Resident registration in Russia

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Registration in the Russian Federation is the system that records the residence and internal migration of Russian citizens. The present system was introduced on October 1, 1993, and replaced the prior repressive mandatory Soviet system of propiska. The word "propiska" is still widely used colloquially to refer to the registration program.

According to a Russian Constitutional Court decision, registration or absence of registration cannot affect any rights of a citizen. Citizens exercise registration and deregistration on a voluntary basis.

Under the current registration program, Russian citizens must register if they live in the same place for 90 days (for Belarusian citizens in Russia and vice versa, registration is required after 30 days).

There are two types of registration:

• Registration of citizens at the place of residence (so called "permanent registration" or sometimes "permanent propiska" / "propiska")
• Registration of citizens at the place of temporary residence (so called "temporary registration" or sometimes "temporary propiska")

A place of permanent registration is indicated on a stamp made in an internal passport, and a place of temporary registration is written on a separate paper.

Living in a dwelling without a permanent or temporary registration is considered an administrative offence in Russia.

Registration is used for economic, law enforcement and other purposes, such as accounting social benefits, housing and utility payments, taxes, conscription, and medical care. Many documents and rights may be obtained only at the place where a citizen has permanent registration, which causes problems, for example, when obtaining or changing passports, voting, or getting inquiry papers, which are often required in Russia.

Registration determines the location where citizens receive pension payments and obtain internal and foreign Russian passports, and it affects the size and cost of housing and utilities services. Registration is also said to have a public safety significance.

The registration service is managed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which also handles immigration control.