The International Relations Office Informs International Students About Changes in the Migration Legislation of the Russian Federation

Starting September 1, 2026, for all international students over 18 years of age from visa‑free countries studying in Moscow, the "Amina" mobile application becomes mandatory and the only way to register for migration purposes.

Who Is Affected

• All international students over 18 years of age from countries with a visa‑free entry regime.
• Those studying at a university in Moscow.
• Those staying in the capital region for more than 90 days.

Who Is Not Affected

• Students under 18 years of age.
• Citizens of the Republic of Belarus.
• Visa holders (not visa‑free regime).

By September 1, 2026, It Is Necessary to:

1. Check that you have a foreign citizen card

A valid foreign citizen card is required for authorisation in the application. If you do not have a card, contact the Multifunctional Migration Centre (MMC "Sakharovo") to obtain one. If the card is lost, authorisation can be completed using passport data.

2. Install the "Amina" application in advance

The application can only be downloaded from the official Russian app store RuStore. A QR code for downloading is also available on the Migration Centre's website. Do not download the application from Google Play or the Apple App Store – the official version is not available there.

3. Check your phone's functionality

Make sure that:

• Your phone supports the application.
• Geolocation works stably.
• Data transfer is not disabled.

The application continuously transmits your location data to the Ministry of Internal Affairs around the clock. Geolocation cannot be turned off.

4. Verify your actual residential address

Check whether your actual residential address matches the address in the registration notification. If you change your address, you must immediately update the information in the application.

Consequences of Violations

If data from your device is not received for more than 3 working days, you will be deregistered from migration records. This may result in:

• Violation of the stay regime (Article 18.8 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation) – a fine with possible deportation.
• Inclusion in the Register of Controlled Persons – a ban on transactions, marriage, vehicle registration, and opening bank accounts.

More detailed information is available in the information sheet «Mobile Application "Amina"».