Asylum application process
Applications for refugee status and temporary asylum need to be submitted to the territorial branch of the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) of the Russian Federation at your place of stay in Russia (https://help.unhcr.org/russia/en/where-to-find-help/government-institutions/). Each adult family member needs to submit an application. Children are to be included in an application of an adult family member. The receipt of an application takes place in the presence of all members of the family of the applicant, whose details are indicated in the application. If there are no parents, the application may be submitted by a legal guardian or by an adult family member who has voluntarily taken responsibility for the care and support of family members under the age of 18.
If your medical condition does not allow you to visit the MOI territorial branch for the asylum procedure, you have the right to submit your application through an authorized representative attaching the medical document, confirming the state of health. Officers of the designated MOI’s territorial branch shall visit you at your place of stay.
Please be advised that if you are not legally present in the Russian Federation at the time you apply for asylum (for example, if your visa or temporary residence permit has expired), you may be subject to administrative penalties. Please also note that a Register of Controlled Persons is maintained in Russia by the MOI. This Register includes foreign nationals and stateless persons staying in Russia unlawfully—for example, those with expired documents, violations of permitted stay, or decisions on undesirability of stay, deportation, or administrative expulsion. Inclusion in the Register results in restrictions of rights and access to services. You can check whether you are included in the Register on the official MOI’s website: https://xn--b1aew.xn--p1ai/rkl. If you believe that you have been erroneously included in the Register, you should approach the MOI’s territorial branch at your place of stay and provide documents confirming your legal stay in Russia.
General requirements when applying for refugee status or temporary asylum:
- A written application;
- A National passport/ID document translated in Russian; documents of your children. If you do not have a valid national passport/ID document you will need to undergo the identity verification procedure (see below for an explanation);
- 4 photos of 35×45 mm;
- Undergo identification, photography and fingerprinting;
- Undergo an interview;
- Usual consideration period is 3 months;
- During the consideration period all family members are obliged to obtain a migration registration and medical certificates;
- If a positive decision is taken on your asylum application, the MOI will give you and other adult family members a refugee certificate or a temporary asylum certificate. Children are included in the refugee certificate or temporary asylum certificate of one of their parents or legal guardian.
- You will need to submit your national passport/ID document to the MOI for storage when you receive your refugee certificate or temporary asylum certificate.
If you do not speak Russian, you have the right to a free of charge professional interpreter provided by the MOI.
Identity verification procedure
The identity verification procedure for foreign nationals or stateless persons staying in Russia without valid identity documents can be initiated either by the MOI or by the foreign national/stateless person. The foreign national submits a form with personal data and any available documents, even if expired, to the MOI territorial branch at the place of stay. The MOI may request additional information, interview witnesses, as part of the identification procedure. Based on the information collected, following the verification procedure the MOI issues a conclusion and returns all original documents. The procedure takes up to three months, with a possible one-time extension of up to three additional months. If a person’s identity is not established by the MOI following the verification procedure, he/she has a right to appeal to higher MOI authority once such a decision is taken or to the court within three months.
Applying for asylum at the border/airport transit zone
Applications for asylum at the border, including airport transit zones, need to be submitted to the Border Guard Service for further referral to a relevant MOI territorial branch for consideration. Please note that submission of an application for asylum at the border/transit zone does not serve as the basis for permission to cross the border and enter the Russian Federation. This means that you will remain in the border/transit zone, as access to the territory and transfer to facilities equipped for waiting throughout the asylum consideration period are not foreseen by the procedure. Officers of the designated MOI territorial branch are required to visit you to conduct the asylum procedure.
Applying for asylum in detention
If you stay in a detention facility including a pre-removal detention center, you may submit your application for asylum through the administration of the detention facility. Officers of the designated MOI territorial branch are required to visit you to conduct the asylum procedure.
Please note that assistance of UNHCR and its partners at border check points/transit zones and detention facilities is limited.
Refugee status (RS)
Once you submit your application for refugee status, the MOI territorial branch is supposed to issue you an asylum-seeker certificate. Your application for refugee status shall be reviewed within 5 days and a decision on further consideration of your claim shall be taken – this stage is called “consideration on the merits.” Following this review, you will be issued either an “Asylum-Seeker Certificate of Consideration on the Merits” or a rejection decision stating that your claim will not be considered further. A rejection decision can be appealed (see for information on the appeal procedure).
The “consideration on the merits” procedure involves additional interviews to understand the reasons why you left your country and why you are afraid to return, as well as all other circumstances of your case, including any documentary evidence and information about the situation in your country of origin.
An “Asylum-Seeker Certificate of Consideration on the Merits” is valid for three months, and within this time period, a decision should be reached on your case. Exceptionally, the processing time may be extended for another 3 months, in which case the asylum-seeker’s certificate will be extended. This certificate also serves as an identity document and proof of your legal stay in Russia.
While your application for refugee status is being assessed, you are protected against forced return to your country of origin. Any attempt to expel or deport you during this time would be a serious violation of the Russian legislation and the 1951 Convention.
After your claim is reviewed, a decision will be made to either recognize you as a refugee or to reject your application. If you are recognized as a refugee, you will be issued a Refugee Certificate. Refugee status is not time-limited, but you must approach the MOI territorial branch not later than every year and a half to re-register. If you do not comply, you may lose your status for failing to meet procedural requirements. A rejection decision can be appealed (see for information on the appeal procedure).
Sample application for refugee status.docx
Temporary Asylum (TA)
You may submit an application for temporary asylum either before or after applying for refugee status. When your TA application is accepted, you are issued a Temporary Asylum Seeker Certificate, valid for three months. If you previously applied for refugee status and the procedure is ongoing, your Asylum-seeker Certificate of Consideration on the Merits will be extended when the TA application is accepted. Both documents serve as evidence of your lawful stay in Russia, however, the Temporary Asylum Seeker Certificate does not serve as an identity document.
Once your case is reviewed, a decision will be taken to either grant you TA or to reject your application. If you are granted temporary asylum, you will be issued a Temporary Asylum Certificate, which will be your identity document. A rejection decision can be appealed (see for information on the appeal procedure).
Temporary asylum is granted for a period of up to one year with the possibility of renewal. The application for extension must be submitted no later than 1 month before the expiration of the temporary asylum period. If you do not extend your temporary asylum status within the allotted time frame, you will lose your status and face the risk of being detained and expelled/deported. If an applicant has a valid reason for missing the application deadline, the deadline may be extended, but not more than 1 month.