Reissuing the patent when working in a neighboring region is not required.
6. What happens if the patent is not paid on time?
A patent is considered valid only if the advance personal income tax payment is made on time. If it is not paid, the patent is canceled, and the foreign citizen must leave Russia within 15 days. A new patent application may be submitted no earlier than one year later.
7. What is the validity period of a patent and how can it be extended?
A patent is issued for a period of 1 to 12 months. The validity period is extended by paying a fixed advance payment for the extension period. The total validity period of a patent, taking extensions into account, cannot exceed 12 months from the date of issuance.
Photo source: https://www.magnific.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.
