According to information from the Bulgarian Embassy in Moscow, Russia is introducing changes to the list of territories with regulated visit of foreign citizens.

By Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No 1730 of 20 December 2019, the following restrictions on the access of foreigners to the territory of the Russian Federation shall come into force as of 29 September 2021; the restricted areas may be visited only with the permission of the ministries, departments or local authorities concerned:

1. Kamchatka Region - the parts of the Kamchatka Peninsula bounded by the following lines: Ivashka - Voyampolka - Klyuchevska Sopka volcano - Cape Sivuchi (excluding the southern slopes of the volcano, the above-mentioned settlements and 20 km of the eastern coast of the peninsula); Cape Kaligir-Koryaki-Koryaki highway-Elizovo-Termalny volcanic hill-Barkhatnaya volcanic hill-Saranny nose (excluding the towns of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Elizovo, the settlements of Paratunka and Termalny and the highways connecting them). (Amended by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No 898 of 01 December 2008 and No 1730 of 20 December 2019);

2. Khabarovsk region-city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur;

3. Primorje region - 20 km coastline from Cape Four Rock to Cape South. (Amended by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No 1076 of 23 December 2009)
The coastal area bounded on the east by the Livadia - Anisimovka line and on the north by the Anisimovka - Shkotovo railway line (excluding the above mentioned settlements and the railway line);

4. Krasnoyarsk Territory - the area within the boundaries: lake Polovinnoye - Kazantsevo - Mesoyakha - Madiuka - Lake Dupkun (excluding the ports of Dudinka and Igarka and navigation on the Yenisei River). (Amended by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No 755 of 30 October 2001 and No 898 of 01 December 2008);

5. Orenburg District-the area south of the Orenburg-Ilek Highway, bounded on the southwest and east by Ilek river and the Chingirlau-Sol-Iletsk-Orenburg railway line (excluding the above-mentioned towns, highway and railway line);

6. Nizhny Novgorod Region - the area within the boundaries of Pervomaisky - Purekh - Chistoe - Krasnaya Gorka - Volodarsk - Dzerzhinsk - Pervomaisky (excluding the above settlements). Transit is permitted by rail and motor vehicles on the Gorokhovets - Nizhny Novgorod highway, with entry at the towns of Volodarsk and Dzerzhinsk.
The area bounded on the south by the regional border and by Mokshariver, the highway Sumorievo - Bakhtizino - Sarminskiy Maidan - Narishkino - Alamasovo and the line Alamasovo - Yakovlevka - Bereshchino - Zhegalovo of the Republic of Mordovia (except for the river Moksha, the aforementioned settlements and the highway). (Amended by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No 686 of 15 November 2006);

7. The Republic of Mordovia - the territory bounded to the north by the republican border and the Mordovia and the Moksha river, on the line Old Town - Russko-Karaevo - Zhegalovo - Bereshchino from Nizhny Novgorod Region (excluding the above mentioned settlements and the highway). (Amended by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No 686 of 15 November 2006);

8. Murmansk Region and the Republic of Karelia - 10 km of coastline on the Kola Peninsula from Cape Krestovi to the Karelia River. Voronya, the area west of the Voronya river, bounded on the south and west by the Tumani-Kola Highway, the Kola-Pechenga Railroad, and the Pechenga - Dolga Shilka Bay Line (excluding the aforementioned settlements, the highway, the railroad, and the City of Murmansk with railroad or vehicle access thereto and transit on the R-21 Highway; the area bounded on the north by a straight line from Cape Velikiy to kilometre marker ‘19 km’ of the Mishukovo-Snezhnogorsk highway, on the west by the Mishukovo-Snezhnogorsk and R-21 highways, on the south by the northern boundary of the town of Murmansk on the western shore of Kola Bay, and on the east by the shoreline of Kola Bay; the stretch from the Mishukovo-Snezhnogorsk highway to the kilometre marker ‘19 km’ and the 15-kilometre coastline of the Kola Peninsula from Fyodorovka Bay to Dolgaya Bay and the Dolgaya river, with transit to this coastline via the Kola-Teriberka highway). The area of Kandalaksha Bay with a 1 km wide coastline within the following boundaries: from the west - Cape Kochini - Cape Titov, and from the east - Cape Nosok - Cape Sharapov. (Amended by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No 833 of 22 August 2016);

