The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has reportedly proposed exempting foreign citizens employed in advanced development territories (ADT), including the Far East and the Arctic, from mandatory testing in the Russian language, Russian history, and the fundamentals of legislation. The corresponding draft law was published on the portal for drafting regulatory legal acts, raising questions about potential shifts in migration policy.

Under current regulations, foreign nationals are typically required to pass exams confirming their knowledge of the language and history to obtain a work permit. However, the ministry now intends to extend existing exceptions to employees of enterprises holding ADT resident status. According to the Ministry of Economic Development, such zones are established in single-industry towns, closed administrative-territorial entities, and northern regions, comprising numerous active areas.

Authorities claim that this purported measure is designed to simplify investment attraction and accelerate the socio-economic development of these remote regions, though the effectiveness remains questionable. Mandatory exams for foreigners seeking legal status in Russia have been in place since 2015, featuring three levels of difficulty depending on whether applicants are securing a work patent, temporary residence permit, or permanent residency.

Source: kun.uz