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A new Russian migration law that took effect Jan. 15 introduces changes that concern Czech and other EU tourists who want to visit Russia.
Apart from visas and migration cards, foreigners are now required to have another document that must be issued within three days of their arrival in the country. The rule doesn’t affect people staying less than three days.
“The registration has in fact not been canceled, only a different system is being introduced,” said Roman Masarik, Czech consul in Moscow. While previously foreigners had to register at the police, now they must do so with the Russian Federal Migration Service. The new form should have been available at all post offices on Jan. 15, but probably won’t be available until March.
Foreigners will now also need another document regarding their stay in Russia. The document must be requested and given to tourists by the person who invited them or by the Russian hotel where they will be staying, Masarik said. Czechs should beware of tourist agencies that obtain Russian visas through fictitious people who send invitations, he added.
The new Russian law establishes a central database in which every foreigner will have a migration card to register every arrival and departure from Russia. The law was adopted mainly to regulate the influx of illegal laborers from countries of the former Soviet Union. The new rules also set harsher penalties for companies employing illegal immigrants, and set limits for foreigners working in some sectors. The number of foreigners allowed to work in the retail trade sector and in food markets has been reduced to 40 percent of the overall work force. Beginning April 1, 2007, they will be barred entirely, Russian news agency RAI Novosti reported. The Federal Migration Service said illegal immigrants evade taxes and duty payments, and that the resulting losses equal Russia’s total budget spent on education and health care.
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