Individuals residing in Russia without the necessary legal documentation will be requested to depart by April 30th or to adjust their legal status accordingly. This directive follows from the decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

It is important to note that in August, the head of state signed a law according to which the migration expulsion regime is to be introduced in Russia from February 5, 2025. This law is intended to apply to foreigners who do not have legal grounds for remaining in the country.

The decree establishes that foreigners and stateless persons in Russia, whose information is subject to inclusion in the register of controlled persons, are obliged to leave the country on their own or regulate their legal status in the Russian Federation from January to April 30, 2025.

It is our understanding that the provisions of the document regarding departure from Russia do not apply to foreign citizens if they have expressed a desire to regulate their legal status in Russia and meet a number of conditions, for example:

• They have either provided their biometric personal data or have been identified by them.
• They have passed a medical examination to determine the presence or absence of the use of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances without a doctor’s prescription, or new potentially dangerous psychoactive substances, infectious diseases that pose a danger to others.
• They have submitted a document confirming their knowledge of the Russian language, history, and legislation of the Russian Federation at the appropriate level.
• Any existing debts on mandatory payments were repaid voluntarily.

The decree will take effect on January 1, 2025.

In light of the incoming Trump administration’s commitment to implement a stringent policy on illegal immigration, it appears that this international “scam” will finally be addressed in a more effective manner.