Relocating to Moscow: Your Legal Checklist
Moving to Moscow legally comes down to six things: the right visa or residence status, migration registration after arrival, a proper lease, access to medical care, tax residency and the paperwork for family members. Most problems foreigners face later start with one of these steps done late or informally.
Use this checklist to plan the first months and to see what needs a lawyer.
Choosing the Right Visa or Status
The purpose of the trip defines the visa. A work visa requires an employer with permission to hire foreigners, and highly qualified specialist status gives simpler rules for some professionals. Business, study and private visas do not allow employment.
Citizens of visa-free countries still need the correct basis for staying and, in most cases, a work permit or patent to work. Long-term options include a temporary residence permit and a permanent residence permit.
Migration Registration After Arrival
A foreigner must be registered at the place of stay within a set number of working days after arrival. The host, a landlord, hotel or employer, usually submits the notice.
Keep the tear-off part of the notification. Police check it, and missing registration leads to fines and can affect future entries.
Registration must be renewed when you move to another flat or leave Moscow for another region. Repeated migration violations may lead to a ban on entering Russia for several years, which is hard to lift later.
Renting a Flat Safely
Before signing, see the owner's title documents and passport. If the flat has several owners, all must consent. A lease for a year or more must be registered.
Write down the deposit, utility payments and the condition of the flat in an inventory. Agree in the lease that the landlord will act as host for migration registration.
Healthcare and Insurance
Most visas require private medical insurance valid in Russia. Workers under an employment contract may join the compulsory health insurance system, depending on their status.
Keep policy documents in Russian. Clinics ask for them at the first visit.
Applicants for work permits and residence permits also pass a medical examination at an approved clinic. Plan this into the first weeks, because the results are needed before the documents are issued.
Tax Residency and Personal Income Tax
| Status | How it is acquired | Basic effect |
|---|---|---|
| Tax resident | 183 days or more in Russia within 12 consecutive months | Tax on worldwide income |
| Non-resident | Fewer than 183 days | Tax on Russian-source income only |
| Highly qualified specialist | Special migration status | Resident rates on salary from the first day |
Check whether your home country has a double tax treaty with Russia. Obtain a taxpayer number (INN) early. Banks and employers ask for it.
Bringing Your Family
Spouses and children usually receive visas based on the main applicant's status. Marriage and birth certificates must be apostilled or legalised and translated into Russian.
Schools and kindergartens require registration and medical records. Children also need their own migration registration.
Getting Help From Elena Petrova
Elena Petrova, a Moscow advocate, checks leases, employment contracts and family documents for foreigners relocating to Moscow. She explains Russian requirements in English and flags risks before you sign.
The main channel of communication with the lawyer is email: lawyer@lawyer-moscow.com.