Help Russia / Applying for asylum

Applying for asylum

The asylum system in the Russian Federation is a national system, which is implemented by the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) of the Russian Federation. UNHCR does not conduct refugee status determination in the Russian Federation.

Under the Russian Federal Law “On Refugees”, you can apply for refugee status or temporary asylum.

According to the Russian legislation and the 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, a refugee is defined as someone outside of his/her country of origin (or if stateless, outside his/her country of former habitual residence) who is unable to return there because of persecution on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion. If you consider yourself to be a refugee, you have the right to apply for refugee status.

If you do not meet the refugee definition but cannot return to your country of origin due to war, violence or any other humanitarian reasons (e.g. serious health issues), you have the right to apply for temporary asylum. You may also apply for temporary asylum if you meet the refugee definition but prefer to apply for temporary asylum.

Asylum application process

Appeal procedure

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