On 16 March 2020, the Russian Government ordered the temporary restriction of entry into the country by foreign nationals and stateless individuals, including foreign nations entering the Russian Federation through Belarus, as well as Belarusian nationals.

According to the current regulation, the restriction is valid from 00:00 18 March 2020 until 00:00 1 May 2020.

As of 18 March 2020, the migration authorities will stop accepting applications for work permits and work visa invitations, as well as student visa invitations, for all foreign nationals.

As of 18 March 2020, the issue of all types of work permits, including Highly Qualified Specialist (HQS) work permits, will also be temporarily suspended. As of 18 March 2020, Russian consular offices abroad will stop issuing all visas for foreign nationals, with the exception of diplomatic, official service, ordinary business visas to the categories of individuals specified below, as well as for ordinary private visas to foreign nationals traveling to the Russian Federation in connection with the death of a close relative. Issuing of electronic visas is also suspended.

The following categories of individuals are exempted from the entry restriction:

• individuals who are permanently resident in the Russian Federation;
• individuals who are in transit through standard air transit routes and interchanges;
• diplomats and their families;
• professional car drivers of international automobile traffic;
• aircraft crew members;
• crew members of sea and river vessels;
• train and locomotive crews of international rail services;
• members of official delegations;
• individuals with diplomatic, official, ordinary private visas issued in connection with the death of a close relative.