Migrants in Moscow to Be Under Strict Surveillance

The State Duma of the Russian Federation has adopted a law in its final reading that sets up a pilot project for the registration of migrants in Moscow and the Moscow region from September 1, 2025, to September 1, 2029.

This new legislation will gather information about the whereabouts of foreign citizens through a mobile application. According to the law, foreign citizens will provide consent for the processing of personal data, including information from mobile devices and geographic location. They will send messages about their actual location to the territorial body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs via this mobile application.

As a result, new requirements are being established for foreign citizens regarding mandatory registration at their place of residence, fingerprinting, biometric photo capture, and monitoring the geographic location of subscription devices. These innovations will not apply only to diplomats and citizens of Belarus.

Participants in the pilot project will include foreigners who enter Russia without a visa, including those who, according to federal laws or international treaties (with the exception of Belarusian citizens), are working with a permit, are entitled to work without a permit, have changed the purpose of their visit in the area of the pilot program, as well as those who are staying in the region for more than 90 days for non-working activities.

If participating foreigners change their actual place of residence, they are obliged to inform the Ministry of Internal Affairs within three business days. Exceptions will be made for those (including certain individuals without a specific residence) staying in hotels, resorts, guest houses, dormitories, tourist bases, camps, medical, and social service institutions, as well as in institutions serving criminal or administrative penalties.