Difficulties with entering the Russian Federation for foreign nationals

EY LLC, Kyiv, Ukraine, 
Friday, July 11, 2014

Foreign nationals are now being banned from an entry to the Russian Federation for unsettled administrative fines or tax liabilities The new constrains were enforced in August 2013. There have already been a number of detentions at the Russian border resulting in bans on entering Russia for several years if a foreign national:

▪ Was held liable for any administrative offence in the Russian Federation twice or more within three years. The entry ban in this case lasts for three years from the date when the last decision to impose a sanction took force, or 

▪ Has an unsettled tax payment or had an administrative fine imposed on him/her during a previous stay in Russia. The entry ban lasts until the foreign citizen fully settles the tax liability or pays a fine.

Even such things as smoking in a forbidden place or violating the traffic rules are considered administrative offences.

In view of the above, it is strongly recommended to avoid situations when administrative fines can be imposed and to settle such fines and tax payments immediately.

Before leaving the country, one might check his/her compliance with the Russia’s Federal Migration Services database at

http://services.fms.gov.ru/info-service.htm?sid=3000 to make sure there is no

threat of future denial of entry.

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We will continue to monitor the situation and will be happy to assist if you have

any questions or comments.