From 1 September 2026 foreigners have 30 days for the medical examination instead of 90

From 1 September 2026 a single deadline applies to foreign citizens for undergoing the mandatory medical examination: 30 calendar days from the date of entry into Russia. Previously 90 days were allowed. The rules were set by federal laws No. 162-FZ, No. 163-FZ and No. 164-FZ of 10 June 2026, which amended the law on the legal status of foreign citizens, the Code of Administrative Offences and the Criminal Code.

What is checked and how the result is issued

The medical certificate confirms that there is no use of narcotic or psychotropic substances without a doctor's prescription, and no dangerous infectious diseases: tuberculosis, leprosy, syphilis and HIV.

The certificate is now issued as an electronic document. The clinic must place it in the federal register within EGISZ within 24 hours and notify the foreign citizen of the results and of the transfer of the data to the MVD and Rospotrebnadzor. Medical organisations are prohibited from transferring their rights and duties for the examination to third parties.

The examination has become annual

The law has fixed the duty to undergo the examination every year: within 30 calendar days after a year has passed since the previous one. An exception is made for applications for a temporary residence permit and a residence permit.

Liability

• A foreign citizen who evades or refuses the examination faces a fine of 25,000 to 50,000 roubles under Article 18.11.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences, with or without administrative expulsion.
• A medical organisation faces a fine of 300,000 roubles to 1 million roubles for each foreign citizen under Article 18.21 of the Code of Administrative Offences, or suspension of its activities for 14 to 90 days.
• For forging and circulating fake documents on the absence of dangerous diseases, Article 235.2 of the Criminal Code has been introduced, with up to 8 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to 3 million roubles.

What to do

• Count 30 calendar days from the entry date in your migration card and book the clinic in advance, not in the last week.
• Go only to an authorised medical organisation: a certificate from a random clinic will not reach the register.
• Take your passport and its notarised translation, your migration card and the tear-off part of the arrival notification.
• Check that the surname and first name in the passport translation are spelled exactly as in your work patent, insurance policy and other documents: a difference of one letter turns the electronic certificate into someone else's.
• Put the date of the next examination in your calendar so that you do not miss the annual deadline.
• Do not buy ready-made certificates: since September this is a criminal offence.

If you need a notarised translation of your passport or another document for a clinic, the MVD or an employer, send it to us. We will translate it in 15 minutes, and the notary will certify it in the next office.