Nearly half a million migrants from Tajikistan have entered Russia for work

In the first half of 2026, about 494,500 citizens of Tajikistan entered Russia for work.

The Russian news agency TASS reported on October 26, citing data obtained by the editorial office, that 494,518 citizens of Tajikistan entered Russia for the purpose of earning a living.

In this regard, Tajikistan ranks second after Uzbekistan. During the same period, more than 1,178,000 people entered from Uzbekistan.

Additionally, 289,000 entered from Kyrgyzstan, 122,700 from Kazakhstan, and 89,600 from China. The top ten also included Armenia, Azerbaijan, India, Turkmenistan, and Turkey.

TASS reports that citizens of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan must obtain a work patent to engage in labor activities in Russia. Citizens of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Armenia are exempt from this procedure.

According to experts, although Tajikistan ranks second in the rating, the number of Tajik citizens entering Russia has been declining in recent years.

Earlier, on August 16, TASS, citing data from the Russian border service published by “Vedomosti,” reported that the entry of Tajik citizens into Russia for work purposes decreased by almost 18% in the first half of the year.

It is important to note that these figures only account for those who entered Russia for work. Individuals who arrived for trade, study, or other reasons are not included.