Russia Tightens Migration Control

The Russian government has submitted a draft law aimed at tightening control over migrants. The proposal includes changes in various areas such as residence durations, new document formats, migrant movement, legal regimes, and more.

At a press conference held by the Armenian Caritas organization's migration program expert Tatevik Bezhanyan, it was noted that the policy of enhancing control over migrants is not new. Efforts in this direction have been underway since 2018, with certain batches of proposed changes being implemented each year. In 2023, further tightening occurred, impacting the migration flow.

According to the latest statement from the Russian Minister of Internal Affairs, the number of migrants deported from Russia in 2023 reached 110,000, a record figure that is 65% higher than in 2022. Armenian migrants have also faced entry bans due to a lack of awareness regarding residency durations and legal procedures. Many of our citizens fail to adhere to residency limits, do not process their documents as required, register in one location while residing in another, thereby encountering issues.

The proposed changes under this draft law further intensify control over migrants. The expert emphasizes that it is crucial for every citizen traveling to Russia to be well-informed about the procedures. One of the suggested changes pertains to temporary residency durations. Current legislation allows citizens from countries with a non-visa regime to stay in Russia for 90 days within any 180-day period. The new proposal suggests that citizens will have the right to stay for 90 days within a 365-day period. Importantly, previously, if a citizen left Russia and returned, their residency time would reset; under the new rules, the count of residency days will be based on the first entry of the year.

Another proposed change includes creating a digital profile for foreigners that will consolidate information about the individual from governmental and organizational databases. Additionally, a new document confirming the identity of a foreign citizen in Russia will be introduced. Bezhanyan pointed out that there were discussions about introducing a chip in this document to monitor migrants' movements, as instances of individuals registering at one address while living at another are prevalent.

Moreover, the draft suggests enhancing control over employers wishing to hire foreign workers. To this end, registers for foreign workers and employers are planned to be established. Bezhanyan noted that there has been a noticeable decrease in the number of labor migrants from Armenia to Russia in 2022 and 2023. This is attributed to both the tightening of migration policies and the sanctions imposed on Russia.

Migartion tightenings will always exist, and it is crucial to be informed about these processes. The majority of the issues faced by citizens who turn to us are related to migration registration. Many register at one address while living at another, which creates problems. Additionally, labor migrants are required to undergo health examinations annually, but our compatriots either are unaware of this requirement or do not follow through. As a result of these various issues, many of our compatriots have faced entry bans.

These migration changes apply to everyone, regardless of the person's nationality. The expert indicated that once these new changes take effect, the number of those receiving entry bans is expected to increase, as well as a reduction in the number of people traveling to Russia.