On 1 April, new rules for the admission of foreign citizens to general educational organizations came into force in Russia. According to amendments to the Federal Law “On Education”, foreign children will now be enrolled in Russian schools only if they successfully pass a Russian language test.

As reported on the website of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation, this requirement applies to training under the programs of primary general, basic general and secondary general education. The testing is free of charge in state and municipal schools.

The knowledge test will include oral and written parts - except for children entering the first grade, for whom only the oral form is provided. Audio and video recording will be made during the test.

In order for a foreign child to be admitted to the test, his or her parents or legal representatives must provide the school with a number of documents in Russian or with a certified translation.

The list includes:

• documents confirming kinship or legal representation;
• proof of legal stay in the Russian Federation;
• data on passing dactyloscopic registration;
• child's identity card;
• SNILS (if available) and TIN of the parent;
• medical certificate of absence of infectious diseases;
• documents confirming the parent's labor activity (if available).

If the test is successful, the child will be enrolled in an educational institution. If the result is unsatisfactory, he or she will be offered additional Russian language training. Repeated testing is possible not earlier than in three months.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic recommends that Kyrgyz citizens in the Russian Federation familiarize themselves with the new requirements in advance in order to prepare the necessary documents in time and ensure the enrollment of children in schools.