A medical examination for foreign nationals is a separate Russian immigration procedure. An ordinary physician’s certificate or private health insurance does not replace it. Foreign nationals covered by Article 5(18) of Federal Law No.115-FZ must generally complete it within 30 calendar days of entry. First check the purpose of entry, immigration status, age, previous examinations and exemptions.
Checked on 6 November 2026. This guide incorporates the changes effective from 1 September 2026. Draft rules and future 2027 provisions are not treated as current law.
§ Who must undergo the examination?
Article 5(18) covers people entering Russia for work, those entering for another purpose for more than 90 calendar days, and the special categories referenced in the third and fourth paragraphs of Article 5(13). Medical requirements for a work patent, work permit, temporary residence permit (RVP), education residence permit (RVPO) or permanent residence permit (VNH) must also be checked under the provision governing that document. Not needing a work patent does not, by itself, establish an exemption from medical requirements.
For example, an EAEU worker’s exemption from a work patent is not a general exemption from immigration medical procedures. Belarusian citizens, however, have an express statutory exemption. Establish the applicable category before calculating a deadline.
For a child aged six or over, check the purpose and length of stay, status and age-specific examination requirements. Do not apply an adult test list automatically. For the education residence route, also see the RVPO guide.
◷ Initial examination, repeat examination and document validity
| Situation | Rule | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Initial examination under Article 5(18) | Within 30 calendar days of entry | Whether the category and exemptions apply; documented entry date |
| An examination took place before entry | Paragraph 18 provides an exception for a qualifying statutory examination within the preceding year | Date, legal basis and evidence of that examination, rather than any medical certificate |
| Repeat examination under the general rule in paragraph 19 | Within 30 calendar days after one year has elapsed since the previous examination | Do not restart the year at every border crossing |
| Highly qualified specialists under Article 13.2 and their families | Repeat within 30 calendar days of the work permit extension decision, or of entry if abroad on the date of that decision | The specific HQS status, decision date and whether the person was abroad |
The examination deadline and the validity of a result are different. Paragraph 20 of Procedure No.1079n provides 12 months from issue for the documents it specifies. Article 5(19) ties the repeat examination to one year from the previous examination. Keep both dates. The additional period for repeating the procedure should not be treated as an automatic extension of every document for every application.
If preparing an RVP application or an application for VNH, check the medical requirements for the chosen ground separately. This table does not replace the special rules for obtaining status. Completing an examination does not itself extend lawful stay.
Separately check fingerprint registration and photographing for foreign nationals: the guide explains deadlines, documents, the confirmation card and repeat procedures. Proof of a medical examination and proof of fingerprint registration relate to different procedures.
⌖ Where to go and how to check the clinic
Article 4.2 requires an authorised medical organisation in Russia unless federal law or an international treaty provides otherwise. A general medical licence alone does not establish authority to perform this particular procedure.
- Find the current regional list of authorised organisations on the regional authority’s official website. Article 4.2 also provides for a Roszdravnadzor register.
- Match the legal entity name, examination address and service. Clarify who performs the tests and issues the result.
- Before paying, obtain the price for the whole required examination, booking conditions and expected completion time. There is no single nationwide price.
- Keep the contract, receipt, application date and evidence of completion. Authorised organisations may not transfer their rights and obligations for conducting examinations or issuing conclusions to third parties.
The law places the cost on the foreign national, but an employer or client may pay. Purchasing a ready-made certificate without attending does not amount to undergoing the examination. Check a clinic’s requirements against current law, rather than relying only on an intermediary’s advertisement.
▤ Documents and what happens at the appointment
Paragraph 5 of Ministry of Health Procedure No.1079n specifies an identity document, a migration card and copy where available for visa-free entrants, or a visa and copy for visa entrants. Before booking, clarify translation requirements and the documents needed for your circumstances. Bring evidence of an earlier examination if relying on it. For a child, bring identity documents and evidence of the legal representative’s authority.