9. Arkhangelsk Oblast and the Komi Republic 25 km of coastline of Primorsky Krai west of the Severnaya Dvina River to the village of Letty Navolok; the 50-kilometre-wide strip along the Arkhangelsk-Shalakusha railway line (excluding the towns of Arkhangelsk and Novodvinsk and access to them by rail or highways) and the part of the territory east of the Yemtsa-Shalakusha line to Verkholedka-Seltso-Pogost. The territory within the boundaries: Halmer - Yu - Yari - Ust - Kara - Karataika (excluding the above mentioned settlements); Cape St. Cape Indiga river Sula river - Kotkino village - Cape Nelmin (excluding the aforementioned settlements and river areas); the part of the Kanin Peninsula east of the Chizha-Nes line to the Vijas river and Cape Canin with an adjacent area of 10 km radius. (Amended by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No 898 of 01 December 2008.)
New Earth Islands, located south of the line: Russian Gulf - Cape Middendorf;

10. Sverdlovsk Region - the part of the territory to the west of the Nizhny Tagil - Ivdel railway line, bounded on the north by the river Ivdel and from the south along the line Kushva - Serebryanka (excluding the railway and the above mentioned settlements).
The part of the territory of the municipalities of Nevyansk, Kirovgrad, Novouralsk, Verkh-Neyvinsk and Verkhniy Taghgil bounded by the linear industrial town of Verkh-Neyvinsk-village of Kalinovo-village of Murzinka-village of Belorechka - village of Neyvo-Rudyanka - industrial town of Verkh - Neyvinsk (excluding the above-mentioned settlements). (Amended by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No 518 of 29 June 2011).
The part of the territory of Sissert Municipality bounded on the south by the regional border, by the linear village of Tyubuk (Kaslinsky District, Chelyabinsk Region) — the village of Kosmakova — a crossing point of the linear village of Poldnevaya (Polevskoy Municipality) and the Mauk station of the Yuzhno-Uralskaya Railway and the regional border (excluding the village of Kosmakova). (Amendments - Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No 518 of 29 June 2011).

11. Chelyabinsk Oblast - the territory bounded to the north by the regional border, by the line Poldnevaya village (Polevskoy municipality, Sverdlovsk region) - Mauk station - Tyubuk village - Kasli town - Kishtim town - Argayash village - village of Karaigakul - village of. Tyubuk - village. Kosmakova (Sissert municipality, Sverdlovsk region) (excluding the above-mentioned settlements).
The part of the territory of the district of Katav-Ivanovo bounded by the town of Yuryuzan-village of Pervukha-village of Meseda-village of Ekaterinovka-village of Polovinka-village of Sovkhozni-town of Yuryuzan (excluding the town of Yuryuzan). (Paragraph amended by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No 518 of 29 June 2011);

12. Leningrad Region - islands of the Gulf of Finland (except Gogland Island), the 20 km wide coastline of the Narva River to the municipality of Malaya Izhora. (Amended by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No 484 of 13 August 2006);

13. Moscow region - the regional parts are limited as follows: odintsovo District - along the line Uspenskoye - Zhavoronki - Odintsovo - Barvikha; Balashikha District - from the west along the line Nikolskoe - Trubetskoe - Balashikha - Kuchino - Tomilino (except for the Gorkovskoe highway); Mitishchi District - from the south along the MKAD and the Sovkhoz Nagornye - Borodino - Volkovo - Perlovka line (excluding the above settlements and the highway); Solnechnogorsk District - from the south-west along the Pyatnitskoye highway and the Korostovo-Podolino-Brekhovo line (excluding the above settlements and the Pyatnitskoye highway); Podolsk Region-from the west of the Simferopolskoye Highway and along the line Altuhovo-Romantsevo-Meshcherskoye-Stolbovaya (excluding the above-mentioned settlements and the Simferopolskoye Highway); Shchelkovo Region - from the south-east of the Shchelkovskoye Highway and along the line Dolgoe-Ledovo-Oboldino-Shitnikovo (excluding the above-mentioned settlements and the Shchelkovskoye Highway);

