Requirements for insurance policy for visa application to the Russian Federation

1. Frequently Asked Questions

2. The need to have an insurance policy when applying for a visa to Russia

The presence of a health insurance policy when applying for a visa to the Russian Federation is a requirement that is established by law and prescribed in the instructions of consular services. A foreign citizen applying for a visa to the Russian Federation is obliged to submit to the authorized state body (consular department of the Embassy of the Russian Federation or visa center of the authorized operator) a medical insurance policy valid in the territory of the Russian Federation, along with other necessary documents.

2.1 Regulatory legal acts regulating compulsory insurance when obtaining a visa to the Russian Federation

Pursuant to Resolution No. 335 of the Government of the Russian Federation dated June 9, 2003, "On Approval of the Regulations on the Establishment of the Form of Visa, the Procedure and Conditions of Its Registration and Issuance"^[1], one of the mandatory documents for obtaining a visa to the Russian Federation is a medical insurance policy valid within its territory. This requirement does not extend to foreign nationals engaged in diplomatic service, those invited by federal authorities, or individuals exempted from providing such a policy on the basis of reciprocity. The legislation, however, does not delineate specific standards or conditions that the insurance policy must meet.

Pursuant to Federal Law No. 114‑FZ of August 15, 1996,  "On the Procedure for Leaving the Russian Federation and Entering the Russian Federation"^[2] and Federal Law No. 115‑FZ of July 25, 2002, On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation"^[3], foreign citizens must at all times of their temporary stay in Russia hold one of the following documents valid on its territory:

1. A compulsory medical insurance policy;
2. A voluntary medical insurance contract;
3. An agreement on provision of paid medical services.

Failure to present such a document may constitute grounds for refusal of entry into, or expulsion from, the Russian Federation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, in its current Rules for Issuing Visas to Foreign Citizens^[4], refers to these laws and thus makes the insurance requirement a mandatory condition for visa issuance.

3 Requirements to the insurance policy for obtaining a visa to Russia

3.1 Basic requirements

Since federal laws do not contain detailed requirements for the content and form of the insurance policy, consular services are guided by the "Rules for issuing visas in the Russian Federation" approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and their own instructions.

An insurance policy for applying for a visa to Russia must comply with the following basic requirements:

3.1.1. Minimum number of insured days

The policy must be valid for at least the entire period for which the visa is being applied for ^[5].
For example, if an applicant applies for a single-entry tourist visa for up to 90 days, the policy must cover at least 90 calendar days from the start date of the visa.
For multiple-entry visas issued for a period of up to 1 year, it is allowed to issue an annual policy in which a fixed number of insured days (90, 180 or 365 days) within a 365-day period can be specified. The start date of the policy must coincide with the date of the first entry into the territory of the Russian Federation, and the total number of insured days must not be less than the authorized number of days of stay on a visa.
In cases when the date of departure of a foreigner from the Russian Federation is not determined - the policy must be valid for at least 90 calendar days from the date of commencement of the visa ^[6].

The maximum period for which multiple-entry visas are issued in Russia is 5 years ^[7].

If it is necessary to issue a policy for a period of more than 365 days - insurance is carried out by concluding two or more insurance contracts.

3.1.2. The date of commencement of the insurance contract

The policy must be valid from the moment of entry of a foreign citizen into the territory of the Russian Federation.

3.1.3. Amount of insurance coverage

The "Rules for issuing visas in the Russian Federation" do not contain any requirements for the sum insured, however, according to the explanations of the Russian consular services, for example, the Consulate of the Russian Federation in Milan ^[8], the amount of insurance coverage is usually determined "on the basis of the principle of reciprocity", i.e. Russia sets the same requirements for the amount of insurance coverage as the country in the territory of which the diplomatic institution is located, where the foreign citizen requests a visa to the Russian Federation.
The standard minimum sum insured is 30,000 euros (or the equivalent in another currency).

3.1.4. Territory of validity

The policy must be valid on the entire territory of the Russian Federation.

3.1.5 List of covered expenses

3.1.5.1 Outpatient treatment

• consultation of a general practitioner or specialist;
• necessary diagnostic tests;
• prescribed treatment;
• Expenses for medications prescribed by a physician.

