Regular medical testing and fingerprinting are required by Russian immigration laws

The Russian Federation amended two laws on December 29, 2021, that require foreigners staying in Russia for over 30 days to undergo medical exams every three months and submit fingerprints and biometric photo to authorities.

Russian media reported that Vladimir Putin signed the amendments into law on July 1, 2021, and they went into effect in December.

The amendments require foreigners and their family members aged six and up who stay in Russia longer than 30 days to undergo medical check-ups, including testing for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, tuberculosis, and COVID-19, among other diseases; the blood will also be tested for illegal drugs. X-rays and CT scans may be part of some tests. The tests must be taken within 30 days of a foreigner's arrival in Russia, are valid for 90 days, and must be repeated within 30 days after their expiration.

In the event of non-compliance, work permits could be revoked and you could be expelled from Russia. Positive test results can lead to foreigners losing their residency permits or, if abroad, being denied entry back into Russia, the amendments state.

The United States, among other countries, requires foreigners seeking entry to take the COVID-19 test or to provide proof of immunization; the U.S. also requires testing for diseases such as tuberculosis, gonorrhea, and syphilis for those seeking immigration visas, but does not include those requirements for media or other employment visas.

"Yet another harassment by the Russian government against foreign media and organizations," said Frank Überall, the national chairman of the Association of German Journalists.

During an email exchange with CPJ, he said the rules would make German journalists' access to Russia "more difficult," and that they violate press freedom because "the results of the tests could easily be misused to expel critical media representatives from Russia and thus suppress undesirable reporting."

To stay in Russia for longer than 90 days, foreigners were required to present a negative HIV test before the new regulations took effect.

Diplomats and Belarusians are exempted from the new requirements, according to the amendments.

According to media reports, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on December 17 that Putin is "in favor of creating the most comfortable conditions for foreign investors, foreign specialists here." The Kremlin spokesperson also said the new regulations were the responsibility of the migration authorities and declined to comment further.

*This article contains information sourced from CPJ.