Migration card
Encyclopedia
Migration card is an identity document
in Russia
for foreign nationals. Originally they were bilingual (Russian/English), but were changed into Russian-only. The responses to the questionnaire in it may still be completed in English.
The card is issued in two identical parts, of which part A is surrendered to the immigration officer upon entrance to Russia, while part B, stamped by the officer, must be kept with the passport
to be presented to the Russian police (militsiya
) whenever the identity check is demanded. Upon each Russia border crossing the arrival/departure must be stamped on the migration card. Alternatively, the card may be surrendered upon the departure and a new one received upon subsequent arrival.
A migration card must be produced along with passport in order to register a foreign citizen. Registration must be done within 3 business days since arrival to each place of stay. The process is colloquially called "registering one's visa" though it applies to visa-exempt foreign nationals as well.
Before the new law "About Migration Registration" of January 15, 2007, the registration procedure was done by the local Passport and Visa Department (Russian: ПВУ) or Visa and Registration Department (Russian: ОВИР) of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs
(MVD), typically at a local militsiya office. The residence registration could have been denied, but if approved, the migration card would be stamped.
Since adoption of the new law it became sufficient to inform the Federal Migration service, either in person or through a post office using a special form. Migration cards are not stamped if registering through a post office.
The loss of a migration card is subject to fine.
Electronic migration cards are planned, with Moscow
being the first city to issue them.
The same system is also used in Ukraine
and some other countries.
foreigners have been issued since November 22, 2002, starting from the foreigners who arrived to Moscow.
Migration cards for CIS citizens were introduced since January 1, 2003. Initially they were issued to the migrants who are already within Russia. Since February 14, 2003 the cards started to be issued on the Russian border. Citizens of Belarus
did not require a migration card, due to the arrangement of the Union of Russia and Belarus
. Moreover, Russian migration cards may be obtained upon the Belarus border crossing. All CIS migrants within Russia were required to obtain migration cards my the end of March 2003 under the threat of prosecution up to deportation.
Identity document
An identity document is any document which may be used to verify aspects of a person's personal identity. If issued in the form of a small, mostly standard-sized card, it is usually called an identity card...
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
for foreign nationals. Originally they were bilingual (Russian/English), but were changed into Russian-only. The responses to the questionnaire in it may still be completed in English.
The card is issued in two identical parts, of which part A is surrendered to the immigration officer upon entrance to Russia, while part B, stamped by the officer, must be kept with the passport
Passport
A passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth....
to be presented to the Russian police (militsiya
Militsiya
Militsiya or militia is used as an official name of the civilian police in several former communist states, despite its original military connotation...
) whenever the identity check is demanded. Upon each Russia border crossing the arrival/departure must be stamped on the migration card. Alternatively, the card may be surrendered upon the departure and a new one received upon subsequent arrival.
A migration card must be produced along with passport in order to register a foreign citizen. Registration must be done within 3 business days since arrival to each place of stay. The process is colloquially called "registering one's visa" though it applies to visa-exempt foreign nationals as well.
Before the new law "About Migration Registration" of January 15, 2007, the registration procedure was done by the local Passport and Visa Department (Russian: ПВУ) or Visa and Registration Department (Russian: ОВИР) of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs
Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs
The Ministerstvo Vnutrennikh Del is the interior ministry of Russia. Its predecessor was founded in 1802 by Alexander I in Imperial Russia...
(MVD), typically at a local militsiya office. The residence registration could have been denied, but if approved, the migration card would be stamped.
Since adoption of the new law it became sufficient to inform the Federal Migration service, either in person or through a post office using a special form. Migration cards are not stamped if registering through a post office.
The loss of a migration card is subject to fine.
Electronic migration cards are planned, with Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
being the first city to issue them.
The same system is also used in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
and some other countries.
History
Migration cards for non-CISCommonwealth of Independent States
The Commonwealth of Independent States is a regional organization whose participating countries are former Soviet Republics, formed during the breakup of the Soviet Union....
foreigners have been issued since November 22, 2002, starting from the foreigners who arrived to Moscow.
Migration cards for CIS citizens were introduced since January 1, 2003. Initially they were issued to the migrants who are already within Russia. Since February 14, 2003 the cards started to be issued on the Russian border. Citizens of Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
did not require a migration card, due to the arrangement of the Union of Russia and Belarus
Union of Russia and Belarus
The Union State , semi-officially known as Union State of Russia and Belarus , is a supranational entity consisting of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus.- Creation :...
. Moreover, Russian migration cards may be obtained upon the Belarus border crossing. All CIS migrants within Russia were required to obtain migration cards my the end of March 2003 under the threat of prosecution up to deportation.
See also
- Worker card (трудовая карта)
- Form I-94, the Arrival-Departure Record form used by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
- Andean Migration Card