3.1.5.2 Hospitalization

• hospitalization stay;
• necessary diagnostic tests (blood, urine, ultrasound, CT, MRI, etc.);
• prescribed treatment, including surgical intervention.

3.1.5.3 Medical and transportation evacuation

• Calling an ambulance doctor and providing necessary assistance on the spot;
• transportation by ambulance to the nearest medical institution;
• transportation of the insured from one medical institution to another;
• transportation of the insured to the place of permanent residence, including medical escort.

3.1.5.4 Transportation of the patient by medical transport (ambulance or ambulance transport) to a medical institution

• Transportation from a remote region to a major hospital)^[9],
• organization of transportation for return to the country of citizenship (repatriation) - in case it is impossible to provide proper treatment in the Russian Federation^[10].

3.1.5.5 Repatriation of remains

Organization and payment for transportation of the body of the deceased insured to the country of citizenship, including preparation and execution of the necessary documents (death certificate, etc.).

3.1.6 Policy language

Consulates almost never impose separate requirements for the language of the insurance policy, the following wording applies to all documents: "Visa is issued only after submission of a full set of documents to the consular office. All documents necessary for visa issuance in a foreign language must be translated into Russian".

3.1.7 Appearance of the policy: the policy shall be filled out in typewritten text

The insurance contract must contain the following information:

• Full name of the insured person;
• date of birth of the insured;
• series and number of the passport (the policy specifies the data of the passport to be submitted to the consulate for visa issuance);
• period of validity of the insurance contract;
• territory of validity of the insurance contract;
• sum insured;
• insurance risks included in the contract.

Border guards also have the right to demand to present an insurance policy (issued on the insurance company's BSO or a printout of an electronic policy) when crossing the state border.

3.2 Special consular requirements for insurance policies of applicants

Consular services of the Russian Federation when issuing visas are guided by the unified norms of federal legislation and "Rules for issuing visas in the Russian Federation" published on the Consular Information Portal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation^[11] , but each diplomatic or consular mission has the right to introduce its own clarifying requirements to the documents necessary for visa application, including health insurance policy.

Russia is a party to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963^[12], which gives diplomatic and consular authorities the right to "carry out visa processing, verify the authenticity of documents and collect additional information necessary for decision-making" and creates an international legal basis for the introduction of specific requirements of different consulates to the form and content of the insurance policy for visa processing.

In order to optimize the process of receiving and processing visa applications, Russian diplomatic missions and consular offices may engage third-party organizations - visa centers. The main visa centers cooperating with consulates are VFS Global, TLScontact, Russiavisa and Interlink Service. When accepting documents at visa centers are guided by the instructions issued by the diplomatic representation of the Russian Federation abroad (embassy or consulate).

As for the issuance of a health insurance policy, the requirements of consular services generally differ in the following parameters:

• Presence of a seal. Some consulates, in particular the Russian Consulate in Paris^[13], do not accept insurance policies without the stamp of the insurance company and the signature of the insurance agent, the Russian Consulate in Genoa^[14] requires that insurance policies be drawn up on forms with the stamps of insurance companies.
  In accordance with Article 160 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, an insurance policy may be certified by a facsimile seal and signature of a person authorized to sign on behalf of the Insurer the insurance contract, by means of mechanical or other copying of an electronic digital signature, or other analogue of a handwritten signature. Printouts of electronic insurance policies containing a facsimile stamp and signature of the authorized representative of the insurance organization shall be accepted by the Consular Service.
• Specifying an assistance company with a partner in the Russian Federation. According to the "Rules for issuing visas in the Russian Federation", an insurance contract can be issued by both a foreign and a Russian insurance company. If the policy is issued by a foreign insurance company, it should contain information about the (partner) providing organization of medical assistance^[15]. Some consulates, for example, the Russian consulate in Washington, D.C., specify that the policy must include a Russian phone number for emergency contact with the assistance^[16].
• Insurance information card. Some consulates require not only a copy of the insurance policy, but also a completed insurance card - a specially designed form that contains the insurer's data, the policy number and expiration date, the amount of coverage, and information about the insured^[19].

