Russia is reducing the period of medical examination or examination for migrants from 90 to 30 days. These changes will come into force on September 1 of this year. If a migrant does not undergo a medical examination within 30 days, he faces a fine and deportation from the country.
The corresponding amendments were approved by the Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian parliament.
Passing a medical examination is mandatory to obtain a temporary residence permit or work permit.
Currently, migrants are required to undergo a medical examination within 90 days of entering Russia to confirm the absence of dangerous infectious diseases such as HIV, as well as the fact that they do not use drugs. According to the new changes, this period is reduced to 30 days.
The costs of medical examination are paid by migrants themselves or their employers.
According to these changes, medical examinations can only be carried out by authorized medical institutions, and the activities of intermediaries in this process are prohibited.
After completion of the examination, a medical report is issued (including in electronic form), which is entered into the Unified State Health Information System. If a migrant is diagnosed with a dangerous disease, the medical institution is obliged to notify the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs and Rospotrebnadzor within 24 hours.
Migrants and foreign citizens who do not comply with the procedure for undergoing a medical examination, including those who have not been tested for drug use and the presence of dangerous infectious diseases (especially HIV) within 30 days, are subject to fines:
- for individuals – from 25,000 to 100,000 rubles;
- for officials – from 100,000 to 200,000 rubles;
- for legal entities – from 300,000 to 1 million rubles.
Once signed by the Russian President, the law will come into force on September 1, 2026.
The reduction in the period of medical examination for migrants occurs against the backdrop of a previously reached agreement between Tajikistan and Russia that Tajik labor migrants will be able to undergo a medical examination even before traveling to Russia – on the territory of Tajikistan.
Hundreds of thousands of Tajik citizens work in Russia every year, and remittances from them traditionally play an important role in the republic’s economy.
In recent years, the requirements for foreign citizens coming to work in Russia have become more stringent. In particular, it became a mandatory requirement to undergo a medical examination to confirm the absence of infectious diseases and the fact of drug use.
In addition, over the past two years, Russian authorities have tightened migration policies, introducing new requirements and restrictions for foreign workers. In particular, a register of persons under the control of migration authorities was created, and a requirement for prior electronic notification before entering the country was introduced.
