Mandatory health insurance: ДМС and ОМС

There are two types of health insurance in Russia: the state mandatory health insurance (ОМС) and voluntary health insurance (ДМС) provided by private insurance companies. Which one applies to you depends on your status in Russia: are you here on a visa, are you working, or do you have a residence permit? This page explains who is covered by which insurance, how to obtain an ОМС policy, which services are available free of charge to those without a policy, and the situation on the Turkish side. For travel health insurance required for a visa application, see R1.7.

• Since 1 September 2025, healthcare for foreigners has been provided according to the rules established by the Russian Government Resolution No. 631 dated 8 May 2025. The previous Resolution No. 186 of 2013 was repealed.
• In an emergency that threatens life, healthcare is free of charge for foreigners.
• Ambulance (скорая помощь): in cases requiring urgent intervention, such as illness, accidents, injuries, or poisoning, state and municipal healthcare institutions provide ambulance services to foreigners free of charge.
• Non-emergency services (неотложная and плановая) are provided under a paid services contract, a ДМС policy, or ОМС.
• Foreigners insured under ОМС receive treatment free of charge within the ОМС coverage.

• Residence permit holders: foreigners living in Russia with a temporary residence permit (РВП) or residence permit (ВНЖ) are insured under ОМС (see R4.1, R4.2). This rule applies to workers, non-working persons, children, and students.
• Exceptions:
  • non-working family members of highly qualified specialists (ВКС)
  • employees assigned to a branch, representative office, or subsidiary in Russia of a foreign company from a World Trade Organization member country (Federal Law 115-FZ, Article 13.5)
• Visa holders who work: temporarily staying foreign workers are also insured. Exception: highly qualified specialists (ВКС) and employees covered by Article 13.5.

• Highly qualified specialists (ВКС) and their accompanying non-working family members must have a ДМС policy valid in Russia. Alternatively, the employer may conclude a contract with a healthcare institution covering primary and specialist care (see R3.2).
• When signing an employment contract, the ВКС's ДМС policy or the employer's contract with a healthcare institution is required. The policy details are included in the contract.
• A copy of the policy or contract is also submitted with the ВКС permit application.
• Russian law does not generally require ДМС for other foreigners. However, if you are not insured under ОМС, all non-emergency treatment is paid; taking out private health insurance is in your own interest.

1. Check whether your policy has already been issued. Since 1 December 2022, the policy has been digital (a number with a barcode). In some cases, it is created automatically. Check the “Documents → Health” section in Gosuslugi.
2. Prepare the documents:
   • application form (completed during the application)
   • passport
   • social insurance number (СНИЛС)
   • for a child: birth certificate, document proving custody, and the child's СНИЛС (mandatory for children over 14)
3. Apply:
   • Temporary residence permit (РВП) holders: to an insurance company (страховая медицинская организация) listed by the Moscow ОМС Fund (МГФОМС)
   • Residence permit (ВНЖ) holders: to an insurance company or the reception desk of a state services center (МФЦ)
   • You can also apply online through Gosuslugi
4. Receive the policy. Your details will be entered in the insured persons register within 3 business days. You can receive a document showing your policy details and barcode from the insurance company on the same day. For online applications, the policy will appear in your Gosuslugi account within 1 business day.
5. Register with a clinic (прикрепление) and make appointments using your policy number.
6. You may change your insurance company once a year, by 1 November; if you move, you may change it more often.
7. If your name or address changes, update the policy within 1 month.

• With an ОМС policy, you receive the following free of charge at state healthcare institutions throughout Russia:
  • primary healthcare, including preventive services
  • ambulance services (excluding air ambulance)
  • specialist and high-technology treatment for many groups of diseases
  • pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period
• Sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis, and HIV are not included in the specialist treatment list of the basic ОМС program.
• In the region where the policy was issued, you can also use services included in that region's supplementary program.
• A child's own ОМС policy is required for school and kindergarten enrollment (Moscow).

• Emergency treatment is free and cannot be refused (see R7.2).
• In Moscow, people without a policy can call 103 for an ambulance or emergency doctor, or receive medical advice by telephone.
• In Moscow, травмпункт (injury clinic) provides free services for non-life-threatening injuries without requiring a policy.
• All other services are provided under a paid services contract or using your ДМС policy.
• If you have a ДМС policy, call your insurance company's helpline first; it will tell you which institution will provide the service.

• According to SGK, Turkey has social security agreements in force with 35 countries; Russia is not among them.
• Therefore, your general health insurance in Turkey will not cover your treatment in Russia. For the effect of periods worked in Russia on your retirement in Turkey, see O1.5.
• Before travelling to Russia, take out health insurance covering Russia and your entire stay (see R1.7).

• Moscow City Mandatory Health Insurance Fund (МГФОМС) — ОМС rights and list of insurance companies
  • Address: 31 Dostoyevskogo ulitsa, building 1A, 127473 Moscow
  • Telephone: +7 495 952 93 21 · +7 800 250 11 41 (free within Russia)
  • Email: fond@mgfoms.ru
• Federal Mandatory Health Insurance Fund (ФФОМС) — issues concerning specialist treatment at federal healthcare institutions
  • Hotline: +7 800 550 33 03 (free within Russia)
  • Each region has its own ОМС fund and hotline; you can find the list on the ФФОМС website.
• Moscow state services centers (МФЦ) — ОМС applications for ВНЖ holders
• ДМС: the 24/7 hotline of the insurance company shown on your policy

• Assuming that you will be able to use ОМС free of charge from the first day while working on a visa. Eligibility arises after at least 5 years of contributions have been paid.
• Forgetting to apply for an ОМС policy after obtaining a residence permit.
• Failing to consider that travel insurance covers only a short-term stay.
• Not obtaining ДМС for non-working family members while working as a ВКС.
• Failing to register with a clinic after obtaining the policy.
• Failing to update the policy details within 1 month after changing your address.

• I am in Russia on a visa and do not work. Am I insured under ОМС? No. The law considers only temporarily staying foreigners who work to be insured. Except in emergencies, you must use paid services or private insurance.
• I have a residence permit but do not work. Can I use ОМС? Yes. Foreigners living with a temporary residence permit (РВП) or residence permit are insured even if they do not work.
• I have a work permit. My employer pays contributions; why can't I receive free treatment? For visa-based workers, the law requires contributions to have been paid for at least 5 years. Until this period has elapsed, non-emergency treatment is paid.
• Is the ОМС policy issued as a card? Since 1 December 2022, the policy has been digital. Showing your policy number or barcode at the hospital is sufficient.
• Does my child need a separate policy? Yes. Children of families with residence permits are also insured and have their own policies. In Moscow, the child's policy is required for school and kindergarten enrollment.
• Is my Turkish insurance valid in Russia? Since there is no social security agreement between Turkey and Russia, your general health insurance is not valid in Russia. Take out private health insurance.

• Rules for healthcare for foreigners (Government Resolution No. 631, official publication)
• Mandatory Health Insurance Law 326-FZ, Article 10: insured persons
• 326-FZ, Article 16: rights of insured persons
• Moscow – how to obtain an ОМС policy
• Gosuslugi – Russian government services portal
• МГФОМС – Moscow ОМС Fund
• SGK – Social security agreements