14. Kaliningrad Oblast-Baltiysk Municipal District (excluding the following parts of the territory: first-adjacent to Pools 3 and 4 of the Baltic Naval Base, with a total area of 29.52 hectares, the north-western boundary point of which is a point on the shoreline of Pool 3.30 m south-west of the bend in the tarmac road running along the shore. From this point the boundary lies 80 to the north-west and changes direction to the north-east 8 m to the footpath which continues for a further 135 m to the corner of the stone fence of the military base. Further on the boundary of the area coincides with the stone fence of the military base, reaching its corner, located 12 m to the south- east of the transformer substation. Further, the boundary runs along the wall of the transformer substation 3 m from the substation, after which it turns 90 degrees to the west, runs to the stone fence of the military base and along the fence and walls of the buildings of the military base to the metal fence; further on it runs along the same fence, stopping 5 m from the adjacent railroad track and following along the tracks until they intersect with track No 54. From this point it runs 60 m perpendicular to the railway line to the east, then turns south and runs a further 87 m to the junction with the southern edge of the concrete access road. From this point the boundary runs along the southern end of the road to the military base entrance point. Then, turning 90 degrees to the southwest, it reaches the intersection with railroad pole No 57, runs southeasterly along it for 156 m, then turns 90 degrees to the south side of railroad easement No 55, following it to the first points of railway switch No 119, then making a further 90 degree turn to the west, following it for 30 m and turning 90 degrees to the south, and running parallel to railway column No 53 towards the reinforced concrete fence. In addition, the boundary runs west along the fence and brick wall of the building, turns 90 degrees to the south, runs along the wall of this building to the waterline of the Kaliningrad Sea Canal and then continues along the shoreline of basins No 4 and 3 to the point of departure; second, the water body of Primorsky Bay; third, the Kaliningrad Sea Canal (see Baltics map, No 34-40, 52 issued in 1984, scale 1: 10000), the part of the territory of the Gurievsk Municipal District west of the Kaliningrad - Orlovka - Sosnovka - Zelenogradsk highway on the section from the town of Kaliningrad to the village of Medvedevka and west of the Primorskoye Koltso highway on the section from the village of Medvedevka to the intersection of the said highway with the border of Zelenogradskaya oblast (excluding the above mentioned settlements and highways), Zelenogradsk oblast (excluding the following parts: first, to the north-eastern part of the Primorskoye Koltso highway on the section from the intersection of the said highway with the border of Gurievsk municipality to the village of Luzhki , including the highway, and north of the line Luzhki - Muromskoye - Kovrovo - Romanovo - Olshanka - Grachevka - Orekhovo - Svetlogorsk district border; second, west of the Primorsk-Yantarny-Svetlogorsk railway line on the section from the border of the Baltiysk Municipal District to the border of the Yantarny District; third - to the south of the Kaliningrad - Baltiysk railway line), the part of the territory of Svetlogorsk District to the west of the Orekhovo (Zelenogradsk District) - Filino (Zelenogradsk District) line - intersecting with the water line of the Baltic Sea, the part of the territory of Yantarny City District to the east of the Primorsk - Yantarny - Svetlogorsk railway line; parts of the territory of Svetlogorsk City: first - north with Cherepanovo, including the village; secondly, bounded on the north-east by the line linking forest sections Nos 150 and 159 of the Baltiysk Local Forestry Service of the Kaliningrad Forestry Service, on the west and south-west by the shore of Primorskaya Bay, and on the south-east by garden plots and the railway, the part of the territory of the Krasnoznamensk municipal district and the Nesterov district bounded by the Kibartai-Nesterov-Visokoye-Dobrovolsk-Pravodino-Pobedino highway and the Pobedino-Shilgalai line (excluding the aforementioned settlements and the highway).
Access to the open cities, towns and districts of Kaliningrad oblast is allowed as transit on the Kaliningrad Pereslavskoye - Svetlogorsk railway line, on the Kaliningrad - Ryabinovka - Zelenogradsk railway line, on the Kaliningrad - Baltiysk railway line, on the Primorsk - Yantarny - Svetlogorsk railway or by motor vehicles on the Kaliningrad - Pereslavskoye - Dubrovka — Svetlogorsk, Kaliningrad - Orlovka - Muromskoye - Zelenogradsk, Kaliningrad - Baltiysk, Svetlogorsk - Yantarny and Kaliningrad - Pereslavskoye - Kumachevo - Povarovka - Yantarny motorway. Access to the territories of basins 3 and 4 of the Baltic Naval Base is permitted as transit via the Kaliningrad-Baltiysk railway or by motor vehicles via the Kaliningrad-Baltiysk highway and further via Lenina, Serebrovskaya and Nizhny Shosse Streets of the city of Baltiysk, or via the highway ‘Access road to the ferry terminal for freight and light wagons in the city of Baltiysk’. (Paragraph amended by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No 489 of 17 May 2012);

