Hi all,

On entering Russia, the traveller will now find that his/her hand written migration doc will be replaced at passport control, with a printed one...
It is now the responsibility of the traveller to ensure that he/she is correctly registered within 3 working days, and and must retain the registration doc him/herself...
Upon exiting Russia, the registration doc (Original only) MUST be handed to passport control, and this process will effect correct de-registration from Russia....
Copies are not acceptable, and a fine of 5,000 rubles will be requested for non submission of the registration doc....
HTH.....


ps, If this info has already been posted, or is deemed to be irrelevant, please feel free to delete it.....
pps, If it is not posted in the correct place, please feel fre to move it....
Best regards..

Foreigners coming to Russia for short visits might soon no longer be required to register with authorities.

Legislation currently being debated in the State Duma says they only have to register when they stay longer than seven working days.

The amendment, due to be heard in a second reading Friday, would also abolish a new rule under which foreigners must register under their home address, according a draft published on the Duma web site.

"I am cautiously optimistic that we will have solved this problem by the end of this month," said Frank Schauff, CEO of the Association of European Businesses.

Read more: 11 March 2011- Moscow Times By Nikolaus von Twickel

The Moscow Times, 14 March 2011

The State Duma waved through an amendment Friday that eases registration rules for foreigners, passing the new law in both a second and third reading, the parliament said on its web site.

The readings passed with 410 and 404 votes in favor, respectively, the Duma said. No information about votes against or abstentions was given.

The new rules say foreigners only have to register seven, not three, working days after arrival in the country, thus removing a lot of red tape for businessmen and tourists.

They also return the responsibility for registering foreigners working in the country to employers, doing away with a February reform that has made it the job of private landlords.

Last month's reform caused an influx of complaints from foreign businesses because many landlords refused to register their tenants or even authorize foreigners' employers to handle the registration.

The amendment, which was initiated by the Constitution and State Affairs Committee after meetings with foreign business associations last month, should come into force on March 31, the Rosbalt.ru news agency reported.

HTH

Police will no longer be allowed to collect fines from foreigners with invalid or missing registration papers, according to a bill aimed at easing registration rules that was approved by the Federation Council on Wednesday.

Instead, the party that issued the foreigner's visa invitation will be held responsible for violations.

"The bill stipulates that the inviting party, usually the employer, is responsible for any such violation," said Vladimir Kobzev, head of the legal department of the Russo-German Chamber of Commerce.

He said employers should inform their foreign staff to always carry valid registration to avoid fines being slapped on the company, which can be as high as 500,000 rubles ($17,500).

Read more : Moscow Times - 17 March 2011 - By Nikolaus von Twickel

Whilst the gist of this statement is correct, it only referrs to those living and working in Russia for a Russian Company, or and overseas subsidery Company, and does NOT referr to those visiting Russia on either a Business, Visitors, or Invitation Visa....
Please be best advised to register in the correct manner, and always carry your valid docs with you at all times to avoid any problems with any Russian Officials...
Please also be advised, that should ANYONE demand money in any way or form, you should refuse to pay, and request instead, an administrative Spravka, which you should take to a Russian Lawyer, who will solve this problem for you quickly.....Usually with a phone call...
HTH

OK, this sounds like a MAJOR pain in the buttocks. The reason I say that is due to the fact that if you register yourself at a local passport office, then that office requires the original copy back otherwise the person you stayed with pays a 2,000 pyb fine, so how can two official entities demand one original. What's the saying, "Only in Russia".

Wicheese,

In fact, this makes the process much easier, as it is now the TRAVELLER's responsibility to ensure that he/she is correctly registered and one now has 7 (Seven) days in which to do so, at either the local FMS/Ovir, or Post Office (Also there is NO charge for this service anymore)......
The traveller, upon leaving Russia, hands in the ORIGINAL registration doccument at the exit passport control, who put the travellers details into the computer system, and effects the de-registration of the said traveller, job done...
The person inviting is no longer responsible for de-registration and faces no fine if the de-registration is not effected by the border guards...
HTH.....

59dotru,

Thanks for the info, when I make it back to the "island at the end of the universe" I will test the new system.

Hopefully there will be no problems.

OK, now that does make it sound easier as I'll return the registration form when leaving the country instead of having to return to the office during business hours and then being without the registration forms at the airport where the local police have a chance to shake us down. Thanks for setting me straight!

I will have to wait until there is no need for Visa or registration of your immigration card before visiting Russia again.

That was a promise given to my other half, after the last year fiasco!

2014 Olympics coming soon..... so they will have to do something about it!




59Ru you are a lucky man..... I can't join you to have a glass of....champanski