The Requirement for Russian and Foreign Citizens to Take PCR Tests Is Cancelled

Decree No. 22 of the Chief Sanitary Officer of the Russian Federation, dated 17 October 2022, "On Amending Decree No. 7 of the Chief Public Health Officer of the Russian Federation ‘On the Isolation Regime to Prevent the Spread of COVID-2019,'" dated 18 March 2020, was published on October 20.

This Decree cancels the PCR testing requirement for Russian and foreign citizens.

Foreigners previously had to be tested for COVID-19 no later than 2 calendar days before entering the Russian Federation and had to provide a certificate when crossing the border.

The Decree requires foreign nationals entering the Russian Federation only to complete a questionnaire, a recommended sample of which is posted on the official site of Rospotrebnadzor (the Federal Service for Health and Consumer Rights).

Unvaccinated Russian citizens are no longer required to take a PCR test within three days after entering Russia. At the same time, Russian citizens are required to complete an electronic questionnaire on the Russian Public Services Portal before departure to the Russian Federation, but no later than registration for their flight to the Russian Federation.

The Decree also cancels the requirement for employers to inform their Russian employees travelling abroad of the requirement to take a PCR test on arrival and self-isolate until the results are obtained as well as to ensure, when hiring foreign nationals and stateless persons, that they have medical certificates attesting to a negative PCR test obtained at least two calendar days before arrival in the Russian Federation.

The Decree extends both selective and complete testing for COVID-19 in the event of a deteriorating epidemiological situation to Russian and foreign citizens arriving in the Russian Federation not only via airports but also all other Russian border checkpoints.

The Decree is published on the legal information portal and will become effective on 21 October 2022.

B1 is monitoring the situation and will keep you informed of future legal developments.