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Moscow to impose mandatory fingerprinting on foreign nationals entering Russia visa-free

The Russian Interior Ministry plans to introduce obligatory fingerprinting and photographing of all foreign citizens who enter Russia for more than a month

MOSCOW, December 11. /TASS/. The Russian Interior Ministry plans to introduce obligatory fingerprinting and photographing of all foreign citizens who enter Russia for more than a month, the ministry’s press service reported when asked by TASS.

The Interior Ministry noted that the corresponding bill is pending.

"The draft federal law is aimed at improving a mechanism to provide proper control over temporary stays by foreign citizens who arrive on the territory of the Russian Federation in the order that does not require receiving a visa and also detecting individuals who face restrictions for entering the Russian Federation. The new procedure is scheduled to be launched since July 1, 2019," the report says.

The press service explained that, according to the bill, a foreigner who entered Russia visa-free is obliged to report to the Interior Ministry on his or her temporary residence in the Russian Federation within seven working days after the 30-day expiration date from his or her arrival to the country. Earlier, Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev said during his speech at a "government hour" symposium in the State Duma that the ministry plans to make fingerprinting and photographing obligatory for all foreigners who enter Russia visa-free for a period longer than 30 days. Fingerprints are currently compulsory in case a foreign citizen receives a work permit, a temporary residence permit or a residence permit.