Filming permits

It is important that wherever you plan to film in Russia you get permissions, permits or notify the appropriate authority. Locations may either be privately owned, or public property (including most streets), so you should contact the property owner, or local authority. It is good practice to inform local police for all exterior location filming in Russia, and it may be a legal requirement to do so. Other aspects of your script or shoot may also mean you need to get in touch with the police. The impact of failing to inform relevant authorities could result in unnecessary police resources being deployed and disruption to the community and to your filming. This is particularly important when you are filming in a location that may have iconic, religious or government buildings. Please note: filming the exterior of a building does not infringe its copyright. In Russia you do not need a release from the building’s owner to film its exterior. The amount of notice that you need to give in regards to filming can vary based on the size of your crew, so this is also worth bearing in mind – as a rough guide, allow 5-15 working days to process the relevant paperwork.