Carrying documents and police checks

This page explains the documents that Turkish citizens in Russia must carry with them and their rights during police checks. Russian legislation considers not carrying documents proving the right to stay to be a violation of stay rules, and the penalty for this violation includes deportation. Below you will find which documents you need to carry, what to do if your document is lost, the rules police must follow, and your rights if you are detained.

• Passport: A foreigner's identity document (документ, удостоверяющий личность) in Russia is their passport (115-FZ, Art. 10).
• Visa or e-visa: your entry document (see R1.2 and R1.3). For the migration card (миграционная карта) and biometric rules at the border, see R1.6.
• Migration registration document: the detachable part of the arrival notification given to you (see R2.1).
• If you work: your work permit (разрешение на работу) or highly qualified specialist permit (see R3.1 and R3.2).
• If you have a residence permit: your temporary residence permit (РВП) or residence permit (ВНЖ).
• In Moscow: see R2.3 for the Electronic Foreign Citizen Card application with a QR code.

• Article 18.8/1.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses also considers failure to report the loss of documents proving the right to stay to the relevant authority a violation. If your document is lost, report it without delay.
• Steps recommended by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye:
  1. Immediately contact the local police and obtain a document confirming that you lost your passport. This report also protects you if your passport is used by others.
  2. If the police do not want to issue a report, insist.
  3. Go to the nearest Embassy or Consulate General of the Republic of Türkiye. You can apply for a new passport or obtain a temporary passport to return to Türkiye.
• After obtaining a new passport, ask the migration unit of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs about the status of your Russian visa and migration registration (see R2.2 for visa transfer).

• When a police officer approaches you (Federal Law 3-FZ "On Police", Art. 5/4), they must:
  • state their position, rank, and surname
  • show their official identification if you ask
  • explain why and for what purpose they stopped you
  • if they apply a measure restricting your rights, explain the reason and the rights and obligations arising in that situation
• The police may check your identity documents in the following cases (Art. 13/1, para. 2):
  • if there is information giving reason to suspect that you committed a crime
  • if there is reason to believe that you are wanted
  • if there is reason to initiate an administrative offense case against you
  • if there is reason to detain you
• If your identity cannot be established on the spot, the police may take you to the police station (доставление, Art. 13/1, para. 13).
• Police officers are prohibited from using torture, violence, or degrading treatment (Art. 5/3).
• Note the police officer's name, rank, and place of duty.

• No one may be detained for more than 48 hours without a court decision (3-FZ, Art. 14/1).
• Administrative detention generally may not exceed 3 hours. In offenses concerning stay rules and offenses that may result in administrative arrest or deportation, it may last up to 48 hours (Code of Administrative Offenses, Art. 27.5).
• While detained, the police must explain the following rights to you (3-FZ, Art. 14/3):
  • to receive legal assistance
  • to use an interpreter
  • to request that a relative be notified
  • to refuse to give explanations
• You may use a lawyer and an interpreter from the moment of detention (Art. 14/5).
• Within no more than 3 hours, you may make a telephone call in the presence of a police officer. If you wish, the police will notify your relative (Art. 14/7).
• When a foreigner is detained, the police notify their country's embassy or consulate (Art. 14/10). If you are detained as a suspect in a criminal investigation, this notification is made within no more than 3 hours (Criminal Procedure Code, Art. 96/3).
• A detention record is prepared. You also sign the record and are given a copy (3-FZ, Art. 14/14–15).
• Proceedings are conducted in Russian. If you do not know Russian, you may make explanations, requests, and objections in your own language and request an interpreter (Code of Administrative Offenses, Art. 24.2).

• Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Moscow — all of Russia outside the areas of the consulates general
  • Address: 7. Rostovskiy Pereulok No: 12, 115127 Moscow
  • Switchboard: +7 495 994 48 08
  • Consular section: +7 495 994 93 59 (telephone information for consular services 14:30–18:00)
  • Duty phone: +7 906 770 11 90 (weekdays 18:00–09:00 and public holidays)
  • Email: embassy.moscow@mfa.gov.tr
• Consulate General of the Republic of Türkiye in St. Petersburg — the city of St. Petersburg; Arkhangelsk, Kaliningrad, Leningrad, Murmansk, Novgorod, Pskov, and Vologda regions; the republics of Karelia and Komi; Nenets Autonomous Okrug
  • Address: 7-ya Sovetskaya Ulitsa No: 24, 191036 St. Petersburg
  • Switchboard: +7 812 577 18 12; consular information line: +7 812 577 44 69 (weekdays 14:00–18:00)
  • Duty phone: +7 933 340 91 33
  • Email: consulate.stpetersburg@mfa.gov.tr
• Consulate General of the Republic of Türkiye in Kazan — the republics of Tatarstan, Mordovia, Bashkortostan, Chuvashia, and Mari El; Samara Region
  • Address: Ulitsa Maksima Gorkogo 23/27, 420015 Kazan
  • Telephone: +7 843 299 53 10, +7 843 299 53 11
  • Duty phone: +7 937 524 93 17
  • Email: consulate.kazan@mfa.gov.tr
• Consulate General of the Republic of Türkiye in Krasnodar — Krasnodar and Rostov regions; Republic of Adygea
  • Address: Ulitsa Severnaya No: 369, 350002 Krasnodar
  • Telephone: +7 861 214 12 51
  • Duty phone: +7 918 632 54 92
  • Email: consulate.krasnodar@mfa.gov.tr
• Consular Call Center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye (24/7): +90 312 292 29 29. You can also write to the same number on WhatsApp.
• For emergency numbers in Russia, see O2.1. For other services of the missions, see O1.1.

• Leaving your passport at home and carrying only a photocopy. The law penalizes the absence of documents proving your right to stay; carry the originals with you.
• Failing to keep the detachable part of the migration registration document.
• Failing to report a lost document to the police and the relevant authority.
• Signing a Russian report you do not understand without requesting an interpreter.
• Failing to request that the consulate be notified while detained.
• Failing to save the mission's duty phone number in your phone.

• Can the police check my passport at any time? The law limits document checks to specific grounds: suspicion of a crime, being wanted, grounds to initiate an administrative offense case, or grounds for detention. The police must explain why they stopped you.
• Can I ask to see the police officer's identification? Yes. They must show their official identification when you ask.
• How long can I be detained? Administrative detention generally lasts 3 hours. It may be extended up to 48 hours for violations of stay rules. It may not exceed 48 hours without a court decision.
• I do not know Russian. What should I do? Request an interpreter. You may give explanations in your own language.
• Can the consulate have me released? No. The consulate may visit you, notify your relatives, and provide information about lawyers; however, it cannot get you released unless the local authorities do so (see R10.5).
• My passport was stolen. What should I do first? Contact the police and obtain a loss report, then go to the nearest Turkish mission.

• Federal Law 3-FZ "On Police" (full text)
• Code of Administrative Offenses, Art. 18.8: violation of stay rules
• Code of Administrative Offenses, Art. 27.5: detention periods
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye – consular guide for those traveling abroad
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye – consular appointments and services
• Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Moscow – Contact