The essence of the reform lies in the radical reduction of "cheap" labor migration.
It becomes obvious that the Concept of State Migration Policy of the Russian Federation for 2026–2030, adopted in October of last year, has become a starting point for large-scale legislative changes.
One of the expected innovations is the mandatory confirmation of income levels by labor migrants. Now obtaining or even extending a patent will be impossible if the migrants' income is below the established minimum living wage. Let us remind you that it currently amounts to 18,939 rubles. Foreigners temporarily staying in the country will be required to present income statements, tax declarations, and receipts for personal income tax payments to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The proposed amendments to the law "On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation" have already received support from the Russian government's commission on legislative activity. It is also planned that migrants working without permits and their family members may have their temporary stay reduced in the absence of confirmed income.
Payment will also be required for children
The Ministry of Finance has also developed a number of amendments that significantly update the rules for foreigners' stay in the country. One of the main changes is the modernization of the patent system: foreigners officially employed must now make regular personal income tax payments not only for themselves but also for each of their minor children.
Upon reaching adulthood, the child will have the choice to either leave the country or apply for their own patent. These obligations also apply to foreign citizens who reside in Russia temporarily or permanently and work for private individuals. This includes students, teachers, researchers, refugees, and those who have received temporary asylum.
A new perspective on highly qualified specialists
The financial threshold for recognizing a foreigner as a highly qualified specialist is significantly raised. For medical personnel, educators, and researchers, the minimum salary will be 358,500 rubles per month (about 3,800 euros), while for other categories, it will be 717,000 rubles (about 8,000 euros).
As noted by Vladimir Gruzdev, Chairman of the Russian Lawyers Association, the essence of the reform lies in the radical reduction of "cheap" labor migration and the increase in fiscal returns from each foreigner. The state establishes a clear financial criterion, allowing only those who earn legal income and pay taxes.
Sectoral limits and geolocation control
As of the beginning of 2026, strict quotas on the use of foreign labor have come into force: in construction — no more than 50%, in agriculture and woodworking — 40%, in transportation — 24%. In some sectors, including retail trade in alcohol and tobacco, migrants are completely prohibited from working. Additional restrictions have been introduced in 32 regions of the Russian Federation.
In addition, last year a registry of controlled persons was launched, containing data on more than 775,000 foreigners. For migrants in Moscow and the Moscow region, the "Amina" application, which transmits geolocation to the Ministry of Internal Affairs in real time, has become mandatory.
The tightening of migration policy has also affected health conditions: foreigners arriving for more than 90 days are required to undergo medical examinations annually to possibly detect HIV and drug addiction. A fine of up to 50,000 rubles is provided for violations.
The first results are already visible
In February 2026, the labor commission also supported the draft law from the Ministry of Labor introducing a "residency requirement" for the appointment of a single child allowance for families with insufficient income. To receive the funds, one must have lived in Russia as a citizen for at least five years.
Thanks to the aforementioned measures, the number of foreigners in Russia decreased by 10% in 2025 — to 5.7 million people. This indicates that the state strategy is working and migration processes are becoming clearer and more transparent.
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