The new migration registration requirements for foreign nationals came into effect on 8 July 2018. Under these, foreign nationals cannot be registered at the address of their employing company, unless they actually live there.
The new version of the law does not allow employers to register foreign employees and their families at company addresses. Now only the proprietors of the place of residence of foreign employees can register them.
Starting from 23 November 2018, a law dealing with criminal liability for sham immigration registration of foreign citizens and stateless persons, came into force. For example, the following cases are considered sham:
The criminal penalties for these could be a fine of up to RUB 500,000; a fine of up to three years’ salary; community service for up to three years with suspension of the right to hold certain positions or perform certain activities for up to three years; or imprisonment for up to three years with suspension of the right to hold certain positions or perform certain activities for up to three years.
New obligations for writing letters of invitation to assist a foreign national in getting a visa came into force on 16 January 2019. Now, the inviting party must ensure the timely departure from Russia of the person they invited upon expiry of their visa. The inviting party must also ensure the invitee complies with the declared purpose of their stay in Russia (e.g. a person entering Russia on a business visa cannot be involved in employment activities in Russia).
For breach, inviting parties may be subject to an administrative fine, as follows:
