Putin considers ending Russia’s work permit system for migrants

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signalled that the country could consider abolishing the patent system that regulates migrant employment.

Speaking at a meeting with leaders of parliamentary factions, Putin responded to a proposal from Sergey Mironov, head of the "A Just Russia – For Truth" party, who suggested scrapping the system, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

“Abolishing the patent system for migrants—we should think about it. It is widely used. I do not rule anything out. I will ask you to work on this together with your colleagues,” the president said.

Putin also urged both federal and regional authorities not to overlook migration-related challenges and to openly acknowledge them. He stressed that while many measures in this field had already been introduced, their proper implementation was now essential. At the same time, he underlined the need to resolve migration issues, calling them a matter of public sensitivity.

His comments followed recent remarks from Russian Economic Development Minister Maksim Reshetnikov. On September 17, Reshetnikov said Russia would not depend on migrant labour in the long run, even in the face of a workforce shortage.

According to him, migration is now viewed as a temporary tool, while the country’s labour market must prioritise productivity growth. He highlighted the potential of the platform economy to boost efficiency and noted that a separate project had been developed in support of this sector.

Earlier this year, on March 20, Putin signed a decree allowing migrants to work in Russia without a permit if they meet certain requirements. These include mandatory fingerprinting, medical examinations for drug use, and screening for dangerous infectious diseases.

The Ministry of Labour had previously put forward its own reform proposals, which included restricting the free entry of foreign nationals into Russia and changing the existing patent system. One of the suggested measures would require that, if a migrant worker is dismissed, all expenses associated with their employment — such as medical checks and training — be reimbursed.

Under current rules, a labour patent is an official document that grants citizens of certain countries, who enter Russia without a visa, the right to work legally. The system is designed both to regulate labour migration and to safeguard the rights of foreign workers employed in Russia.

By Tamilla Hasanova