Russia deported 120,000 foreign nationals in the first nine months of 2026, nearly double the figure for the same period last year, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev said on 10 November during a session of the Federation Council, according to Kommersant. The minister attributed the increase to tighter migration controls and stricter enforcement of residence and entry rules.
Key Takeaways: Crimes committed by foreign citizens in Russia fell by 40% year on year in January–September 2026 to about 20,000 cases. Entry bans of three to 10 years were imposed on nearly 290,000 foreigners, almost twice as many as a year earlier. The register of controlled persons contains 820,000 foreign nationals, including 120,000 minors.
The figures reflect a broader tightening of Russia’s migration policy over recent years, with authorities expanding document checks, biometric controls and measures against illegal employment and fraudulent residence applications. Russia received about 7 million foreign arrivals in the nine-month period, 10% fewer than a year earlier, while 6 million migrants were in the country as of 1 October. The data suggest that migration flows remain large but are increasingly subject to administrative pressure and surveillance.
According to Kolokoltsev, about 670,000 foreigners hold a residence permit or temporary residence permit in Russia. At the same time, the number of cancelled residence permits rose fivefold in 2026 compared with last year, while cancellations of temporary residence permits increased 18-fold. The minister linked the trend in part to the exposure of sham marriages concluded to obtain documents granting the right to reside in Russia.
The Interior Ministry’s register of controlled persons has become a central tool in the tightened system. It lists 820,000 foreign citizens, including 120,000 minors, and is intended to combine data on entry bans, permitted stay and violations. Officials say the register helps enforce migration rules more consistently, although its expansion raises questions about legal procedures, data accuracy and the treatment of affected individuals.
The Federation Council discussion is likely to feed into further legislative and enforcement changes. Russian authorities are expected to continue tightening entry and residence requirements, expand checks when issuing permits and increase pressure on sham marriages and migration violations. The Interior Ministry is also expected to present updated statistics and proposals for adjusting migration policy in the coming months.
Source: kun.uz