15. Volgograd region - the part of the Pallasov region bounded on the north and east by the line connecting: a point 45 km north of the village of Mayak Oktyabrya - a point 67 km north of the village of Otgonny - a point 20 km south of the village of Otgonny - the northern edge of Lake Botkul. (Amended by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No 1171 of 27 November 1995).

16. Astrakhan Oblast - the area east of the Volzhsky-Akhtubinsk-Kharabali-Akkol railway line (excluding the above-mentioned railway line);

17. Chukotka Autonomous Region. (Amended Decree No 1641 of the Government of the Russian Federation of 27 December 1997);

18. Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region: the territory bounded by the line Ust - Kara - Aksarka - Holmi - Vingapurovsky - Khalisavei - TibeiSale, to the shoreline of the Taz River, the waterline of the Taz Bay, Ob Bay, Malygin Prav, the Kara Sea, Baidarat Bay (excluding the municipality of Ust-Kara and the navigation of the Ob River, and the shoreline of the Yamal Peninsula and the adjacent territory of Cape Porui with a width of 30 km to the Tambei River). (Amended by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No 277 of 29 April 2002 and No 331 of 28 April 2011);

19. The Republic of North Ossetia-Alania - the territory bounded on the south and west by the section of the R-217 Kavkaz highway from the administrative border of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania to the village of Kariena, section A -164 Trans-Caucasus Highway from the village of. Kariena to the town of Ardon, the line connecting the town of Ardon with the villages of Kargadon, Nova Saniba and Gizel, the section of the A-162 Vladikavkaz-Alagir Highway from the village of Gizel to the town of Vladikavkaz, A-161 Vladikavkaz-Nizhny Lars-Gruzin border highway (excluding the above-mentioned sections of highways R-217, A-164, A-162 and A-161, the Vladikavkaz (Beslan) airport, the towns of Vladikavkaz, Beslan, Ardon and the villages of Elkhotovo, Karyena, Kargadon, Nova Saniba, Gizel and the settlement of Zmeyskaya).
The 4 km wide strip adjacent to the A-161 Vladikavkaz-Nizhny Lars-Gruzinskaya highway from the west (from the ‘4 km’ sign to the ‘16 km’ sign).
Transit passage on the Caucasus R-217 highway, the highways connecting Vladikavkaz city with the Caucasus R-217 highway, the Vladikavkaz city bypass highway, the A-163 highway (connecting the Caucasus R-217 highway and Vladikavkaz airport), and the Nazran-Murtazovo, Beslan-Murtazovo, Vladikavkaz-Beslan, and Gudermes-Mozdok-Prokhladnaya railway lines).(Paragraph amended by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No 1364 of 14 November 2018).

Security level:

Dating through relevant websites on the Internet can lead to scams that unfold in the following scenarios:
(a) Persons posing as young women take advantage of the credulity of foreign nationals by asking them to transfer funds to an account in order to finance their travel abroad or in order to comply with visa legislation: proof of sufficient means to support yourself during your stay abroad (usually around EUR 4,500—5,000). After receiving the transfer, these persons disappear and cease contact with the foreigners concerned.
(b) Individuals posing as young women who have received invitations to visit or who have been issued visas on other grounds, but who are known to foreigners, take advantage of their gullibility by asking them to transfer funds to an account in order to pay an alleged fine imposed by the Russian customs authorities when they leave the territory of the Russian Federation to travel abroad, usually for about 100,000 rubles for smuggling works of art or other offences. Subsequently, after receiving the transfer, these persons disappear and cease contact with the foreigners concerned.

