Can I travel in and out of Russia through Belarus with a residence permit, and is a migration card required?

Question

I have a Russian residence permit with permanent registration. Can I travel in and out of Russia through Belarus? Is a migration card required for applying for Russian citizenship, and is the Belarusian migration card recognized in Russia?

Answer

With a Russian residence permit, you can travel through Belarus, but it is important to consider your route.

If you are traveling from Russia to Belarus and back within the framework of the Union State, this is usually not considered a new entry into Russia, and a new migration card may not be issued.

If you are entering from a third country through Belarus and then proceeding to Russia, you need to declare your intention to continue to the Russian Federation at the Belarusian border. In this case, a standard migration card may be issued, which is recognized in Russia.

For the application for Russian citizenship itself, the migration card is usually not the main document. The primary importance lies with the residence permit, registration, and proof of the duration of stay. If the route is complicated, it is better to clarify the procedure in advance with the MVD at the place of document submission.