Health and Travel  Alert – U.S. Mission Russia (June 16, 2020)

Health and Travel  Alert – U.S. Mission Russia (June 16, 2020)

Location: Russia, country-wide

Event: Extension of Temporary Stay or Permanent Residency of Foreigners in Russia Until September 15, 2020

President Putin signed a decree extending the temporary stay or permanent residency of foreigners and stateless persons in the Russian Federation until September 15. This decree applies to immigration documents, including visas, residence permits, and migration registration, that have expired or will expire between March 15 and June 15, 2020. Foreign citizens in Russia who fall into this category do not need to extend relevant documents during this period. The Russian government has not clarified procedures for handling expiring documents beyond September 15, 2020. The official text of the decree may be found here (Russian only).

U.S. citizens wishing to return to the United States should continue to monitor the U.S. Embassy Moscow website alerts page for updates on the availability of flights departing Russia.

Important information for U.S. citizen and legal permanent residents traveling to or residing in Moscow:

The Moscow City Government began lifting its COVID-19 restrictions on June 9. QR codes for private and public transport are no longer required and residents may now freely move about the city.

Beginning Tuesday, June 16, museums, exhibition halls, libraries, zoos, real estate, and advertising consulting agencies may open. Rental services and dental services will be available, and restaurants may offer outdoor terrace dining.

On Tuesday, June 23, restaurants may resume indoor dining. Gyms, swimming pools, and river cruises may begin operating, and public sports and recreation facilities may open. Social welfare offices, and state and private kindergartens may also re-open.

Please note that you are still required to wear masks and gloves outdoors and in public buildings and are encouraged to maintain a 1.5 meter (six feet) distance from others at all times until further notice. Further, the CDC continues to recommend that all U.S. citizens continue to practice physical distancing in their daily lives.

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow and U.S. Consulate General in Yekaterinburg continue to operate with only limited staff. U.S. government employees in Russia are restricted in their travel and activities in light of the continued high infection rates in the country. Only emergency services for U.S. citizens are available. Visa services remain suspended. The U.S. Consulate General in Vladivostok has temporarily suspended operations.

Additional Actions to Take:

Consult the  CDC website for the most up-to-date information.

For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19, please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.

Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.

- Check with your airlines, cruise lines, or travel operators regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.
- Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Russia.