Translated with AI
The State Duma of the Russian Federation approved in the first reading a bill to tighten requirements for migrant workers.
Amendments are proposed to the law "On the legal status of foreign citizens in the Russian Federation." The initiative stipulates that migrant workers will be required to support themselves and their dependent family members residing in Russia at a level no lower than the subsistence minimum multiplied by a regional coefficient. Otherwise, their patents or work permits will not be renewed, after which they will be required to leave the country with their minor children within 15 days.
Authorized agencies will monitor the income levels of migrant workers. According to the bill, tax authorities will automatically send information to the Ministry of Internal Affairs on the income of foreign workers for three, six, nine, and 12 months of the calendar year. Migrants themselves will also be required to report their income. Along with their annual notification of residence in the Russian Federation to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, they will be required to submit one of the following documents: a certificate of income for the reporting period, a copy of their tax return, or documents confirming payment of personal income tax.
The initiative's authors also propose expanding the list of grounds for revoking temporary residence permits and permanent residence permits. A temporary residence permit or permanent residence permit will be revoked if a migrant worker has worked for less than 10 months during the year or if their income per family member is below the regional subsistence minimum. Similar measures will apply to migrants who work for individuals, performing housework and assisting with personal affairs. The temporary residence permit or permanent residence permit of these foreigners will also be revoked if they have worked in this manner for less than 10 months during the year and if the fixed advance payment of personal income tax for themselves and each family member has been confirmed for less than 10 months.
Furthermore, the bill stipulates that children of migrant workers will be able to remain in the Russian Federation only for the duration of their parent's work permit, and also subject to the migrant worker's payment of a fixed advance payment of personal income tax for themselves and each child. Upon reaching the age of 18, migrant children will be required to leave the Russian Federation within 30 days or apply for a patent within the specified period.
The bill also proposes to clarify the minimum wage limits for migrant workers who, based on their work experience, skills, or achievements, are considered highly qualified specialists. Current legislation divides such workers into several groups, each with its own minimum wage. The bill's authors propose retaining only two groups.
The first group will include highly qualified specialists involved in the creation and operation of an innovative scientific and technological center, researchers or teachers at higher education institutions and state academies of sciences, employees of companies resident in special economic zones or IT companies, medical, teaching, or research workers in the international medical cluster, and employees of companies in Crimea and Sevastopol, Skolkovo, or within the Sirius federal territory. The minimum salary limit for such specialists will be 358,500 rubles.
The second group is proposed to include all other highly qualified specialists. According to the bill, their salaries will have to be at least 717,000 rubles. The document also emphasizes that the salaries of highly qualified specialists must be indexed annually in line with the growth rate of salaries of employees of companies employing migrants.
If the State Duma passes the law and it is subsequently signed by the President of the Russian Federation, the document will enter into force on January 1, 2027. However, it is proposed to establish special deadlines for certain provisions of the document. For example, the provision requiring tax authorities to send information on the income of migrant workers to the Ministry of Internal Affairs will take effect on October 1, 2026, and the provisions regarding highly qualified specialists will take effect on September 1, 2026.