The examination requires informed voluntary consent under the applicable rules. It includes specialist assessments and tests for the infections, HIV and substances covered by the procedure. The required scope depends on age and medical indications, among other factors. Do not arrange tests on your own assumption: the medical organisation explains the sequence and permitted methods.
Paragraph 19 of Procedure No.1079n specifies up to five working days from applying with the prescribed documents, or up to eighteen working days where confirmatory chemical-toxicological testing is conducted. These periods do not extend lawful stay and are not a reason to book on the last day. The organisation takes account of previous results in the circumstances described in paragraph 13.1; the patient cannot independently decide that those results are sufficient.
Tell the doctor about prescribed medication and provide relevant medical documents. Do not stop treatment on your own to prepare for testing. If your migration card is lost, first check the duplicate card procedure.
✓ Electronic conclusions and a paper extract
Since 1 September 2026, Article 4.2 provides for electronic medical conclusions signed with enhanced qualified electronic signatures by the medical professional and organisation. The law requires placement in the EGISZ document register and transmission of completed conclusions to the Ministry of Internal Affairs within 24 hours. Information showing the specified infections or HIV is also transmitted to the sanitary and epidemiological supervisory authority.
Those 24 hours concern the prescribed handling and exchange of completed information. They do not promise completion of the entire set of tests within a day. On request, the organisation must provide information about the results and their transmission, and issue a paper extract confirming the contents of the conclusion.
- Check the name, date of birth, passport details and examination date.
- Request information on the result and transmission; keep the extract and response.
- For your particular immigration application, check which data the Ministry obtains through interagency exchange and what you must supply yourself.
Procedure No.1079n contains provisions on medical documents and must be applied in light of the later Article 4.2 of the federal law. Its older paper route cannot justify ignoring current electronic exchange requirements. Booking, payment and a completed result are different stages.
↗ Missing data, errors or a missed deadline
- The Ministry has no record. Ask the clinic to confirm completion, identify the result and explain its transmission. Also retain the Ministry department’s response describing the missing data.
- Incorrect identity details or dates. Ask the medical organisation to correct the specific discrepancy and attach evidence of the correct information. Do not alter the extract yourself.
- You dispute a medical result. Obtain the medical records and ask the organisation about its review procedure. A doctor determines further testing and treatment; immigration consequences require a separate assessment of the documents.
- You missed the deadline. Promptly establish whether the duty applied, arrange the necessary examination and gather evidence explaining the delay. A later examination does not automatically cancel a decision already made.
Article 5(23) provides for shortening the permitted stay where the duty is not fulfilled. Refusal or evasion may also entail liability; the specific offence, fault and decision require separate assessment. Obtain the decision and record when it was received. Do not confuse a medical conclusion with a decision to annul a work patent or another immigration measure.
Frequently asked questions and primary sources
Does health insurance or an employer’s medical check replace this?
There is no automatic replacement. Check the examination required by immigration law. A doctor may take eligible previous results into account under paragraph 13.1, but insurance and an ordinary certificate do not themselves prove compliance.
Must I repeat it after every entry?
Article 5(18) provides an exception for a qualifying statutory examination within the preceding year. Keep the date and evidence, and separately monitor the repeat examination rule in paragraph 19.
Can I wait 90 days if I did not enter for work?
For a person covered by paragraph 18 who enters for a non-work purpose for more than 90 days, the current examination deadline is 30 calendar days from entry. Do not confuse the planned length of stay with the time allowed to perform the duty.
Do all children need the adult test list?
No. The law provides an exemption for children under six and the examination procedure has age-specific requirements. For an older child, first check whether the duty applies and what examination is appropriate.
Does a clinic’s extract extend my stay?
No. A medical result and permission to stay answer different questions. Separately check the expiry of your status and migration registration.
Legal sources checked on 6 November 2026: Law No.115-FZ as amended on 26 July 2026, with amendments effective from 25 October 2026; Ministry of Health Order No.1079n as amended on 21 February 2022; Law No.38-FZ as amended on 23 March 2026. The linked legislation is in Russian.