St. Petersburg Mayor Alexander Beglov has signed a decree that will bar migrant workers with patent-based work permits from driving taxis in the city starting October 1, 2025. RBC says the move, officially aimed at “improving the quality and safety of taxi services and expanding employment opportunities for Russian citizens.”
Under the new regulation, only Russian citizens and individuals with official work authorization will be allowed to work as taxi drivers. The measure specifically targets the exclusion of foreign drivers operating under the patent system—a common legal route for migrant laborers in Russia.
Taxi companies will be given a three-month transitional period to terminate employment contracts with migrant drivers holding patents. The decree will come into force 10 days after its publication and remain in effect through the end of 2025.
As of early 2025, migrants made up approximately 30% of St. Petersburg’s taxi workforce. The new restriction is expected to force companies to seek alternative hiring sources urgently, potentially impacting service availability and fare prices, according to ecosever.ru.
While some analysts predict an increase in ride costs, authorities argue that the benefits—greater transparency and legal compliance in the sector—will outweigh the drawbacks.
St. Petersburg is not the first region to impose such restrictions. Other areas, including the Leningrad Oblast and Tatarstan Republic, have already implemented similar bans. In Tatarstan, for example, certain businesses are prohibited from employing migrants with patents until the end of 2025. The restrictions cover 10 sectors listed in the national economic activity classifier, including taxi services, private security, and veterinary services.
