Russia Seeks to Limit Migrant Numbers

In Russia, proposals have been put forward to further tighten migration policy and reduce the number of foreign nationals in the country to three million. Alexander Lugovoy, a representative of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) and First Deputy Head of the State Duma Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption, stated that family members of labor migrants should not be permitted to enter and reside in Russia if they are not employed or studying in the country themselves.

“If you entered to work, then work. If you entered to study, then study,” Lugovoy said.

He also proposed temporarily limiting the number of foreign citizens in Russia. According to the parliamentarian, by the end of 2027, the number of migrants should be reduced to no more than 5 million; by the end of 2028, this figure should be lowered to 4 million; and by the end of 2030, to 3 million people.

According to the LDPR representative, approximately 5.7 million foreign citizens resided and worked in Russia as of the end of 2025.

Lugovoy also put forward other proposals concerning the labor market. He suggested limiting the share of foreign migrants to 10% in the construction sector, trade, transport, agriculture, and other industries where a large number of labor migrants are observed. In his opinion, foreign citizens who entered Russia illegally, violate laws, or whose period of stay in the country has expired, should be expelled from Russia.

Additionally, LDPR leader Leonid Slutsky, in his speech, proposed introducing a strict visa regime for labor migrants. According to this proposal, the entry visa for foreign citizens should be tied to an employment contract, and the employer must provide them with housing, medical services, tax payments on their behalf, and ensure the worker’s departure from Russia upon completion of the employment period.

Deputies also proposed not issuing visas to family members of low-skilled labor migrants. The party further suggests ceasing the issuance of Russian citizenship to foreign migrants.

It is important to note that these proposals are currently only initiatives by LDPR deputies and have not yet been adopted as law.

These proposals are being put forward against the backdrop of Russian President Vladimir Putin having previously signed a package of bills significantly tightening the rules for foreign citizens’ stay in the country.

As experts note, the country’s economy is currently highly dependent on the labor force of migrant workers, particularly in the construction sector, housing and communal services, agriculture, and logistics. At the same time, Russian employers have repeatedly warned that numerous restrictions could lead to a shortage of labor in the market.

Experts also point out that parliamentary elections will be held in Russia this year, and for this reason, smaller parties are using anti-migrant and xenophobic statements to increase their number of mandates amid rising xenophobic sentiments in society. Promoting initiatives aimed at tightening migrant rights is viewed by them as a way to attract the largest number of voters.