Links containing ‘blacklists’ of similar individuals, searchable (in English and French): http://www.inter-mariage.com/fr/phtm/scamlist7.html and http://www.inter-mariage.com/en/scamlist.php
c) Persons who claim that they have been refused a visa due to the fact that they have not presented a document proving the availability of EUR 4500—5000 for their maintenance during their stay abroad and ask the foreign national to transfer this amount to an account for presentation at the Embassy. Such a request may be accompanied by a letter addressed to the person concerned, the ‘alleged’ applicant for a Bulgarian visa, drawn up on letterhead, usually that of a travel company, quoting the Embassy. Subsequently, after receiving the transfer, these persons disappear and cease contact with the foreigners concerned.
In order to prevent potential scams of Bulgarian citizens, the Consular Office with the Embassy in Moscow asks Bulgarian citizens expecting to be visited in Bulgaria by their internet acquaintances, who request that money be transferred or sent to them to prove they have sufficient funds to stay in Bulgaria in order to obtain a Bulgarian visa, to report to the Embassy at: [email protected] or call +7 495 234 02 26.
The Consular Office with the Embassy in Moscow has no practice of conducting formal written correspondence with Bulgarian visa applicants. In case you are presented with a document addressed to a Bulgarian visa applicant, drawn up on letterhead with the relevant details (contact details, signature, stamp), the Consular Office asks you to verify the authenticity of the document using the following address: [email protected].

Healthcare:

It is compulsory for everyone to have medical insurance valid for the territory of the Russian Federation.
Certain vaccinations are not required.

Customs requirements:

Upon entry into Russia, the accompanying baggage of arriving natural persons is fully exempt from customs duties if it contains items for personal non-commercial use with a total value of up to EUR 1,500 (for ground transport) and up to EUR 10,000 (for air transport) and its weight does not exceed 50 kg. A customs duty of not less than EUR 4 shall be payable for each kilogram in excess of this rate.
Up to 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or 250 g of tobacco per person can be imported duty-free. The import of more than 5 litres of alcoholic beverages is prohibited and alcohol over 3 litres must be declared. For every litre over the limit, there is a charge of EUR 10 (for beer and non-hard alcohol) and EUR 22 for every litre of hard alcohol, including vodka. The rule applies regardless of whether the alcoholic products were purchased abroad or in the Duty-Free area of the airport. Import of alcohol by under-aged persons is prohibited.
Imports and exports of currency and travellers' cheques over USD 10,000 are subject to mandatory declaration.
Further information on import/export of personal belongings: http://base.garant.ru/12177100/.
Further information on import/export of currency: http://docs.cntd.ru/document/902226652.

Road traffic:

On 16 April 2025, the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Finland extended indefinitely the land border crossing ban between Finland and the Russian Federation. All border crossing points remain closed. Restrictions on maritime traffic through the Haapasaari archipelago and the ports of Nuyamaa and Santio remain in place. Exceptions are allowed only for cargo ships in exceptional circumstances, and they are directed to the port of Nuyamaa.

The vehicle must be declared to the customs authorities upon entry into the Russian Federation. To drive a vehicle in Russia, the following documents must be presented to the authorities:

• Vehicle registration document;
• Valid proof of insurance;
• Driving licence and passport.