4. Types of health insurance policies in Russia

There are three main types of health insurance policies available in Russia, each of which has its own peculiarities in terms of coverage amount, categories of insured, covered expenses and risks:

• Insurance policies for those traveling abroad / outside their permanent place of residence (Russian abbreviation - VZR).
• Compulsory medical insurance policies (Russian abbreviation - OMS).
• Voluntary (private) health insurance policies (Russian abbreviation - DMS).

4.1. Insurance policies for those traveling abroad, travel insurance policies

Travel insurance policy (Russian abbreviation - VZR) is a type of insurance, under which persons traveling abroad, including foreign citizens entering Russia, can be insured. Travel and health insurance contracts, in addition to the risk of "medical and other emergency expenses", may include the risks of "accident", "civil liability", "loss of luggage", "trip cancellation".

IMPORTANT: Within the framework of travel insurance policy contracts, insurance companies registered in the Russian Federation may set restrictions, according to which the territory of insurance for the risk of "trip cancellation" may be only the Russian Federation. If this restriction exists, the insurance contract will not be valid for foreign citizens entering the territory of the Russian Federation, because the risk of "trip cancellation" for foreign citizens will arise outside the Russian Federation.

The sum insured under travel insurance contracts is usually set in US dollars or euros and is 30,000, 35,000, 50,000 or 100,000. At the same time, in accordance with the requirements of Federal Law No. 155-FZ of 29.06.2015 on Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation, in particular on Amendments to Article 14 of Federal Law No. 114-FZ of August 15, 1996 "On the procedure for leaving the Russian Federation and entering the Russian Federation"^[20], the minimum amount of insurance coverage must be at least 2,000,000 rubles or the equivalent in foreign currency at the exchange rate of the Central Bank.

Travel insurqnce policies meeting the requirements are accepted by the consular services of the Russian Federation abroad as part of the package of documents for obtaining a visa to the Russian Federation.

When a travel insurance policy is issued by a foreign insurance company, the consular services may request a confirmation of its partners in Russia, as well as a translation of the policy and/or insurance contract into Russian or English.

4.1.1 How to check the validity of a TCD policy

In Russia there is no unified database of travel insurance or voluntary (private) health insurance policies similar to the databases for compulsory medical insurance policies (Russian abbreviation - OMS)^[21] and compulsory Motor Third-Party Liability Insurance (MTPL) policies^[22], therefore the validity of a travel insurance or voluntary (private) health insurance policies can be confirmed only by requesting it from an insurance company; the insurer's license is checked in the register of insurance business entities on the website of the Bank of Russia^[23].

4.2 Mandatory health insurance policy

An MHI policy confirms the right of a citizen of a certain state to receive free medical care, provided by the compulsory health insurance program, in those medical institutions that operate in the compulsory medical insurance (Russian abbreviation - OMS) system.

Foreign citizens may obtain an compulsory medical insurance policy in limited cases - if they have a temporary residence permit (Russian abbreviation - RVP), residence permit, refugee status or are recognized as highly qualified specialists.

In the case of Russian citizens who reside abroad for a long period of time or have no actual registration in Russia, the compulsory medical insurance policy (Russian abbreviation - OMS) may become invalid. Upon returning to the territory of the Russian Federation, they need to register at their place of residence and submit an application to the territorial compulsory medical insurance fund - usually this can be done within 14 calendar days after registration.

Foreigners entering Russia on a visa are not entitled to receive a compulsory medical insurance policy. That is, when applying for a visa, the presence of a compulsory medical insurance is not possible and is not taken into account by the consular services.

4.3 Voluntary (private) medical insurance policy - Russian abbreviation DMS

A voluntary health insurance policy (VHI) may cover the costs of various medical services provided to the insured in accordance with the terms and conditions of the insurance contract. The list of covered expenses / risks and the cost of voluntary (private) medical insurance policies may vary significantly depending on the insurance program.

The sum insured under voluntary (private) contracts in Russia may vary from 100,000 rubles to 10,000,000 rubles depending on the tariff and set of services.

VHI policies are valid only in Russia.

When developing VHI programs, the insurer has the right to exclude from coverage a number of risks and expensive services (for example, high-tech expensive tests), whereas in travel insurance policies, due to the requirements of consulates, exclusions for high-tech tests and surgeries are practically not allowed.

