Russia hikes residency and work permit fees for foreign nationals by up to 1,300%
A Russian government commission has approved a Finance Ministry proposal to drastically increase state fees for foreign nationals applying for residency and work documents in Russia. The changes will affect key migration procedures.
Key fee increases:
- Russian citizenship application: The fee will rise from 3,500 to 50,000 rubles—an almost twelvefold increase.
- Permanent residency permit (PRP): The fee will jump from 6,000 to 30,000 rubles—a fivefold hike.
- Work invitation for foreign employees: Russian employers will now pay up to 15,000 rubles per procedure, up from current rates.
Labor market and migration policy experts warn that the move could sharply reduce migration flows, particularly from Central Asian nations like Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, which traditionally supply the largest share of labor migrants to Russia.
Analysts argue that the higher costs will diminish Russia's economic appeal for low-skilled workers but may also affect law-abiding migrants seeking to integrate into Russian society. While the new fees have not yet been formally enacted, the government commission's approval makes their implementation all but certain.
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