The standard speed limit is 60 km/h in the city, 90 km/h outside the city and 120 km/h on motorways. Russian legislation does not provide for a penalty for exceeding the speed limit by up to 20 km/h. Penalties for exceeding the speed limit by more than 20 km/h range from 500-5000 rubles (EUR 8-70).
There is a zero tolerance policy for drink driving. The maximum permissible amount of alcohol in a litre of exhaled air is 0.16 mg. For drink-driving, the driver is subject to an administrative sanction - deprivation of the right to drive from 1.5 to 2 years and a fine of 30,000 rubles (about EUR 500).
For a repeat offence, the RF Criminal Code provides for a fine of 200,000 to 300,000 rubles (EUR 3,000-4,000) or imprisonment for up to 2 years or 2 years of forced labour.
The use of unauthorized taxis and picking up persons at hitchhikes is not recommended.
Stopping should be carried out at appropriate places near DPS (traffic patrol service of the Ministry of Interior) posts, motels, gas stations and other busy places. Avoid travelling at night.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs the Bulgarian citizens travelling to the Russian Federation that the list of international checkpoints through which foreigners may pass was approved by the Order No 1724-r of the Government of the Russian Federation of 20 November 2008. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises Bulgarian citizens to cross into the territory of the Russian Federation only through BCPs included in the approved list of BCPs of the Russian Federation — (Annex).
Currently, the BCPs at the land border between the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation do not have international status, i.e. EU and third-country nationals are not allowed to pass through them. Only citizens of the Russian Federation and Belarus have the right to cross the land border.
The Krasnaya Gorka checkpoint on the M1 Belarus highway, often used over the years on the Minsk-Smolensk-Moscow route, is closed to EU and third-country nationals, regardless of whether they hold ordinary, service or diplomatic passports. Only citizens of the Russian Federation and Belarus are allowed through.
The same applies to another famous route Gomel-Bryansk using the M10 highway.
The absence of international crossing points at the land border between Belarus and Russia for EU and third country nationals means that entry by car/bus/train into the Russian Federation from Belarus can only be made via Latvia, Estonia. Foreigners who attempt to cross the checkpoint at the border between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus are subject to a sanction in the Russian Federation for illegal border crossing.
The possession of a long-term or permanent residence permit in the Russian Federation or Belarus also does not entitle the EU or third-country national to cross the land Russian-Belarusian state border.
Regarding crossing the air border between the two countries by plane, in accordance with Order No 143 of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation of 11 April 2017, from 15 May 2017 all flights from Belarus to the Russian Federation will be diverted to the international sector, with mandatory border control.
On 10 October 2022, RF Government Decree No 1728/30 September 2022, subsequently amended by Decree No 2466/28 December 2022, came into force, introducing a ban on international cargo transportation on the territory of Russia by means of vehicles of foreign carriers registered in EU Member States, the UK, Norway and Ukraine.
Currently, the ban is in force until 30 June 2023 and concerns bilateral, transit and shipments to/from third countries.
The prohibition does not extend to: transportation to the territory of Kaliningrad region and vice versa; international transportation of mail, including diplomatic mail, transportation of humanitarian aid, transportation of cargo imported across the state border between Russia and Belarus, as well as international transportation of a number of cargoes according to an exhaustive list (live animals, meat, fish, dairy products, eggs, honey, plants, vegetables, fruits, alcohol, medicines, tobacco, glass, etc. according to Annex No 1 to Decree No 2466/28 December 2022).
International carriers allowed to continue to operate in Russia will be subject to the following restriction: when leaving Russia, the volume of fuel in the tank of each vehicle must not exceed 200 litres.
The transhipment of goods from vehicles registered in EU Member States, Great Britain, Norway and Ukraine to Russian vehicles is carried out in certain customs control zones (Annex No 2 to Decree No 1728/30 September 2022).

More information:
Decree No 1728/30 September 2022: http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001202210010004 
Decree No 2466/28 December 2022: http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001202212290069

Practical advice:

If necessary, the following telephone numbers are available free of charge:
• Fire and Rescue: 101
• Police: 02
• Ambulance: 03

Local currency:

Russian Rouble (RUB). Currency exchange to be carried out only in exchange offices and banks. When exchanging at a bank, you must present proof of identity. Hotels, restaurants and most shops accept credit cards.
A presidential decree from 2022 introduced restrictions on bank transfers. Foreign legal entities registered on the territory of the Russian Federation and individuals without permanent employment from the so-called ‘unfriendly countries’ (including Bulgaria) are prohibited from transferring foreign currency by bank transfer abroad.

Climatic characteristics:

There are no areas of increased natural disaster risk, there are areas with harsher climates where very good equipment is needed.

From 1 January 2025, the Russian Federation shall introduce changes regarding the permitted period of temporary residence of foreign citizens who enter the territory of the country without visas. The term of residence of the territory of the Russian Federation for this category of foreign nationals has been reduced to 90 days in total within one calendar year.

