The State Duma at its plenary session on March 18 adopted two draft laws in the field of labor migration in the first reading. For example, migrants in Russia will need to prove not only the presence of an officially confirmed income but also that this income is not below the subsistence minimum.
We explain what these draft laws are and how the new rules will work.
In one paragraph: what exactly do they want to tighten?
They can. The main changes are as follows:
1) Previously, the children of migrants could remain in Russia after reaching adulthood, even if they did not study, work, or have any other legal grounds to stay in Russia. Now, adult children of migrants must either obtain their own legal status or leave the country within 30 days after turning 18;
2) Patent holders will have to pay an advance payment not only for themselves but also for dependent family members (who do not work and are supported by them);
3) If a migrant does not have confirmed income or if it is too low (below the regional subsistence minimum), the patent may be revoked;
4) Temporary residence permits (RVP) and residence permits (VNZh) will not be issued or may even be revoked if a person has worked less than 10 months in a year.
Are these laws already adopted or not yet?
Not yet. The State Duma is actively considering the draft laws – they can still be changed or supplemented. They have not yet come into force but may do so in the near future.
New rules for children of migrants
What will happen to migrant children turning 18?
Currently, the most discussed point of the draft law is as follows: if a labor migrant’s child turns 18, he or she will no longer be able to automatically remain in Russia simply as a “child of a parent.” They will have to either obtain their own patent or leave the country within 30 days.
So will a person be immediately deported on their 18th birthday?
No. The draft law does not provide for “immediate deportation” on the day of reaching adulthood. However, after turning 18, a person will have 30 days to prove their own legal grounds for staying in Russia, such as work, study, or other status unrelated to their parents’ documents.
If there are no such grounds, then within this period they must leave Russia.
But if nothing is done during these 30 days and there are no other legal grounds for residence (such as work or study), then staying in the country will become illegal, which may lead to problems with migration status, including departure from Russia and a possible ban on entry in the future.
New payment rules for patents
What changes for patent holders?
Currently, the logic is as follows: a person pays a fixed advance payment for themselves. The new draft law proposes a different model: the labor migrant will have to pay this fee not only for themselves but also for each family member who is dependent on them and resides in Russia.
This means that the family’s stay is essentially being made financially dependent on the working foreigner and their ability to regularly confirm income and pay more.
What happens if a migrant has a low income or no confirmed income at all?
The draft law proposes that the patent or work permit may be revoked if:
– there is no information about the amount of income (i.e., salary is paid “off the books,” unofficially), or
– the income is below the established threshold. This threshold is calculated as the amount of the subsistence minimum with a regional coefficient for the migrant and each family member.
In plain language, this translates to: the state wants to see that the migrant is not just formally employed but earns enough to support themselves and their dependents according to the established calculation standard.
How much income will be sufficient?
Whether the income is sufficient will be checked according to the regional coefficient of the subsistence minimum. This means that the threshold will not be a single figure “for all of Russia,” but will depend on the region and the number of dependents.
At the same time, the income must be enough not only for oneself but also for each family member who does not work and is dependent.
New rules for holders of temporary residence permits and residence permits
What changes?
The new regulations will also affect foreigners who want to obtain or maintain a temporary residence permit (RVP) or residence permit (VNZh). According to the project, these documents will not be issued or may be revoked if the labor activity was conducted for less than ten months during the year.
This means that seasonal employment, long breaks, informal work without confirmation, or dropping out of the official labor market become much riskier for migration status.
