Rules of Entry of Foreign Citizens to the Russian Federation

Abstract

Introduction: The article discusses the rules of entry of foreign citizens to the territory of the Russian Federation, considering the dynamically developing migration legislation and the growing interest of foreign citizens in visiting Russia for various purposes: tourism, work, study, and others. This fact makes the field of migration policy interesting to study from the legal field’s perspective.Materials and methods: The research is based on practical activities of the current legislation and the use of expert advice. The statistics on the entry of foreign citizens into Russia are analyzed. The research used general scientific methods and the comparative legal method.The results of the study and their discussion: The study analyzed the main legal acts regulating the border crossing procedure, including visa and visa-free entry requirements, necessary documents, as well as length of stay and restrictions. Particular attention was paid to changes in migration policy due to the prevailing international situation. Changes aimed at strengthening control and converting procedures to electronic format, namely biometrization and digitalization, were also studied.Conclusions: The rules for entry of foreign citizens into the Russian Federation by 2025 are a combination of traditional requirements (passport, visa, registration) and new elements related to digitalization of control and security. In general, Russian migration policy strives to maintain a balance between openness to visitors and ensuring order. Compliance with the established rules — from timely visa processing to registration at the place of stay — will allow foreign citizens to avoid trouble and make the most of their time in the Russian Federation, whether it is a tourist trip, a business trip, or a long-term stay for work or study.