Putin obliged illegal migrants to leave Russia or regularize their status by April 30

Migrants staying on Russian territory illegally will have until April 30 to leave the country on their own or settle their legal status. The corresponding decree was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 30.

"Foreign citizens and stateless persons staying in the Russian Federation, <...> information about which is to be included in the register of controlled persons, are obliged to leave the Russian Federation on their own or settle their legal status from January 1 to April 30, 2025," the document published on the official Internet portal of legal information says.

It follows from the decree that the provisions that relate to the verification of the location of foreigners in the register will begin to work from February 5, 2025, after they come into legal force.

Caught in line: migrants may be banned from changing jobs

Why such a measure was needed and whether it will work in practice

Earlier, on December 28, the Russian leader signed a law prohibiting enrollment in Russian schools of children of migrants who do not know Russian. According to the law, children of migrants can be enrolled in Russian schools for primary, basic and secondary education only after successful free testing in the Russian language, which will confirm their ability to master the school program.

Prior to that, on December 9, Putin said that a concept of migration security and recommendations on improving legislation to combat illegal migration had been prepared in time. He pointed out that all measures in migration issues should be taken in such a way that both people moving for work from one country to another and the population of these states feel calm and confident.