On May 6, 2026, the Chairman of the State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, announced that lawmakers are considering a draft law that could change the rules for foreign citizens holding a residence permit (VNZh) or a temporary residence permit (RVP).
According to Volodin, a proposal is being discussed under which a residence permit or temporary residence permit could be canceled if a foreign citizen works for less than 10 months per year. At this stage, it is only a draft law. At the time of publication, the new rules had not yet entered into force.
According to data from the State Duma, more than 8,000 residence permits were canceled during the first quarter of 2026. The number of issued RVPs and residence permits also decreased compared to the same period of the previous year.
The authorities link this trend to stricter enforcement of migration legislation. It is worth noting that since January 2025, additional grounds for refusing or canceling RVPs and residence permits have already been in effect if the documents were obtained through a sham marriage or a fictitious establishment of paternity.
If the new draft law is adopted, special attention may be paid to official employment and documented income of foreign citizens. Therefore, those who already hold an RVP or residence permit should carefully monitor their migration status, maintain official employment, and ensure that all required documents are completed on time.