Exceptions are the cases provided for by the Federal Law of the Russian Federation Federal Law of the Russian Federation No. 115-FZ of 25 July 2002 on the legal status of aliens in the Russian Federation'' or by international treaties of the Russian Federation Federation, as well as cases in which the period of temporary residence of a foreigner in the country is extended pursuant to the aforementioned Federal Law.

The change does not apply to foreign citizens who arrive in the country with visas.

The period of their residence on the territory of the Russian Federation, as well as the period of validity of the visa issued.

As of 01.12.2024, the Russian Federation has launched an experimental mechanism aimed at verifying the rules and conditions for entry and exit of foreign citizens and stateless persons. The experimental mechanism is being carried out with the aim of creating a digital file on foreign nationals and stateless persons. The digital file will be a collection of information provided both by the foreign nationals themselves and by authorised bodies and organisations participating in the pilot mechanism.
The experimental mechanism will take the form of two modes:
Mode One (1 December 2024 - 30 June 2026):
The operation of the mechanism will be verified at the air checkpoints in Moscow (Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo airports), Zhukovsky (Moscow region) and at the land checkpoint in Mashtakovo (Orenburg region). During this period, personal biometric data (photo and fingerprints) of all foreign citizens and stateless persons will be collected.
Second regime (30 June 2025 - 30 June 2026):
The mechanism will be introduced at all checkpoints of the Russian Federation. No personal biometric data will be collected. Foreign citizens who plan to travel to Russia without a visa will have to register in the unified identification and authentication system via a mobile app no later than 72 hours before their planned entry into the country. In urgent cases, registration must be made at least 4 hours before entering the country.
The mechanism will be mandatory for all foreign citizens crossing the border of the Russian Federation, except for:
(a) citizens of the Republic of Belarus;
b) Heads of diplomatic missions and heads of consular offices of foreign states in the Russian Federation, as well as members of their families;
c) officials of diplomatic missions and officials of consular services of foreign states in the Russian Federation, as well as members of their families;
d) officials of international organizations (representative offices of international organizations) who have concluded agreements with the Government of the Russian Federation on the conditions of residence in the territory of the Russian Federation, and members of their families, as well as officials of international organizations entering the Russian Federation or leaving the Russian Federation in connection with the performance of their official duties;
e) holders of diplomatic and service passports and other valid regular identity documents recognized by the Russian Federation, with diplomatic or service visas affixed thereto, provided that such persons enter the Russian Federation or leave the Russian Federation in connection with the performance of their official duties or as part of official delegations, as well as members of their families;
f) foreign citizens entering or leaving the Russian Federation with valid regular documents certifying their identity and recognized by the Russian Federation, in the presence of a diplomatic or service visa;
g) foreign citizens and stateless persons up to 6 years of age.
The procedure for foreign citizens to apply for a Russian visa, including a single e-visa, remains the same.
The digital file of a foreign citizen or a stateless person is entitled to form:
- authorized federal bodies of the executive power of the Russian Federation - only with respect to persons entering the Russian Federation with a visa; or
- an independent foreign citizen who plans to enter the Russian Federation and registers using a specialized mobile application (for those entering the Russian Federation with a visa - voluntarily, and for foreign citizens entering the Russian Federation without a visa, after 30 June 2025 - compulsorily).
The Russian Federation informs that the creation of the digital dossier is intended, among other things, to significantly facilitate the resolution by foreign citizens and stateless persons of a number of issues requiring a personal visit to Russian state, municipal and other institutions, for example, in order to:
- to announce their arrival in Russia;
-to obtain information on the procedure for obtaining various services on the territory of the Russian Federation and/or to request services electronically (e.g., obtaining a voluntary health insurance policy, signing a contract with a Russian telecommunications operator for certain services and purchasing a SIM-capTa, making an appointment to visit a Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs unit);
- to present documents from his/her digital file in the form of together with the passport or other identity document.

The full text of Decree N2 1510/07.11.2024 of the Government of the Russian Federation "On conducting an experiment to verify the rules and conditions for entry into and exit from the Russian Federation of foreign citizens and stateless persons" is published on the official Internet portal for legal information at: http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/document/0001202411130026 .