Unlike voluntary (private) insurance policies, travel insurance policies include two categories of medical care:

• emergency medical care (if there is a threat to life),
• emergency medical care (diseases/conditions without immediate threat to life).

IMPORTANT: in VHI (voluntary / private medical insurance) policies issued by insurance companies registered outside the Russian Federation, Russia may be excluded from the territory of coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the insurance contract. This restriction may also apply to insurance policies with Worldwide coverage area.

4.3.1 Voluntary (private) insurance policies for labor migrants (Russian abbreviation – DMS)

In Russia there is a separate type of voluntary medical insurance designed specifically for labor migrants, foreign citizens and stateless persons. When developing VHI rules for migrant workers, insurers are primarily guided by the Central Bank of Russia's Instruction No. 3793 of 13.09.2015, which specifies the list of risks that must be covered by VHI policy for migrant workers, including the minimum insurance amount - 100,000 rubles. This instruction applies only to foreigners who enter the Russian Federation for the purpose of labor activity.

If a foreign citizen enters the Russian Federation for the purpose of work, on the basis of the right of visa-free entry - he can issue a policy already on the territory of the Russian Federation within three days from the moment of entry.
If a foreign citizen requires a visa to enter the Russian Federation (regardless of the purpose of entry - work, tourism, business trip) - he must provide an insurance policy that meets the requirements of the consular services.

Voluntary (private) insurance policies policies for migrant workers and stateless persons, issued in accordance with the minimum standards specified in the Central Bank of the Russian Federation Decree №3793 of 13.09.2015 may not meet the requirements of consular services to insurance policies for entry visas to the Russian Federation.

5. Procedure for submission and verification of the policy when submitting documents to the consulate or visa center

When submitting a package of documents for a Russian visa, it is recommended to follow the following instructions:

• The policy is printed out (when applying online, it usually comes to your e-mail in PDF or similar electronic format) on an A4 sheet. An electronic insurance policy can be printed on a black and white printer.
• It is recommended to make a photocopy of the policy and attach it together with the original.
• When visiting the visa center or consular section of the embassy in person, the applicant shall hand over the full package of documents to the operator at the reception desk. In case of online submission (if the visa center provides such an opportunity), the file with the policy must meet certain technical requirements (PDF, resolution not less than 300 dpi).
• An employee of the visa center or consulate checks the policy against the requirements. Often a photocopy of the first page of the policy is left in the visa file, and the original is returned immediately after the check. If the documents were submitted through an intermediary, the photocopy is left at the center, and the original is sent back to the authorized person.
• When renewing or extending the visa within the country, the photocopy (or the renewed electronic policy) is again attached to the application package.

The original or printed copy of the electronic policy should be kept together with the travel documents (as it may be needed when entering Russia) and during the entire period of stay in the territory of the Russian Federation.

6. Policies of which insurance companies are accepted for visa issuance in the Russian Federation

In accordance with the "Rules for Issuing Visas in the Russian Federation," published on the MFA's Consular Information Portal^[25], a foreign insurer's policy will be accepted for visa purposes only if it meets one of the following conditions:

• It has a partnership agreement with a Russian insurance company licensed for that type of coverage, or
• It has an agreement with an assistance organization authorized to arrange medical care and medical transport within Russia.

Specific consular requirements:

• Budapest: publishes its own approved list of foreign insurers^[26]
• Washington, D.C.: requires the policy to include a Russian emergency‑contact telephone number^[27]
• Canberra: accepts only those foreign policies that have a reinsurance agreement with a Russian insurer or a service agreement with an assistance company^[28]
• Barentsburg and Canberra again: will also accept other foreign policies (even without reinsurance or assistance agreements) provided they guarantee reimbursement of medical expenses incurred in Russia — but only after the insured returns to their home country^[30][31]

It is recommended to take into account that many international insurance companies have excluded Russia from the list of territories covered by their policies, which makes them invalid for visa processing in the Russian Federation:

• Allianz stated that it could not cover risks in the territory of the Russian Federation because it had terminated any business relations with Russian companies ^[32],
• Generali announced the closure of all offices in Russia and withdrawal from the Russian market^[33],
• AXA completely stopped concluding and renewing insurance contracts on the territory of the Russian Federation and reinsuring Russian insurers, as well as froze new investments in Russia^[34],
• Zurich Insurance Group announced that it does not cover risks in Russia^[35],
• Aetna Internationalleft the international health insurance market, except for America ^[36],
• Cigna refused to insure citizens of Russia and Belarus; treatment in Russia can be approved only if the insured has an account in a certain bank from the list^[37],
• Bupa has terminated any relations with companies in Russia and does not provide insurance in Russia^[38].

