How to apply for permanent and temporary registration — step-by-step instructions

Every Russian is legally required to be registered at his place of residence or stay in order to freely use medical care, get a job and receive government services. Ignoring this requirement can result in a substantial fine, and for foreign citizens, it is even possible to be expelled from the country. Izvestia tells how to get a permanent or temporary residence permit and what responsibility is provided for violating the registration rules in 2025.

What is registration for?

Freedom of movement in Russia is enshrined in the Constitution, but it is closely linked to a citizen's obligation to register at their place of residence or stay. Previously, there was a concept of "registration" for this, which since 1995 has been used only as a household synonym for permanent registration.

The modern accounting system allows the state to ensure the realization of the rights and duties of citizens. Thanks to registration, a voter can vote in elections in any region, and a pensioner can receive payments without hindrance. It makes it more difficult for child support debtors to hide, and for conscripts to evade military service.

Obtaining the status of a large family, social benefits, registration at an employment center, obtaining loans and weapons permits — all these procedures also require registration.

Information about registration is entered free of charge into the unified database of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, where passport and SNILS data are stored. Access to information, in addition to the citizen himself, is provided to the homeowner in a limited form.

The difference between permanent registration and temporary registration

The legislation clearly separates the two types of registration records. Permanent registration (at the place of residence) is issued where the citizen resides on a permanent basis. It is stamped directly into the passport. It must be issued within seven days after the move.

Temporary registration (at the place of stay) is required if a person plans to stay in another region of the Russian Federation for more than 90 days. It does not cancel a permanent residence permit and is issued as a separate certificate, without a stamp in the passport.

If you are staying with close relatives in another region, you do not need to register temporarily. However, the fact of kinship must be documented using birth certificates, marriage certificates, certificates of name change or court decisions.

Not everyone is at home: family mortgages will be banned from being issued outside the place of registration in 2026.

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How to apply for permanent registration

You can register on a permanent basis in a house, apartment, or room where a person legally resides, for example, as an owner or tenant. If the housing does not belong to him, then the consent of all adult owners will be required.

Required documents:

• applicant's passport;
• completed application form No. 6;
• certificate of ownership or lease agreement;
• written consent of all the owners of the premises;
• birth certificate for minors.

The procedure for temporary registration

Temporary registration becomes necessary for long-term business trips, studies, or work in another region for more than 90 days. The key condition is the consent of the homeowner, which can be attested in several ways.:

• be present in person when submitting the application;
• to obtain written consent from a notary.
• confirm it through Gosuslugi.

In addition, the owner will need to provide a passport, an extract from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities or other document confirming ownership. The applicant will need a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation, a birth certificate for children under 14 years of age.

Temporary registration of a foreigner

For temporary registration (migration registration at the place of stay) of a foreigner in Russia, you need:

• passport of a foreign citizen or other identity document;
• the migration card that is issued at the border upon entry into Russia;
• completed arrival notification;
• homeowner's passport;
• certificate of ownership, lease or social rental agreement;
• receipt of payment of state duty (starting from September 1, 2025 — 500 rubles).

When staying in hotels, sanatoriums or similar institutions, the administration is obliged to arrange temporary registration of the guest on its own.

Where to apply

There are several ways to apply for permanent or temporary registration in 2025.

• Through the Gosuslugi portal, this is the easiest way if you have a verified account. The user needs to attach the necessary documents and wait for the verification of the data. After that, your personal account will receive an invitation to visit the department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to stamp your passport for permanent registration, or a tear—off part of the registration notice at the place of stay for temporary registration.

• In the migration department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it is recommended to make an appointment through Gosuslugi. You must provide the originals of all documents during the visit. The procedure takes from three to seven working days.

• Through the multifunctional center (MFC) "My documents" — the algorithm of actions is similar to contacting the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The collected documents are submitted to the nearest MFC, where the specialist accepts the application and issues a receipt. The readiness of registration can be tracked through your personal account at Gosuslugi.

Responsibility for violation of registration rules

Living without registration or in violation of its deadlines is an administrative offense. A citizen who lives without permanent registration for more than seven days or without temporary registration for more than 90 days in another region risks receiving a fine.

Liability is also provided for the owner of the dwelling if he has allowed persons to live on his premises without registration. The amount of the fine varies depending on the region. For example, if the violation was committed in Moscow or St. Petersburg, the fine for citizens is from 3,000 to 5,000 rubles, and for owners of residential premises (individuals) — from 5,000 to 7,000 rubles. For officials and legal entities, the fine ranges from 30 to 800 thousand rubles.

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