Russia tightens immigration rules for labor migrants

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law introducing stricter rules for labor migrants. The document was officially published on Sunday, July 26, on the official legal acts portal, according to Deutsche Welle.

The new law requires labor migrants to support themselves and their family members living in Russia and dependent on them at a level not lower than the regional subsistence minimum. Additionally, when obtaining a work patent, foreigners must pay a fixed advance payment of personal income tax for themselves and all their minor children.

If these requirements are not met, the migrant's patent or work permit will not be extended, and they must leave the country with their children within 15 days. They may stay only if they have legal grounds for temporary residence. The children of migrants, upon reaching adulthood, must obtain a patent or leave the country within 30 days.

The law also significantly increases fees for migrants: for citizenship – 12 times (from 4,200 to 50,000 rubles), for temporary residence permit – eight times (from 1,920 to 15,000 rubles), for permanent residence permit – five times (from 6,000 to 30,000 rubles). The fee for issuing work permits for foreigners will be 15,000 rubles per person.

The main provisions of the law will come into force on January 1, 2027. The State Duma passed it in the second and third readings on July 8, after which it was approved by the Federation Council and sent to the president for signature.