Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed laws introducing stricter financial requirements for foreign workers, as Moscow continues to tighten migration controls affecting millions of labour migrants, particularly from Central Asia.
Under the new law, foreign workers will be required to earn enough to support both themselves and their dependent family members at or above the regional subsistence minimum in the region where they work. Authorities will monitor migrants' income through tax and employment records. Workers who fail to meet the requirement could lose their work permits and face a shortened period of legal stay.
The legislation also requires foreign workers applying for work permits to make advance personal income tax payments covering both themselves and their minor children. Those who fail to comply risk having their permits refused or cancelled and may be required to leave Russia with their children within 15 days unless they have other legal grounds to remain.
In a separate law, Russia has significantly increased state fees for migrants. The cost of applying for Russian citizenship, temporary residence permits and permanent residency has risen sharply, while employers will also pay higher fees to obtain permits to hire foreign workers.
The latest changes are expected to affect around six million foreign nationals currently living in Russia. According to Russia's Interior Ministry, the majority are labour migrants from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, while Kazakhstan also remains a major country of origin. Workers from the South Caucasus, including Armenia and Azerbaijan, are also expected to be affected, although in smaller numbers.
The legislation forms part of a broader tightening of Russia's migration policy. Since 2024, lawmakers have adopted 27 migration-related laws aimed at strengthening migration controls, increasing oversight of foreign workers and tightening residency requirements.
Earlier this month, Russia also introduced mandatory pre-registration through the RuID mobile application for citizens of visa-free countries entering the country for work or other temporary purposes. Travellers must now submit their details electronically and obtain a QR code before arrival, a measure that applies to citizens of several Central Asian and South Caucasus countries.
Russian officials say the latest reforms are intended to improve migration management, reduce pressure on public services and ensure foreign workers are financially self-sufficient. However, migrant labour remains essential to sectors including construction, transport, logistics and municipal services, where Russia continues to face persistent labour shortages.
Read more from Russia:
Indian police detained more than 2,000 protesters in Delhi on Saturday as authorities blocked a planned demonstration calling for the resignation o...
A powerful explosion has been reported at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, raising fresh concerns over aviation security in Saudi Arabi...
At least 12 people, including three children, have been killed in a Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, a day after U.S. Presiden...
Leaders of countries from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) have agreed to hold coordinated population censuses around 2030. They took the decision at the CIS Council of Heads of State meeting in Awaza, Turkmenistan on Friday, media reported.
A powerful explosion has been reported at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, raising fresh concerns over aviation security in Saudi Arabia as tensions across the region continue to escalate.
Britain and Israel have reached a temporary compromise over the future of the British Consulate General in East Jerusalem, easing a diplomatic dispute that had threatened to further strain relations between the two countries.
South African judge Navanethem “Navi” Pillay won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday “for her efforts to promote peace and international law,” the Norwegian Nobel Committee said.
The U.S. has imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday (9 October) escalating tensions with European allies and potentially targeting companies that provide services to the tribunal. The move came hours after former ICC judge Navi Pillay won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Indian police detained more than 2,000 protesters in Delhi on Saturday as authorities blocked a planned demonstration calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over disputed changes to voter lists.
At least 12 people, including three children, have been killed in a Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a deal to ease sanctions on Russian diesel.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticised U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to ease sanctions on Russian diesel exports, questioning why Moscow was granted an economic benefit without an apparent concession towards ending the war in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed surprise after Donald Trump mediated the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement in 2025, the U.S. President said at a rally in New York state on Friday.
The United Nations has condemned a sharp rise in attacks on civilians in Ukraine, reporting that more than 100 people were killed and at least 429 injured in a single week as Russian strikes hit residential areas, passenger buses and critical infrastructure.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment