Russia tightens migration control: digital monitoring for foreigners!

Russia tightens migration control: digital monitoring for foreigners!

Wladimir, Russland - Russia has taken a number of new measures in recent months to cope with the challenges related to immigration. This includes stricter laws, language tests for migrants and extensive digital surveillance. These developments were detailed by the of course magazine

A significant study by the Russian Center for Analysis of Migration Movements published in March 2025 indicates that migrants in Russia commit crimes twice to three times more than they become victims. Especially in urban areas, the number of crimes committed by illegal migrants almost tripled in 2024. The Russian authorities have caused these developments to significantly tighten migration policy, including the introduction of a "register controlled persons" for illegal foreigners since February 5, 2025.

digital control and language tests

From April 2025, foreign children are obliged to pass a Russian test to go to school. However, only about 23,000 out of 200,000 immigrant school children meet the requirements. The law also provides for industry -specific work bans for migrants. This regulation applies in 35 regions and denies migrants access to jobs in numerous areas, including gastronomy and education.

Another essential element of new migration policy is digital surveillance. From September 2025, a pilot project for monitoring migrants is expected in Moscow by a special app that follows its location in real time. This app will also collect personal data such as fingerprints and photos. The planning stipulates that all immigrants install the app in order to be able to live and work in Russia, which is criticized by the NGO Roskomsvoboda on the basis of data protection concerns, such as tkp describes.

challenges of immigration

Russia currently has a immigrant population of over 11 million people, with most migrants from the Post Soviet region, including mainly from Ukraine, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan. The continuing conflict in Ukraine has led to a continuing refugee crisis and could also have long -term effects on the country's migration policy, reports the Federal Center for Political Education .

Russian migration policy is strongly shaped by a safety narrative that perceives immigration as a potential threat. At the same time, Russia is economically dependent on immigration due to a significant demographic decline and a low birth rate. In this area of ​​tension, the new restrictions seem to act both as a reaction to security concerns as well as to control and regulate the immigrant population.