Guide

Renting a flat and registration

If you rent privately, your landlord becomes your host for migration purposes. Agree on registration before you sign anything.

By Gleb Ryvkin · Updated:

Not an official government website. MigraForma is a private reference service.

Who registers you

The owner of the flat files the notification of arrival. Students may sometimes be registered at the university address instead — ask the international office.

Infographic: migration registration for students in Russia — within 7 working days of arrival; the host or university files; the flat owner files for a private flat; register again after trips abroad; keep the tear-off slip; state fee 500 roubles.
Migration registration for international students: deadline, who files and what to keep. Infographic: MigraForma

What to agree on

Ask the landlord directly whether they will register you, for how long and whether they will extend the registration. Put it in the rental agreement. The notification can be sent by post if the owner cannot visit the office.

Avoid fake registration

Paying for registration at an address where you do not live is fictitious registration. Both the host and the foreigner are liable, and it can lead to expulsion.

Fee

Since 1 September 2025 the state fee for registration is 500 roubles.

Related pages

Frequently asked questions

Who files the notification for a rented flat?

The owner.

Can I pay someone for registration?

No — that is fictitious registration.

Can the notification be posted?

Yes, through Russian Post.

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.