Russia proposes migrant work overhaul from 2027, tying workers to employers and regions
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Russia has proposed a new system for recruiting foreign workers that ties migrants to specific employers, jobs and regions, beginning in 2027. The plan covers 87 Russian regions and is estimated to affect more than 1.7 million foreign workers, including many from Central Asia. The overhaul would replace the current work-patent system used by migrants from visa-free countries such as Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
Key Facts
- The proposed system would run from January 1, 2027 through the end of 2030 and cover 87 Russian regions, excluding Moscow and the Moscow region.
- Russian authorities estimate that more than 1.7 million foreign workers would be affected, including large numbers from Central Asia.
- In 2025, foreigners obtained about 2.3 million Russian work patents, more than 40 percent of all foreigners in Russia and almost 77 percent of officially employed foreign workers.
- Under Russia's proposed rules, migrants would not be allowed to change employer, profession, or region until their employment contracts expire; violations would lead to removal from the foreign-worker registry and an obligation to leave Russia.
- Russia had about 3 million foreigners officially working at the beginning of 2026, while total foreign nationals in Russia exceeded 5.7 million.
The Proposed System
Russia's proposed overhaul would move away from the work-patent mechanism that has been the main legal employment route for migrants from visa-free countries such as Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The four-year experiment is scheduled to run from January 1, 2027 through the end of 2030 and would cover 87 Russian regions, excluding Moscow and the Moscow region. Russian authorities estimate that more than 1.7 million foreign workers would be affected, including large numbers from Central Asia. Under the new system, migrants would arrive in Russia already matched with a particular employer and vacancy. A new information system would maintain registries of employers and foreign workers and match workers with jobs based on regional labor-market needs.
Current Workforce Reliance
In 2025, foreigners obtained about 2.3 million Russian work patents, according to Interior Ministry figures. The 2025 work patents represented more than 40 percent of all foreigners in Russia and almost 77 percent of officially employed foreign workers. Russia had about 3 million foreigners officially working at the beginning of 2026, while the total number of foreign nationals in Russia exceeded 5.7 million, according to the Interior Ministry. The new system would also expand the amount of information authorities collect on migrants before they enter Russia. In addition to photographs and fingerprints, migrants would undergo mandatory genomic registration and medical examinations.
Migrant Restrictions
Under the proposed rules, workers recruited through the new system would not be allowed to work for a different employer, in a different profession, or outside the region specified in the registry until their employment contracts expire. Violating those rules would result in removal from the foreign-worker registry and an obligation to leave Russia. Such workers would then be able to re-enter the system and regain the ability to work in Russia only after a year.
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Russia proposes migrant work overhaul from 2027, tying workers to employers and regions
