Moscow lifts COVID blanket entry ban on families of foreigners living in Russia

MOSCOW (TASS) -- As part of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, a coronavirus-related ban previously imposed on entering Russian soil has been lifted for family members of foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in Russia, the Consular Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on its Telegram channel on Monday.

The Foreign Ministry specified that the entry into Russia was possible upon presenting a copy of a document confirming kinship status, such as a marriage certificate, birth certificate and other documents or the establishment of guardianship or trusteeship.  --Photo Tass

“The anti-COVID-19 ban on entering Russian territory no longer applies to family members of foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in Russia (that is, having a residence permit in Russia). Family members consist of spouses, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, adoptive parents, adopted children, guardians and trustees,” the message reads.
The Foreign Ministry specified that the entry of the said persons into Russia is possible upon presenting a copy of a document confirming kinship status, such as a marriage certificate, birth certificate and other documents or the establishment of guardianship or trusteeship.
“In the event of the absence of an agreement on visa-free travel between the state of citizenship of a relative and the Russian Federation, the person who is doing the inviting, who in this case is a foreigner permanently residing in Russia, should apply to Russia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs to issue an invitation, which will be the basis for obtaining a private visa for his relative by the Russian Consular office,” the Foreign Ministry said.
The Consular Department recalled that work on making appropriate amendments to the decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated March 16, 2020 was initiated by the Russian Foreign Ministry following the results of numerous appeals, including via social networks of foreigners permanently residing in Russia, as well as their close relatives.
The Ministry added that before that only family members of Russian citizens had an opportunity to enter Russia.

(Latest Update October 20, 2021)