Patent in Russia will become more expensive again

Authorities in several regions of Russia have reported an increase in the cost of work patents for foreigners in 2026. This decision could directly affect hundreds of thousands of Tajik migrants working in Russia.

According to media reports, the authorities of the Novosibirsk region are considering a bill that sets the cost of a patent for labor migrants planning to work in the Novosibirsk region in 2026 at 10,680 rubles. Compared to 2025, it will increase by 2,954 rubles, or 11%. According to the authorities, 37% of the 58,000 foreigners working under a patent in the region are from Tajikistan.

In St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region, starting January 1, 2026, the cost of a work patent will rise from 6,000 to 8,000 rubles. In the Irkutsk region, migrants will pay not 10,900, but 12,231 rubles.

In the Kamchatka region, the price of a patent will increase from 9,027 to 13,776 rubles, while in the Sverdlovsk region it will rise from 7,500 to 9,500 rubles.

Tajik migrants, most of whom work in Russia based on a patent, claim that the increase in patent costs creates a serious burden on their family budget. Working without a patent in Russia is illegal, and every year hundreds of migrants are deported for this reason.

In September 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated at a meeting with State Duma deputies that it is necessary to consider abolishing the patent system for labor migrants in Russia.

Experts believe that the increase in the cost of work patents may push many migrants to return to their homeland or seek other earning options.