7. Types of Russian visas and requirements for insurance policies

For all types of visas, the insurance policy must cover emergency medical care, hospitalization, medical transportation and repatriation. The policy must be valid throughout the whole territory of Russia. The minimum sum insured is set by the consular service of the country in which the foreign citizen applies for a Russian visa and is usually 30,000 euros.

7.1 Insurance policy requirements for electronic Russian visa

Electronic visa to the Russian Federation is a visa issued through the official portal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation^[39] without the need to visit a consulate or visa center. The electronic visa entitles the holder to enter and stay in the Russian Federation for a visitor or business visit, as a tourist, as well as to participate in scientific, cultural, socio-political, economic, sporting events and to carry out relevant relations and contacts. Electronic visa is not issued for entry for other purposes.

The electronic visa is a single entry visa. The validity period is 60 days from the date of issue. The authorized period of stay in the Russian Federation within the validity period of the electronic visa is not more than 16 days from the date of entry. However, the authorized period of stay in the Russian Federation under the electronic visa up to 16 days does not mean the possibility of staying for 384 hours of net time. The day of arrival and the day of departure count for 2 full days.

The electronic visa can be obtained only by citizens of 64 states, the list of which is approved by the Government of the Russian Federation^[40]. Entry into the Russian Federation on the basis of an electronic visa is possible only through those checkpoints that are approved for this purpose by the Government of the Russian Federation^[41].

In accordance with the clarification of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, foreign citizens staying in Russia on e-visas are obliged to have a medical insurance policy valid on the territory of the Russian Federation for the entire period of stay, except for citizens of foreign countries exempted from this requirement on the basis of reciprocity. When filling out the application form for an electronic visa, the applicant must indicate the details of his/her insurance policy^[42].

8. Procedure of visa extension in the Russian Federation and the necessity of an insurance policy for this purpose

When extending a visa, the policy is issued during the period of stay of the insured person on the territory of the Russian Federation, restrictions may apply - it is necessary to indicate that the insured person is "on a trip".

9. Peculiarities of insurance of stay on the territory of the Russian Federation and insurance requirements for foreign citizens who entered the country on the basis of visa-free regime

Upon visa-free entry, a foreign citizen is exempt from the need to obtain a visa, but all foreigners staying in the Russian Federation (including visa-free visitors) must have a health insurance policy (travel and health of voluntary (private) medical insurance) for the entire period of stay.

Border guards check for a valid policy when crossing the border. The absence of a policy may serve as grounds for refusal of entry.

9.1 Foreign nationals entitled to visa-free entry to the Russian Federation

From January 1, 2025, the basic principle of "90/365" (i.e. stay on the basis of visa-free travel) will be applied. (i.e. stay on the basis of visa-free regime only 90 days per year) is valid for all visa-free visitors, except where otherwise established by bilateral agreements or international treaties^[43].

In accordance with the Bank of Russia's Instruction No. 3793-U dated September 13, 2015, citizens of countries with which Russia has an agreement on visa-free entry, arriving in the Russian Federation for the purpose of working activity are obliged to take out a voluntary (private) health insurance policy with a minimum amount of insurance coverage 100 000 rubles^[44]. Citizens of countries with which Russia has an agreement on visa-free entry, arriving in the Russian Federation for other purposes are obliged to take out a travel and health insurance policy, but the amount of insurance coverage is not regulated by Russian legislation.

