According to data presented by Alexander Perezhogin, head of the analytical department of the migration service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which is cited by the publication "Vedomosti," the main factor for this reduction was a sharp decrease in the number of minor migrants, which amounted to almost 25%. In 2025, a ban on the enrollment of migrant children in Russian schools without testing for knowledge of the Russian language came into effect. Irina Volk, the official representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, emphasized that families of foreigners who do not provide their children with the opportunity to receive basic general education may face the risk of losing their right to stay in the country.
Experts interviewed by the publication also note that the tightening of migration legislation could have influenced the decrease in the number of foreigners. Now, migrants who violate laws are entered into a registry of controlled individuals, which imposes numerous restrictions on them, including a ban on marriage, the use of bank accounts, and enrolling children in educational institutions.
Since 2025, the conditions for foreigners entering Russia without a visa have also changed: their stay in the country is now limited to no more than 90 days within a calendar year. Previously, the 90/180 rule was in effect, allowing individuals to stay in the country for about three months within a six-month period, which experts also take into account.
The tightening of migration policy by Russian authorities began after the terrorist attack at "Crocus City Hall" in March 2024. In addition to the registry of controlled individuals and mandatory language testing for foreign children, Russians have also restricted the simplified process for obtaining residency permits for foreign spouses of Russian citizens.
