Russia has announced a major shift in its migration policy for 2026 to 2030, placing national security at the centre of its approach rather than using foreign migration to help address demographic challenges. The revised policy framework, signed by President Vladimir Putin in October, reflects what officials describe as new security realities and emerging risks.
In an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Russian Security Council Deputy Secretary Alexander Grebenkin said the updated concept marks a significant change in how the government views migration. Foreign workers and residents will now be regarded primarily as an additional resource to support specific economic needs, not as long-term contributors to population growth or labour shortages. Grebenkin stressed that migration will no longer serve as a strategic demographic tool.
Under the new rules, most foreign nationals will find it more difficult to obtain long term or permanent residency in Russia unless they can demonstrate clear grounds for staying. Once their authorized period of stay expires, they will be required to leave the country. Restrictions will also apply to family members of migrants who are neither working nor studying, tightening eligibility for residency extensions.
Officials say the changes are partly aimed at preventing the formation of isolated ethnic enclaves and reducing pressure on regional social services. Grebenkin said authorities are concerned about the potential for foreign communities to become disconnected from wider society, which could generate social tensions. He also warned that Russia faces increased security threats from what he described as unfriendly states and radical groups that may try to exploit migration flows to undermine stability.
Russia has substantially expanded state oversight of migration in recent years. A key reform introduced in 2025 limits visa free stays to 90 days per year, with stricter tracking of overstays. Interior Ministry forces have been given wider powers to identify, detain and expel migrants who violate entry rules. Border management systems and surveillance tools have also been upgraded to monitor migration more closely.
Grebenkin said these measures have already produced results, noting that the number of illegal migrants in Russia has dropped by more than threefold in the past two and a half years. During that period, authorities issued over 7.2 million administrative protocols for violations of migration regulations. Deportation orders and entry bans increased by nearly one third, reflecting the government’s tightened enforcement efforts.
He added that the new policy represents a broader systemic shift in how Russia manages its borders and population flows. The focus will remain on national security, public order, and maintaining fully controlled migration processes. Grebenkin said the government intends to continue strengthening oversight mechanisms to ensure that migration supports Russia’s economic needs while minimizing potential risks.
The updated policy is expected to influence Russia’s relationships with labour sending countries and could reshape migrant labour patterns, particularly in construction, agriculture and service sectors where foreign workers are most common. Analysts say the shift signals the government’s intent to maintain tighter control over both the scale and composition of migration in the years ahead.
