The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs noted that if there were sufficient funding, even more violators subject to deportation could be identified.
“Unfortunately, to implement your legislative initiatives, we need funding,” the minister added.
It is worth noting that previously, foreigners could stay in Russia as long as they were not detained by the police, even if they violated laws. Some of them used funds from their accounts or entered into marriage to legalize their status and overturn the Ministry of Internal Affairs' decisions on deportation.
With the introduction of the expulsion migration regime, which came into effect on February 5, 2025, the situation changed. Now, foreigners who violate the law are placed on a registry of controlled individuals, and they are prohibited from managing their finances—they can only use up to 30,000 rubles and funds to pay fines. This circumstance forces them to leave the country, and in some cases, they cannot return due to a decision banning their entry.
As of early 2026, there were 5.7 million foreign citizens in Russia.
