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Document checklist for your first days in Russia

A practical document folder for arrival or relocation: what to keep close, what to copy, and where status-specific requirements must be checked.

Open official guideStarts with: Russian MVD

Route

Where this fits

Check what usually comes before or after this guide.

Next stepHigh Risk

How to buy a SIM card as a foreigner in Russia

Once the basic document folder is ready, choose the SIM path that matches your stay and identity status.

Fast path

Do this in order

Start here if you only need the order. Detailed notes are lower on this page.

  1. Step 1

    Build the core folder

    Keep passport, visa or e-visa, migration card or entry record, insurance, stay address, and host contacts together.

    Tip: Keep originals separate from copies so you do not hand over an original when a copy is enough.

  2. Step 2

    Make safe copies

    Save photos or PDFs of key pages in secure cloud storage and offline on your phone. Do not send documents to unknown intermediaries.

    Tip: Ruvoya never asks you to upload a passport, SNILS, bank card, or migration document.

  3. Step 3

    Group documents by task

    For hotel and address questions, keep passport and migration card ready. For SIM, banking, and government services, note whether you already have SNILS, INN, passport translation, and a Russian phone number.

    Tip: When a provider asks for more, confirm it on that provider's official page.

  4. Step 4

    Check status questions separately

    Registration, work, study, RVP, residence permit, and stay limits depend on status. Do not use a general checklist as legal instructions.

    Tip: Red-risk routes need human review and official sources before publication.

This guide is informational, not an official service. Requirements and app availability can change. Use the official links when you are ready to act.

Prepare

What you need

  • Passport or travel document

    The original document you used or will use to enter Russia.

  • Entry basis

    Visa, e-visa, visa-free basis, or another document if required for your citizenship and purpose of stay.

  • Address and host details

    Hotel name, apartment address, landlord, university, employer, or other receiving-party contact.

Checklist

Mark it off

Before you start

  • Passport or travel documentRequired
  • Visa, e-visa, or visa-free basis if applicableRequired
  • Stay address and receiving-party contactsRequired
  • Insurance if required for your trip or statusRecommended
  • SNILS, INN, passport translation if you already have themOptional

After you are done

  • Documents saved offline and in secure cloud storageRequired
  • You know which questions need separate status reviewRequired
  • Originals and copies are separatedRecommended

Details

Detailed notes

Use these notes when the fast path is not enough. Each step shows what to do, how to check it, and what to avoid.

  1. Step 1

    Documents

    Build the core folder

    1Prepare item
    2Check spelling
    3Keep copy

    Step 1

    Build the core folder

    Keep passport, visa or e-visa, migration card or entry record, insurance, stay address, and host contacts together.

    Do

    Prepare the document, item, or information named in this step before you visit or submit anything.

    Check

    Check names, dates, spelling, and whether an original, copy, or translation is needed.

    Avoid

    Avoid sending sensitive document numbers or scans through unofficial forms.

    Tip

    Keep originals separate from copies so you do not hand over an original when a copy is enough.

  2. Step 2

    Check

    Make safe copies

    1Compare source
    2Confirm status
    3Continue

    Step 2

    Make safe copies

    Save photos or PDFs of key pages in secure cloud storage and offline on your phone. Do not send documents to unknown intermediaries.

    Do

    Compare the result with the official source or provider page before you rely on it.

    Check

    Make sure the name, status, date, provider, or app developer matches the expected result.

    Avoid

    Avoid continuing if the result looks different from the source-backed guide.

    Tip

    Ruvoya never asks you to upload a passport, SNILS, bank card, or migration document.

  3. Step 3

    Documents

    Group documents by task

    1Prepare item
    2Check spelling
    3Keep copy

    Step 3

    Group documents by task

    For hotel and address questions, keep passport and migration card ready. For SIM, banking, and government services, note whether you already have SNILS, INN, passport translation, and a Russian phone number.

    Do

    Prepare the document, item, or information named in this step before you visit or submit anything.

    Check

    Check names, dates, spelling, and whether an original, copy, or translation is needed.

    Avoid

    Avoid sending sensitive document numbers or scans through unofficial forms.

    Tip

    When a provider asks for more, confirm it on that provider's official page.

  4. Step 4

    Check

    Result

    1Compare source
    2Confirm status
    3Continue

    Step 4

    Check status questions separately

    Registration, work, study, RVP, residence permit, and stay limits depend on status. Do not use a general checklist as legal instructions.

    Do

    Compare the result with the official source or provider page before you rely on it.

    Check

    Make sure the name, status, date, provider, or app developer matches the expected result.

    Avoid

    Avoid continuing if the result looks different from the source-backed guide.

    Tip

    Red-risk routes need human review and official sources before publication.

Open when needed

Useful links

Open these when a step points you to an official page, provider page, or child guide.

Documents and official checks

Official linkRussian MVDOfficial authority site for migration procedures and checks.xn--b1aew.xn--p1aiOfficial linkSNILS official explainerSocial Fund page about the insurance account number.sfr.gov.ruOfficial linkMFA: unified e-visa FAQOfficial e-visa help page with validity, stay period, and arrival reminders.electronic-visa.kdmid.ruOfficial linkMy Documents MFCEntry point for regional public service centers and branch addresses.xn--d1achjhdicc8bh4h.xn--p1ai

Avoid

Common traps

Treating one general list as a legal answer for every status

Use this page to organize documents. Verify deadlines and obligations from official sources for your exact status.

Sending passport photos to a random helper

Share documents only with the official service, bank, operator, hotel, or verified professional when it is truly needed.

Confusing the migration card with migration registration

They are different. The migration card is connected to entry; migration registration is connected to your place of stay.

Questions

Quick answers

Sources and report outdated information4 sources. Open this when you want to verify the guide or send a correction.

Report outdated information

Tell us what looks wrong or needs checking. We review reports before changing guides.

Do not include passport details, phone numbers, bank card data, migration documents, biometrics, or other sensitive personal data.

Next

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