Russia to make fingerprinting compulsory for foreign nationals visiting visa-free

The Russian Interior Ministry plans to introduce compulsory fingerprinting and photographing of all foreign nationals who intend to visit Russia for over a month, the press service of the ministry stated when asked by the TASS, the Russian News Agency.

According to the Interior Ministry, the bill related it is yet to be confirmed. The report of the ministry says that the objective of the draft federal legislation is to improve a mechanism to have proper control over foreign nationals who stay temporarily following their arrival in the Russian Federation so that it does not need getting a visa and also identifying individuals who are restricted from entering the former Soviet Republic.

It added that launch date of the new procedure is scheduled for 1 July 2019. The press service elaborated that, as per the bill, a foreign national entering Russia without a visa is ordered to report to the Interior Ministry on his/her temporary stay in Russian within seven working days after the one-month expiry date following his/her arrival in the European country.

Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Russian Interior Minister, was reported to have stated during his address in the State Duma at a ‘government hour’ symposium that the ministry planned to make fingerprinting and photographing compulsory for all foreign nationals who enter their country visa-free for a period extending beyond 30 days.

Currently, fingerprints are mandatory for foreign citizens who obtain a residence permit, a work permit or a temporary residence permit in Russia.

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