Guide
Your first week in Russia: checklist
A simple checklist for the first days after arrival. Most problems foreigners face come from missed deadlines in the first month.
Not an official government website. MigraForma is a private reference service.
Day one
- check the dates and purpose on your migration card;
- keep your boarding passes as proof of the entry date;
- give your passport and migration card to your university or host for registration.
First week
- make sure you are registered within 7 working days and keep the tear-off slip;
- book the medical exam (30-day deadline) and, if needed, fingerprinting;
- start the SIM card process — see SIM card;
- open a bank account — see bank card.
First month
Pass the medical exam within 30 days of entry. Workers: fingerprinting within 30 days. Students: fingerprinting within 90 days if staying longer than 90 days.
Related pages
Frequently asked questions
What is the most urgent task?
Registration within 7 working days.
What is the 30-day deadline?
The medical exam (and fingerprinting for workers).
Who registers me in a hotel?
The hotel itself, within one working day.
For reference only. MigraForma is a private service, not an official government website: we are not the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD), a multifunctional centre (MFC) or Gosuslugi, we do not submit documents and this is not legal advice. Rules change, so check them with the migration authorities before you apply. Information checked in October 2026.