Restrictions for microloans are introduced in Russia: new conditions of receipt and repayment are named

New restrictions for microloans are being introduced in Russia, aimed at reducing the debt burden of citizens and increasing market transparency. The law, adopted by the State Duma at the end of 2025, provides for a phased tightening of the rules of microfinance organizations. The first changes will take effect on April 1, 2026. For more information about the new conditions for obtaining and paying off loans, see the Izvestia article.

How will the terms of microloans change?

One of the key innovations will be to reduce the maximum overpayment on short-term loans. From April 2026, it will be limited to 100% of the debt amount instead of the previous 130%. As Alexey Govyrin, a State Duma deputy and member of the Committee on Small and medium-sized enterprises, explained to Izvestia, this means an actual limitation on the total amount of the refund.

Photo: IZVESTIA/Polina Violet

— With a loan of 10 thousand rubles, the total refund, including interest, commissions and fines, cannot exceed 20 thousand rubles. Legally, we are talking about replacing one digit in the law, but the economic effect will be tangible," he said.

In addition, Federal Law No. 545-FZ of December 29, 2025 introduces restrictions on the number of expensive loans. From October 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027, the borrower will not be able to apply for a new loan with a full value of more than 200% per annum if he already has two outstanding loans with a similar or higher rate.

— Verification will be carried out not only for one microfinance institution, but also for all obligations of the borrower, including banks. To do this, the composition of credit history data is expanding," explained Govyrin.

Cooling-off period and prohibition on re-crediting

From April 1, 2027, another restriction will come into effect — the so-called cooling-off period. Microfinance organizations (MFIs) will not be able to issue a new expensive loan immediately after the repayment of the previous one.

Photo: RIA Novosti/Ramil Sitdikov

— A new loan with a full loan value of over 100% per annum cannot be issued earlier than the fourth day after the repayment of the previous one. In fact, a pause is being introduced between loans, which should break the chain of instant re—loans," the deputy noted.

According to him, the need for such measures is confirmed by statistics.

"About 70% of the most expensive loans were converted into new ones, and in more than half of the cases the amount of debt increased," he stressed.

Additionally, the law prohibits the inclusion of old interest, fines and penalties in a new loan, which previously allowed artificially increasing debt.

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How will the law affect the market and borrowers

Galina Sorokina, Director of the Institute of Economics and Finance at the State University of Management, notes that the new measures reflect the current situation in the microcredit market.

— Despite the increase in the number of microloans, the total amount of debt is decreasing. However, the problem of over—crediting remains: according to the Central Bank, 27.8% of borrowers have two or more expensive loans, which is 43.2% of the portfolio of MFIs, she said.

Photo: RIA Novosti/Evgeny Odinokov

According to the expert, restrictions on the number of loans and the introduction of a cooling-off period are aimed at solving this problem.

"These measures will prevent unscrupulous market participants from dragging citizens into a debt spiral and will give borrowers time to make an informed decision," Sorokina explained.

At the same time, she pointed out that the innovations are aimed at increasing market transparency.

"The requirements for the use of official data and the expansion of credit histories will provide a more complete assessment of borrowers' solvency and increase market openness," the expert added.

What will change for business

The law also provides for incentives for entrepreneurs. The maximum amount of a microloan for legal entities and individual entrepreneurs has been increased from 5 million to 15 million rubles.

Photo: IZVESTIA/Yulia Mayorova

— This rule is already in force and is aimed at expanding the opportunities for small and medium—sized businesses to attract financing, - said Alexey Govyrin.

At the same time, experts do not exclude side effects.

— In the context of stricter regulation, part of the market may go into the shadows, which will potentially affect financial security, — said Galina Sorokina.

In general, according to experts, the new law simultaneously limits the growth of debt, makes the microfinance market more transparent and strengthens the protection of borrowers, especially those who are in a difficult financial situation.