Entering the territory of the Russian Federation:

It is necessary to have a valid passport and visa for the Russian Federation. The minimum recommended validity of the passport is 6 months from the expiry date of the visa. It is not allowed to enter the territory of the Russian Federation with a valid passport and a visa inserted in an invalid passport.
It is a mandatory requirement that the visa be affixed to a valid travel document. In case of issuance of a new passport, persons who hold valid visas in their old passports should apply to a diplomatic or consular mission of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Bulgaria, where a new visa sticker will be affixed to the valid travel document free of charge on the basis of the valid visa held.
An application for a Russian visa can be submitted at any diplomatic or consular mission of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Bulgaria.
In accordance with paragraph 5 of the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of 16 March 2020 No 635-r, the registration and issuance of electronic visas to foreign citizens is temporarily suspended.
For more detailed information at: https://evisa.kdmid.ru/

Residence on the territory of the Russian Federation:

During your stay in Russia, you must comply with the country's procedures for registration, residence and movement of foreigners.
Within 7 working days of your arrival in Russia, you must register with the local branch of the Main Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. Most large hotels will do this for you as a service. However, if you are staying in a private home, the owner of the property is obliged to do this for you by sending a notification to the RF Ministry of Interior's Migration Headquarters regarding your arrival. The notification is made on a special form and you are given a stamped copy.
You should keep this slip in your passport throughout your stay. It is also essential that you are in contact and have contact details for the person or organisation that invited you.
Registration is not required if your visit is for less than seven days.

Leaving the territory of the Russian Federation:

Departure from the territory of the Russian Federation should take place before your visa expires.
It is impossible to leave the territory of the Russian Federation with an expired visa.
If your visa has expired, you will be liable to administrative penalties, including administrative detention in certain cases. In the framework of a judicial process, you will be subject to an administrative penalty of ‘fine with or without expulsion from the territory of the Russian Federation’ by order of a judicial authority.
In case of imposition of the penalty ‘fine and expulsion from the territory of the Russian Federation’, the departure from the territory of the Russian Federation shall be carried out with a valid passport and a court order.
In case of imposition of the penalty ‘fine’, the departure from the territory of the Russian Federation shall be carried out with a valid passport and a transit (exit) visa issued by the authorities of the Main Department for Migration Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.
The penalty ‘fine’ for violation of the residence regime of foreigners established in Moscow or St. Petersburg, as well as in Moscow or Leningrad region, is double.
The administrative penalty is also linked to a subsequent ban on entry into the territory of the Russian Federation for up to 10 years.
Information on the regime of entry, residence and exit from the territory of the Russian Federation is available on the website of the Main Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation: https://гувм.мвд.рф/

On 11 January 2025, the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus on the mutual recognition of visas and residence permits issued by both countries to foreign citizens enters into force. The holders of these visas or permits will be able to enter, transit and reside on the territory of the other country for the period of validity of the visa or permit. Other issues related to the conditions of entry of foreign nationals and stateless persons into the territory of both countries are also regulated.
In addition to air or rail transport, travellers will be able to enter the common land border by road through designated BCPs:

Jukhovichi - Dolotsi (Opochka - Novopolotsk);
Ezerishte - Nevel (Kiev - St. Petersburg);
Liozno - Kruglovka (Vitebsk - Smolensk);
Redki - Krasnaya Gorka (Minsk - Moscow);
Zvenchatka - Dubovichka (Bobruisk - Moscow);
Settlement - Novozibkov (Gomel - Bryansk).

Crossing the land section of the Russian-Belarusian border through other checkpoints and roads is not allowed and will be considered a violation of the state border.

What consular officers can do for you:
-Issue a travel document for you if you do not have one;
-Inform your loved ones in the event of an accident, serious illness or death and to provide any assistance possible;
-In case of arrest, inform your relatives, help them to visit you in prison and ensure that you are treated in the same way as nationals of the host country.
-Provide assistance in case of unforeseen circumstances, such as natural disasters and civil protests;
-Give you the most up-to-date travel information;
-Certify and authenticate a signature;
-Draw up civil status certificates (birth, marriage and death certificates);
-Forward civil status certificates already issued by the local authorities to the municipality of your permanent address in Bulgaria.

Legalization and certification:
Bulgaria has concluded a bilateral treaty with the Russian Federation, according to which documents issued by the competent authorities in each of the two countries specified in the treaty do not require further legalization by the other country. They must bear the original seal.