Citizens of the following countries may stay in the Russian Federation on the basis of the right of visa-free entry:

9.2 Special insurance requirements for certain categories of foreigners entitled to visa-free entry to the Russian Federation

• Labor migrants. In accordance with the Bank of Russia's Instruction No. 3793-U dated September 13, 2015, citizens of countries with which Russia has an agreement on visa-free entry and who are in the territory of the Russian Federation for the purpose of their employment are obliged to take out a VHI policy with a minimum insurance coverage of 100,000 rubles^[47].
• Highly Qualified Specialists (Russian abbreviation - VKS). In accordance with the federal law of July 25, 2002,№ 115-FZ "On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation", foreign citizens staying on the territory of the Russian Federation, considered by a Russian law as highly qualified specialists and non-working members of their families who are foreign citizens arriving in the Russian Federation, must have a voluntary (private) health policy or travel and health insurance policy valid on the territory of the Russian Federation with a minimum coverage of 100 000 rubles for hospitalization and 30000 rubles for outpatient services^[48], or must have the right on the basis of the corresponding medical insurance policy.
  More details on the specifics of health insurance for highly qualified specialists in Russia can be found in the corresponding article.
• In accordance with the federal law of November 29, 2011№ 326-FZ "On Compulsory Medical Insurance in the Russian Federation" foreigners studying in the Russian Federation on a full-time basis in professional educational organizations and universities (irrespective of visa regime), must take out compulsory medical insurance policies (to which they are entitled) or voluntary (private) health insurance policy^[50].
• Foreigners receiving residence permit / permanent residence permit / residence permit. In accordance with the Administrative Regulations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the provision of the service of issuing temporary residence permits in the Russian Federation from June 8, 2020, applicants for residence permit or residence permit are required to provide compulsory medical insurance or voluntary (private) health insurance policies^[51].

When changing the purpose of the visit (e.g., from tourist to work) or wishing to extend the period of stay on the territory of the Russian Federation, in most cases it is necessary to leave Russia and obtain a visa at the consulate of the Russian Federation abroad^[52].

If a foreigner changes status without leaving, he or she must submit documents to the Main Directorate for Migration Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and provide a valid insurance policy. If the policy expires before the documents are submitted or before the process of obtaining the new status is finalized, it is necessary to extend the policy or take out a new one before submission - to avoid "gaps" in coverage.

9.3 Insurance for cruise ship and ferry passengers

In accordance with the Russian Government Resolution No. 397 of May 7, 2009 "On the order of stay on the territory of the Russian Federation of foreign citizens and stateless persons arriving in the Russian Federation for tourist purposes on ferries with permits for passenger transportation" with subsequent amendments^[53], foreign citizens arriving in Russia on sea cruise liners or tourist ferries are not required to obtain a visa, if they are passengers of the vessel, which stops in a Russian port for no more than 72 hours, and spend the night. At the same time, the foreigner must have a valid passport and be included in the official passenger list handed over by the ship's captain to the Russian authorities.

It is possible to go ashore only as part of an official tourist group and only on a pre-agreed excursion program organized by the tour operator, who has notified the migration authorities no later than 72 hours before the arrival of the ship

In 2025, these rules apply in the following ports: Anadyr, Kaliningrad, Korsakov, Novorossiysk, Murmansk, Sevastopol, Sochi, St. Petersburg, Vladivostok, Vyborg, Zarubino.

When visiting other ports, intending to stay on the port territory for more than 72 hours or planning to visit the port outside of an organized group, a foreigner needs a tourist visa issued in advance at a diplomatic mission of the Russian Federation.

Even in case of arrival to the territory of the Russian Federation on a visa-free basis, passengers of cruise liners and tourist ferries are obliged to have insurance for the whole period of stay in Russia. Due to this practice, passengers of ships may be required to present an insurance policy at border control^[54].

10. Insurance for Russian citizens entering the Russian Federation

Citizens of the Russian Federation are not required to obtain a visa to enter or return to the territory of the Russian Federation.

In cases where the compulsory medical insurance (ОМС) policy has ceased to be valid due to prolonged absence from the Russian Federation, a citizen of the Russian Federation who does not hold a permanent residence contract may, depending on the terms and conditions of the insurance, enter into a voluntary health insurance contract for travel outside the permanent place of residence (VZR) — either for travel within the Russian Federation or prior to obtaining registration (temporary or permanent) in the country.

As a general rule, travel insurance policies exclude coverage within the insured person’s place of permanent residence. In certain insurance contracts, the "place of permanent residence" for citizens of the Russian Federation is defined as the territory within the administrative boundaries of the locality where the insured person is officially registered, whether such registration is temporary or permanent.

