In accordance with the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated August 16, 2004, no. 413 “On Migration Card” a foreign citizen entering the Russian Federation must obtain and fill in a migration card and produce it to a border control officer. If the information provided in a Migration Card is in conformity with the passport and visa details, a border control officer places a stamp indicating entry to the Russian Federation.

Migration Card forms are issued to foreign citizens entering the Russian Federation free of charge by border control officers or by representatives of organizations providing transport services to foreigners entering the Russian Federation.

The Migration Card is kept by a foreign citizen during the whole period of his/her stay in the Russian Federation and it should be submitted together with other documents in order to be registered at the place of his/her stay in Russia.

In case of damage or loss of a Migration Card, a foreign citizen must within 3 days notify the territorial office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation at the place of his/her stay. Once a foreign citizen submits documents that served as the basis for the entry to Russia, he is issued a duplicate of the Migration Card without any extra fee.

When leaving Russia, a foreign citizen must return the Migration Card to a border control officer at the checkpoint of the Russian state border.