Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin has approved a significant increase in the monthly fee for work patents — mandatory permits allowing migrants to work legally in the capital. Starting January 1, 2026, the cost will rise to 10,000 rubles per month.
This change comes as part of a new regional law, which includes an updated labor market coefficient for Moscow — a factor that adjusts the cost of the patent based on local economic conditions. In 2026, this coefficient will increase from 2.8592 to 2.9323.
The proposal to raise the patent fee was reviewed and approved in late October by the Moscow City Duma’s Committee on Economic and Social Policy.
Moscow is not alone in implementing higher fees. Other Russian regions are also set to increase the cost of work permits for migrants next year. The annual patent fee is subject to regional adjustments and varies significantly across the country.
For example, in the Tyumen region, the monthly fee will jump from 9,385 to 11,471 rubles. In Kamchatka, the cost will rise from 9,000 to 13,800 rubles, while in the Irkutsk region, it will reach 12,000 rubles.
Saint Petersburg and the Leningrad region will see an increase from 6,000 to 8,000 rubles.
Meanwhile, in Novosibirsk, the fee will rise to 10,860 rubles — an 11% increase compared to 2025.
Work patents grant foreign nationals the right to be employed in a specific region and occupation. The monthly fee is set by local authorities and must be paid regularly to maintain legal employment status.
