Russia tightens migrant residency rules

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia's State Duma has approved in its second and third, final readings a bill tightening the rules governing the stay of migrants in the country.

Under the new legislation, foreign nationals will be required to ensure financial support for themselves and their family members at a level no lower than the regional subsistence minimum per person multiplied by the applicable regional coefficient, RIA Novosti reported.

At the same time, the required amount may not exceed the average monthly salary in the relevant region. If a migrant works simultaneously in several regions, the calculation will be based on the highest regional subsistence minimum.

The law also introduces a mechanism for monitoring migrants' income. Tax authorities will provide the Interior Ministry with information on migrants' earnings after three, six, nine and twelve months. The Social Fund will submit employment data. If a foreign national's income falls below the required threshold, the employment contract will be considered terminated and the permitted period of stay in Russia will be shortened.

The requirements for issuing and extending work patents will also be tightened. A patent will not be issued or renewed if there is no information on the migrant's income or if earnings are below the regional subsistence minimum multiplied by the regional coefficient, calculated for the migrant and each dependent minor child. If a patent is revoked or not renewed, the foreign national and their children will be required to leave Russia within 15 days.

For migrant children under the age of 18, the period of temporary stay will be extended based on the validity of the parent's work patent, provided that a fixed advance income tax payment is made for each child. Once reaching adulthood, the child must leave Russia within 30 days or apply for a work patent and pay the required advance tax.

The law further stipulates that if, within one year of obtaining a temporary residence permit or permanent residence permit, a foreign national's income remains below the established threshold, those documents will be revoked. Exceptions apply to full-time students, pensioners, persons with disabilities, minors and certain other categories. Residence permits will not be revoked if a migrant loses a job but finds new employment within three months and subsequently meets the income requirements.

In addition, Russia's Interior Ministry will be authorized to verify the existence and amount of migrants' income, as well as confirmation of advance income tax payments. The ministry will determine the procedures and timeframes for such inspections.

Most provisions of the law will enter into force on January 1, 2027.

The provisions requiring migrants to provide for themselves and their family members, as well as the mechanism for reducing the period of stay, will take effect on March 1, 2027. The rules governing data exchange between state agencies will enter into force 90 days after the law's official publication.