26.12.2025

COUNTRIES PARTICIPATING IN THE TAX INFORMATION EXCHANGE WITH THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION: UPDATED LISTS

New lists of states (territories) have been approved:

- those with which automatic exchange of financial information is carried out - the list includes 71 countries and 9 territories;

- those whose competent authorities carry out the automatic exchange of country-by-country reports - the list includes 60 states and 6 territories.

The profit of a controlled foreign company (CFC) shall be exempt from taxation if the permanent place of location of such CFC is a state (territory) with which the Russian Federation has an international treaty on taxation matters, except for states (territories) that do not ensure the exchange of information with Russia for tax purposes.

Tax authorities may request reports directly from Russian participants of multinational enterprise groups located in such jurisdictions.

25.12.2025

RUSSIA HAS DECIDED TO ISSUE DEBT DIGITAL FINANCIAL ASSETS

The specifics of issuing debt digital financial assets have been established.

They certify exclusively a monetary claim in the amount of the purchase price of digital financial assets by their first owner and the interest accrued on it.

24.12.2025

ON CREDIT RATINGS FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW ON NON-STATE PENSION FUNDS

Credit rating levels have been established to be applied from December 14, 2025, in order to comply with the Law on Non-State Pension Funds. Credit institutions in which, in particular, bank accounts are opened for recording pension reserves and carrying out transactions with pension savings must comply with them.

23.12.2025

FUNDAMENTALS OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE RUSSIAN RED CROSS HAVE BEEN ENSHRINED IN LAW

The Law defines the legal status of the Russian Red Cross, its goals and objectives, as well as the structure, and the organisational and property foundations of its activities.

The Russian Red Cross provides charitable, humanitarian, medical, social, medico-social, and other forms of assistance; it is engaged in improving the quality and life expectancy of the population and in disseminating the knowledge necessary to achieve these aims. The law provides for the operation of regional and local branches. Membership in the Russian Red Cross may be held by any citizen, as well as by foreign nationals and stateless persons that are lawfully present in the Russian Federation and participate in the activities of the organisation, except in cases established by federal laws.

22.12.2025

IT IS PLANNED TO INCREASE THE VOLUME OF PURCHASES OF DOMESTIC ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS

Following the Digital Solutions forum, the head of the Russian government issued the following instructions.

Instructions have been given to prepare proposals aimed at stimulating the purchase of first and second level electronic products.

It is planned to establish requirements for cloud infrastructure for hosting corporate critical information infrastructure systems.

To strengthen counteraction to new cyber threats and ensure the security of the country's digital ecosystem, a centre for comparative analysis of information security tools will be established.

A roadmap for implementing a project to export Russian goods and solutions using digital platforms needs to be developed. It should include measures to protect against the sale of counterfeit products. A verified supply chain will be created on the basis of marketplaces using product origin tracking technologies.

A pilot project will be launched to use digital platforms to submit documentation for goods to customs authorities.

19.12.2025

TEMPORARY VISA-FREE REGIME HAS BEEN INTRODUCED FOR CHINESE CITIZENS TO ENTER RUSSIA

Until September 14, 2026, inclusive, citizens of China may enter Russia and stay in the country for up to 30 days on a guest or business visit, as tourists, to participate in scientific, cultural, socio-political, economic, or sporting events, transit through Russia, and leave the country without a visa using a regular Chinese citizen's passport. This is a mirror-like response to the introduction of a visa-free entry regime for Russian citizens by the Chinese authorities.

The visa-free regime does not apply to Chinese citizens entering Russia for the purpose of employment, including journalistic work, education, or residence in Russia, as well as to drivers and crew members of vehicles engaged in international road transport, freight forwarders, and translators accompanying such vehicles.

18.12.2025

RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERRING FUNDS ABROAD FOR CITIZENS OF RUSSIA AND FRIENDLY COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN LIFTED

From December 8, 2025, previously established limits on foreign currency transfers abroad for Russian citizens and non-resident individuals from friendly countries are lifted.

The following restrictions remain in place until June 7, 2026:

- non-resident individuals from unfriendly countries working in Russia can transfer funds abroad in the amount of their salaries;

- a ban on transferring funds abroad for individuals who are non-residents from unfriendly countries and who do not work in Russia, as well as for legal entities from such countries. This does not apply to foreign companies controlled by Russian legal entities or individuals.

