Healthcare for foreign citizens in Russia (2026).

In 2026, medical care in the Russian Federation will be available to both Russian and foreign citizens. The procedure for receiving medical services, their scope, and cost directly depend on the foreign citizen's legal status and insurance coverage.

Main types of health insurance

-There are two key types of health insurance available for foreign citizens: Criterion Compulsory Medical Insurance (OMS) & VHI (Voluntary Medical Insurance)

It's Free for OMS (available in public and some private clinics).

Paid for VHI (issued independently or through an employer).

- Who can get it? Foreigners with a temporary residence permit or temporary residence permit; refugees; workers from EAEU countries; temporarily residing specialists with at least 5 years of work experience in the Russian Federation. All foreign citizens who are not entitled to compulsory medical insurance (including tourists and students).

- What does it cover? Primary and specialized care, hospitalization, emergency care, medical examinations, vaccinations. An expanded range of services, dentistry, telemedicine, treatment in commercial clinics.

Step-by-step procedure for receiving medical care

To successfully utilize the Russian healthcare system, a foreign citizen must complete four main steps:

1. Determine your legal status:

• Refugee status, a temporary residence permit, or a temporary residence permit automatically entitle one to compulsory medical insurance.
• -Citizens of the EAEU countries have the right to compulsory medical insurance from the first day of official employment.
• -Temporarily staying persons (tourists, students without an employment contract) are required to obtain a voluntary health insurance policy or pay for services in cash.

2. Get an insurance policy

-For compulsory medical insurance (CMI): contact your local health insurance company (HIC). You will need your passport, immigration documents, and SNILS (Individual Insurance Account Number). You can also partially apply for a policy through the Gosuslugi portal if you have a verified account.

- For voluntary health insurance: enter into an agreement with any commercial insurance company.

3. Register with a clinic

- After receiving the policy, you must select a medical institution at your actual place of residence and submit an application for attachment.

4. Receive medical services

- Within the framework of compulsory medical insurance - free of charge according to the basic program. o Within the framework of voluntary health insurance - in strict accordance with the terms of the selected insurance contract.

⚠️Important nuances and features

• Compulsory Medical Insurance (CMI) validity: A foreign citizen's policy is valid until the end of the current calendar year, but no longer than the validity of their permits (residence permit, temporary residence permit, etc.). If they change their region of residence or their legal status changes, the policy must be renewed.

• Mandatory medical examination: All foreigners entering the Russian Federation and seeking employment are required to undergo a medical examination. This includes an examination by specialized specialists (general practitioner, infectious disease specialist, psychiatrist, addiction specialist, dermatovenereologist, and tuberculosis specialist) and testing for HIV, syphilis, and drug use.

• Regional programs: Moscow and a number of other large cities have an expanded compulsory medical insurance program that provides patients with additional medical services.

• Funding: In 2026, the state will allocate a stable amount of funds for the treatment of foreign citizens under the compulsory medical insurance system— at least 24–28 billion rubles annually .

• Legal Standards: The prescription of any medication is strictly regulated. Doctors are not allowed to prescribe medications that are not included in official clinical guidelines adopted by the professional scientific community.

Conclusion

Foreign citizens in Russia have the legal right to receive qualified medical care, both free (through the compulsory medical insurance system) and commercial (through a voluntary medical insurance policy or cash payment). Access to free healthcare is directly linked to migration status. For most categories of migrants, valid health insurance is a mandatory requirement for legal residence and work in the country.