What to do on Arrival in Russia

On arrival, all visitors to Russia must register their visa, migration card and passport with the Local Visa Office (OVIR) within 72 hours of your arrival (excluding weekends and official holidays). If you are staying in a hotel, the registration desk will do this for you upon checking in. (Your passport and visa may be held for a few hours or days at the hotel registration desk.) If you are staying elsewhere, you should go directly to OVIR: Visa Registration Department 4 Saltykova-Schedrina Street.

Please be aware that the Russian militia often stop people to check their passports and travel documents, especially around train stations, metro stations and bus stations, so remember to take your passport containing your visa and migration card with you every time you leave your hotel or apartment. There is nothing unusual in this and there is nothing to be worried about if you are stopped, so long as you have registered correctly.
 
If you are stopped by the Militia for any reason, they will check that you are registered to be in the city / town and that the dates are valid.