Russian leader signs law tightening immigration rules

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law introducing a new immigration regime for foreign nationals and stateless individuals who are unlawfully present in Russia or who violate Russian laws.

The relevant document has been published on the official legal acts website, Caliber.Az reports citing the Russian media.

 The new regime imposes restrictions on the rights and freedoms of foreigners illegally residing in the country and strengthens federal oversight in the field of migration. The core of the law is the concept of a "deportation regime," which outlines a set of measures applicable to individuals staying in Russia without legal grounds.

The law also reduces the duration of visa-free stays in Russia to 90 days within a year. Previously, foreigners entering the country without a visa could stay for a total of 90 days within each 180-day period.

The Russian Interior Ministry previously reported that from January to July 2024, 404,000 foreign nationals entered Saint Petersburg and the Leningrad region, marking a 27 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2023.