These prohibitions do not apply to transactions involving the transfer of funds from “In” type accounts to accounts abroad carried out by foreign investors who invest in the Russian financial market.

Banks from unfriendly countries can transfer funds in roubles using correspondent accounts opened in Russian credit institutions if the payer or recipient accounts are opened in foreign banks.

17.12.2025

PAYING FOR A SHARE IN A NON-RESIDENT COMPANY'S PROPERTY WITHOUT CENTRAL BANK’S APPROVAL: BAN IS EXTENDED

The ban on conducting the following operations without the approval of the Central Bank has been extended until the end of 2026:

- for payment by a resident for a share, contribution, or stake in the property (authorised or contributed capital, cooperative share fund) of a non-resident legal entity;

- for contribution by a resident to a non-resident under a simple partnership agreement involving capital investments (joint activity agreement).

16.12.2025

MINISTRY OF FINANCE ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO RULES FOR RECOGNISING CURRENT ASSETS IN THE BALANCE SHEET

Starting December 16, 2025, amendments to the Federal Accounting Standard (FSBU) 4/2023 "Accounting (Financial) Reporting" come into effect, clarifying the criteria for recognising an asset as current in the balance sheet.

An asset is be classified as current if it is intended for use (consumption) or sale within the normal operating cycle or a period not exceeding 12 months.

The amendments also adjust the names of reporting fields submitted to government authorities, references to specific Items and subitems, as well as codes of fields.

These amendments will apply starting from the annual accounting (financial) reports for 2025.

15.12.2025

DEFICIENCY DRUGS IN FOREIGN PACKAGING CAN BE IMPORTED AND SOLD IN RUSSIA UNTIL THE END OF 2027

According to amendments to the Law on the Circulation of Medicines, the current regulation allowing the import and sale of foreign medicines in packaging intended for overseas markets (i.e., without Russian text) will be extended for another two years, until December 31, 2027.

This measure applies only in cases of drug shortages or the risk of shortages due to anti-Russian sanctions. Imported foreign medicines must comply with all registration requirements, except for those related to primary and secondary packaging, provided that a label with information on the drug in Russian is affixed to the consumer packaging.

12.12.2025

RULES FOR ACCREDITATION OF IT COMPANIES HAVE CHANGED

The procedure for accreditation of Russian IT organisations has been adjusted. Foreign participation in such companies is limited. Upon confirmation of accreditation, large companies receiving benefits must enter into agreements with universities to facilitate the training of IT specialists.

11.12.2025

CONTROL OVER THE TRANSFER OF THE RESULTS OF SCIENTIFIC, RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AND EXPERIMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS ABROAD IS BEING STRENGTHENED

Subjects of scientific, scientific-technical and innovative activities must submit information about planned work and experimental developments with foreign participation to the state information system for recording R&D and technological work.

Agreements on scientific and (or) scientific and technical activities, or on experimental developments, concluded by scientific organisations or universities (with the involvement of budgetary funds) without financial obligations on their part with foreign participants, will be taken into account by the Ministry of Education and Science using the state information system.

10.12.2025

TEMPORARY VISA-FREE ENTRY REGIME HAS BEEN INTRODUCED FOR CHINESE NATIONALS TO RUSSIA

Until September 14, 2026, Chinese nationals may, on a reciprocal basis, travel to Russia visa-free with their regular passports for up to 30 days for guest or business visits, as tourists, or to participate in scientific, cultural, socio-political, economic, or sporting events. This also applies to transit through our country.

This regime does not apply to Chinese nationals entering Russia for work, journalistic work, education, or other similar purposes.

09.12.2025

UPDATES IN PROVIDING HOTEL SERVICES

The MAX messenger and the Gosuslugi mobile app can now be used to present a passport upon hotel check-in. Documents that are necessary for checking in foreigners are also defined.

The Decision comes into force on March 1, 2026, and remains in effect until March 1, 2032. Hotel check-in using the Gosuslugi app will be available starting from April 1, 2026.

08.12.2025

BANK OF RUSSIA HAS ADJUSTED TARIFFS OF COMPULSORY MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY

From December 9, 2025, the tariff corridor for compulsory motor liability insurance will be expanded by 15% in both directions for all types of transport, except motorcycles, for which the borders will be shifted by 40%.