The President of Russia has signed a new law establishing stricter regulations for the mandatory medical examination of foreign nationals. Under the new statute, foreigners must complete all medical screenings within 30 days of entering the country, a significant reduction from the previous 90-day window. The requirement applies to all incoming foreign workers as well as any individuals planning to stay in the country for more than 90 days.

The medical screening involves testing for substance abuse, HIV, and various high-risk infectious diseases. The financial cost of the examinations must be covered either by the foreign citizens themselves or by their employers. Furthermore, only specific medical institutions authorized by regional governments are permitted to conduct these evaluations.

All test results will be digitized and automatically transmitted to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) and the public health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor. The legislation also mandates that foreigners undergo this medical screening on an annual basis. Failure to comply with the regulations will result in fines ranging from 25,000 to 50,000 rubles, with the potential risk of administrative deportation. Approved by both houses of parliament, the law is set to take effect on September 1, 2026.