If a citizen holds both temporary and permanent registration, the place of permanent residence is deemed to be the locality corresponding to the permanent registration.

11. Penalty for lack of insurance in Russia for foreigners

The absence of a valid health insurance policy for a foreigner in Russia is subject to a fine - for the first offense - 5,000-7,000 rubles, for a repeated offense - 10,000 rubles. The fine is payable within 60 days from the entry into force of the ruling (maximum 70 days, including deferral). You can pay via bank, e-wallet, mobile application, "Gosuslugi" or terminals. For late payment - double fine (from 1,000 rubles), arrest up to 15 days or 50 hours of compulsory labor.

More detailed information, including legal grounds and amounts of fines, can be found in the article at the link.

12. Cases of expulsion from the Russian Federation related to the absence of a health insurance policy

The absence of a voluntary (private) health insurance policy of a foreigner is a violation of Part 1.1 of Article 18.8 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation^[55], as a foreigner without a policy violates the rules of entry and stay in the Russian Federation. This is punishable not only by a fine, but also by administrative expulsion from Russia. In addition, after expulsion for the above reason, a foreign citizen may be banned from entering Russia for five years^[56]. The practice of deportation from Russia due to the lack of a health insurance policy is quite common.

Active deportations due to lack of insurance began in 2016, in Moscow there were cases of deportation of several groups of Kyrgyz citizens. According to eyewitnesses, the police conducted document checks, including the presence of health insurance, and in case of its absence imposed fines and demanded to leave the country, which was subsequently implemented^[57].

On January 18, 2020, an Uzbek citizen without a health insurance policy who had entered the Russian Federation the same day was stopped at the central train station in Samara. The district court imposed a fine and administrative expulsion; he appealed the decision first in cassation, then in the Supreme Court. The foreigner argued that the border guards had not demanded a policy upon entry, so there was no violation, but all instances rejected the appeal. The court explained that the lack of control at the border does not exempt the foreigner from the obligation to have insurance before entry^[58].

A citizen of the Republic of Tajikistan, who lived in Mytishchi, in 2022, due to the lack of a health insurance policy was found guilty of an administrative offense and was imposed an administrative fine with administrative expulsion from the Russian Federation. He appealed to the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, but the Court explained that the establishment of administrative expulsion does not contradict the Constitution of the Russian Federation, and the accuracy and clarity of the rules for imposing penalties prevent excessive discretion and abuse in the process of applying sanctions, leaving the decision on deportation unchanged^[59].

In 2023, a US citizen who entered the Russian Federation on the basis of a visa was held administratively liable in Sochi for lack of medical insurance required for legal stay in Russia. The court ordered administrative expulsion, noting that the presence of insurance is a mandatory requirement of migration legislation. And placed the US citizen in a temporary detention center for foreign citizens in Krasnodar Krai^[60].

In 2022, a citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who entered the Russian Federation on the basis of a visa, was deported from Russia for violation of migration legislation related to the absence of a health insurance policy^[61].

13. Practical insurance policy checklist before submitting to the Russian Consulate

Before submitting to the Russian Federation consulate or visa center, it is recommended to check the following requirements:

14. List of sources

1. Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation of June 9, 2003, No. 335 "On Approval of the Regulations on the Establishment of the Visa Form, Procedure and Conditions of its Registration and Issuance"^[62]
2. Federal Law of August 15, 1996, No. 114-FZ "On the procedure for leaving the Russian Federation and entering the Russian Federation"^[63]
3. Federal Law of July 25, 2002, No. 115-FZ "On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation"^[64]
4. Rules for issuing visas in the Russian Federation, approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation^[65]
5. Official site of VFS Global (operator of visa centers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation)^[66]
6. Official site of TLScontact (operator of visa centers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation)^[67]
7. Official website of Interlink Service (operator of visa centers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation)^[68]
8. Consular portal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation^[69]
9. Russian Federation visa application appointment portal^[70]
10. Official website of the Main Directorate for Migration Issues of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation^[71]
11. Federal portal of legal information "Garant" (section "Immigration Law")^[72]