A stamp and a couple of rubles are not enough anymore to register you in Russia correctly. Starting from 2014, being registered in virtual flats is considered a legal offense. However, if you do not obviously break the rules, you have at least the law on your side.
Many of the visitors of Russia know the problem: Getting the work permit and Russian Visa was is already a hassle. But now there is even bigger problem arising. At arrival in Russia, they have to register with the Russian local authorities. Otherwise, there would be problems and fines on the border when leaving the country. Some time ago visitors simply used the services of a company providing registrations fast and uncomplicated. They avoided the long queues at the registration office and conveniently received their registration paper. But this has changed now.
Legally correct was such a registration never, but it was somehow tolerated. But now, starting from January 3rd, 2014, such a "fictitious registration" is treated as a criminal action and can lead to a fine from 100.000 to 500.000 Rubles (2.000 to 10.000 Euro). People processing such registrations can even be jailed for up to three years. Along with the person who made the fictive registration also the foreigner will be sentenced guilty if it can be proofed that he was aware that the address of registration was wrong.
A virtual registration won't do anymore; however, the registration is still obligatory. The good thing is that not being registered is by far not considered such a strong crime than being registered under a fictitious address. The consequences are much milder. In theory, a non-registered migrant even may not be fined at all.
It is important to know that responsible for the registration of a person is the receiving or housing side. That might be the inviting person or institution. The decisive criteria are the place of stay of that person. This makes the host or landlord usually responsible for the registration. You don't have to go yourself to the registration office. Registration can be done nowadays by postal service, and it shouldn't be a big hassle for the landlord to register you. You only have to make sure that you hand over to your landlord copies of your migration card and passport.
In reality, there had been some cases where people had been sentenced guiltily for registering not correctly even when copies of passport and migration card had been provided to the landlord. And, there also had been cases when people were found innocent in the same matter. It is an unpleasant reality that the legal entitlement and a factual jurisdiction are from time to time far away from each other in Russia. Also, because the landlord is obliged to run the registration of the hosted person you will very often hear at negotiation stage when renting a flat that the flat can be rented only without registration.
What can you do now to be on the safe side? If the landlord refused the receipt of passport copy and migration card, you would need to document that you fulfilled your obligation. This can be done, by sending passport copy and migration card by registered mail with content list and receipt confirmation. One could think that this is the best way to be thrown out of your flat. However, if you hold a legal binding renting agreement in your hands, this has even in Russia some legal power and you can hope that you cannot be set on the street easily.
Many of the visitors of Russia know the problem: Getting the work permit and Russian Visa was is already a hassle. But now there is even bigger problem arising. At arrival in Russia, they have to register with the Russian local authorities. Otherwise, there would be problems and fines on the border when leaving the country. Some time ago visitors simply used the services of a company providing registrations fast and uncomplicated. They avoided the long queues at the registration office and conveniently received their registration paper. But this has changed now.
Legally correct was such a registration never, but it was somehow tolerated. But now, starting from January 3rd, 2014, such a "fictitious registration" is treated as a criminal action and can lead to a fine from 100.000 to 500.000 Rubles (2.000 to 10.000 Euro). People processing such registrations can even be jailed for up to three years. Along with the person who made the fictive registration also the foreigner will be sentenced guilty if it can be proofed that he was aware that the address of registration was wrong.
A virtual registration won't do anymore; however, the registration is still obligatory. The good thing is that not being registered is by far not considered such a strong crime than being registered under a fictitious address. The consequences are much milder. In theory, a non-registered migrant even may not be fined at all.
It is important to know that responsible for the registration of a person is the receiving or housing side. That might be the inviting person or institution. The decisive criteria are the place of stay of that person. This makes the host or landlord usually responsible for the registration. You don't have to go yourself to the registration office. Registration can be done nowadays by postal service, and it shouldn't be a big hassle for the landlord to register you. You only have to make sure that you hand over to your landlord copies of your migration card and passport.
In reality, there had been some cases where people had been sentenced guiltily for registering not correctly even when copies of passport and migration card had been provided to the landlord. And, there also had been cases when people were found innocent in the same matter. It is an unpleasant reality that the legal entitlement and a factual jurisdiction are from time to time far away from each other in Russia. Also, because the landlord is obliged to run the registration of the hosted person you will very often hear at negotiation stage when renting a flat that the flat can be rented only without registration.
What can you do now to be on the safe side? If the landlord refused the receipt of passport copy and migration card, you would need to document that you fulfilled your obligation. This can be done, by sending passport copy and migration card by registered mail with content list and receipt confirmation. One could think that this is the best way to be thrown out of your flat. However, if you hold a legal binding renting agreement in your hands, this has even in Russia some legal power and you can hope that you cannot be set on the street easily.
About the Author:
Michael Haase is the owner and Managing Director of RUSCONSULT24 a Russia Consulting company based in Moscow. The company consults and provides services to foreign firms based in Russia. The services include the outsourcing of bookkeeping, application for work- permits and Russian visa and search for human resources. Visit RUSCONSULT24 at the links above for more information.
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