Lawyer: Foreigners given another chance to regulate their migration status

Foreign citizens have been given an extended deadline to regulate their migration status in the Russian Federation until September 10, Surana Radnaeva, CEO of the legal consulting company Sinoruss, told Sputnik

On April 29, Russian President Vladimir Putin extended until September 10, 2025, the deadline by which foreign citizens must legalize their status of residence in the Russian Federation or leave the country. The previous deadline expired on April 30.

Radnaeva noted that in recent months, migration legislation in Russia has been significantly tightened, and in 2024-2025, at least 13 laws regulating the sphere of migration have entered into force (or will enter into force) in Russia.

"The procedure for settling the status has remained unchanged," she said. In addition, the lawyer reminded that when settling the status, it will be necessary to undergo biometric identification, a medical examination for the presence of dangerous diseases, the use of narcotic substances and psychotropic substances, as well as a check for the presence of debts for the payment of duties, taxes, fees, fines and other mandatory payments.

The lawyer noted that employers should pay attention to the tightening of Russian migration legislation - if their company has an employee with a problematic migration status, the CEO may be held administratively liable, and the company itself may receive a fine of 400 to 500 thousand rubles.

Radnaeva noted that those foreigners who do not have a legal residence status in the Russian Federation are included in the register of controlled persons, which entails restrictions on many rights, such as the registration of organizations and individual entrepreneurs, the acquisition of real estate and vehicles, driving vehicles, refusal to open a bank account, a ban on marriage and a change of residence. Government agencies are also prohibited from providing most services to such persons.

“The goal of the Russian authorities is not to expel foreigners, but simply to restore order in the area of ​​migration, so the deadline for regulating migration status has been extended until September 10,” the expert said.

According to the FSB Border Service of Russia, in 2024, foreigners crossed the Russian border for all purposes of travel 16.7 million times. Work, business, private, educational, tourist trips, as well as permanent residence are taken into account.

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