Russia has announced significant updates to its foreign national registration requirements, impacting various long-stay visitors and certain workers. These changes, part of Russia’s ongoing expansion of digital monitoring, introduce new rules for non-work stays exceeding 90 days, effective September 1, 2026, and continue the experimental Amina mobile app registration for specific foreign workers in Moscow.
Russia’s Amina App: New Registration for Moscow Workers
A separate, earlier requirement introduced on September 1, 2025, specifically applies to adult nationals from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan who are employed in Moscow or the wider Moscow region.
These individuals are mandated to register their residential address using Russia’s experimental Amina mobile application. This system, operated by Russian authorities, requires continuous access to the user’s geolocation. Should location tracking cease, authorities may cancel the registered address, compelling the individual to submit a new address via Amina.
Furthermore, registration is required each time an affected worker enters Moscow or the surrounding Moscow region. Non-compliance can result in fines or deportation. Currently, family members of these workers are exempt from using the Amina app.
Understanding How Russia’s Amina App Functions
The Amina app is a Russian government-operated mobile application designed for migration registration and continuous residential address monitoring for specific foreign nationals in Moscow and the Moscow region.
For those covered by this pilot program, Amina goes beyond simple address recording by utilizing continuous geolocation data to verify that the individual remains at their officially registered place of residence.
Key Requirements for Amina App Users:
- Digital Registration: Affected foreign nationals must install Amina and register their residential address through the app. For those in the Moscow pilot, this process replaces the standard migration registration.
- Continuous Location Access: Users are required to grant the app continuous access to their geolocation, enabling authorities to verify their declared place of residence.
- Automatic Deregistration: If location data transmission stops for three consecutive days, the individual may be removed from their registered address and added to Russia’s monitored-persons register.
- Mandatory New Registration: Any individual who is deregistered must submit a new residential address via the Amina app. Failure to comply can lead to administrative penalties, including potential deportation.
In essence, Amina transforms migration compliance by integrating it with continuous location verification for targeted foreign nationals.
Who Must Use the Amina App in Moscow?
The Moscow pilot program mandates adult citizens from the following nine visa-free countries, who are working in Moscow and the wider Moscow region, to use the Amina app:
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Georgia
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Moldova
- Tajikistan
- Uzbekistan
- Ukraine
This requirement became effective on September 1, 2025.
Amina App Exemptions:
The Amina pilot program does not apply to:
- Citizens of Belarus
- Minors (under 18)
- Diplomats and their family members
- Employees of international organizations
Russia’s Broadened Registration Rules: Effective September 1, 2026
Beyond the Moscow-specific Amina pilot, a significant update taking effect on September 1, 2026, broadens Russia’s migration monitoring framework. These new rules apply to foreign nationals entering Russia for non-work purposes who intend to stay for more than 90 calendar days.
This includes individuals on extended visits, those studying, or others whose immigration status permits a long, non-work stay. It’s crucial for Indian travelers to note that Indian citizens are not among the nine nationalities covered by the Amina workplace pilot. Therefore, this new broader registration requirement should not be confused with the specific Amina app mandate for Moscow workers.
The clear distinction is that a short tourist holiday in Russia falls under different regulations than a stay exceeding 90 days. All long-stay travelers must carefully review the specific registration rules applicable to their nationality and travel purpose before their departure.
Travelobiz Takeaway: Navigating Russia’s New Rules
At Travelobiz, we view these changes primarily as a long-stay compliance issue, rather than a disruption for short-term holidaymakers, particularly for Indian citizens. While short-term visitors can generally proceed with normal travel plans, those planning longer stays in Russia must pay close attention to the updated registration requirements and ensure full compliance.
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