Decrease in the number of visa labor migrants
According to the latest changes in migration legislation, there will be fewer invited visa migrants in 2019, since the quota for issuing work permits to visa workers for 2021 has been reduced, as we have already written about in this article.
In addition, the quota is distributed by industry. Also, for the first time in 2021, the number of visa foreign workers in the construction industry will be limited; now their number should not exceed 80% of the total number of workers; previously there have never been such restrictions. However, it is worth noting that these restrictions do not apply to Moscow, Khabarovsk Territory and Amur Region.
Visa labor migrants
In 2021, there will be fewer invited labor migrants. This is due to the fact that the quota for issuing work permits to foreign citizens arriving on a visa basis was reduced in 2021. In addition, the quota is distributed among economic sectors.
The number of visa-based foreign workers in the construction industry is also limited: now their number should not exceed 80% of the total number of workers. Previously, such restrictions did not exist. These restrictions will not affect Moscow, Khabarovsk Territory and Amur Region.
Introduction of a ban on taxi driving
Another migration news of 2021 is the law on state regulation of taxi operations, which has already passed the first reading in mid-December; it will probably be finally adopted in the very near future.
This law will regulate the operation of taxis, including the work of foreign drivers and foreign aggregators offering these services. It is expected that for foreigners who do not have citizenship or permission for this type of work, a complete ban on working in a passenger taxi will be introduced.
In addition, it will be necessary to obtain a special permit to work as a taxi driver on a specific vehicle registered in Russia; the permit will be issued for a period of up to 5 years. The foreign citizen will be required to present this permit upon the first request of the passenger or police officer. To obtain this permit, you will also need to have a certain driving experience - at least 5 years.
Working in a taxi
The State Duma is considering a draft law on state regulation of taxi operations. This law has already passed its first reading. Most likely, it will be adopted in the near future. This law will regulate the operation of taxis, including the work of foreign citizens and foreign aggregators.
According to the proposed standards, foreign citizens who do not have Russian citizenship or permission for this type of activity will be prohibited from working in a passenger taxi.
In addition, you will need to obtain permission to work as a taxi driver on a specific vehicle registered in the Russian Federation. The permit will be issued for a period of 5 years. This permit will need to be presented upon request by the passenger or police officer. To obtain this permit, you must have at least 5 years of driving experience.
Introduction of fingerprinting for all visa-free foreign citizens
Another migration change for 2021: it is planned that from July, mandatory photographing and fingerprinting of all foreign citizens who arrived in the Russian Federation on a visa-free basis and entering data into a unified migration database will be introduced.
Today, the law provides that visa-free foreign citizens, when entering the country within a certain period of time, are required to register for migration, notifying the Ministry of Internal Affairs of their place of stay. So, it is planned that from July 2021, when submitting a notification, foreign citizens will undergo mandatory fingerprinting and photography.
Let us remind you that today fingerprinting is mandatory for foreign citizens when applying for Russian citizenship, temporary residence permits, work patents and work permits; it is also required for persons who arrived in the Russian Federation in search of asylum. It is also possible that fingerprinting will be carried out both at the border and directly on the territory of the Russian Federation after the foreigner has entered the country.
Changes in migration policy
The current President of the Russian Federation has adopted the Concept of Migration Policy, which will be in force from 2021 to 2025. Thanks to the implementation of this document, the current President of the Russian Federation is vested with the authority to consider the situation of citizens counting on obtaining citizenship in a simplified manner.
In accordance with the new Concept, norms are beginning to apply on the territory of the Russian Federation, according to which people who take part in a state program that assists compatriots with the purpose of relocating to the territory of the Russian Federation can become citizens of the country.
In accordance with the Concept of Migration Policy, citizens who previously lived on the territory of Ukraine and plan to become citizens of Russia may not complete the procedure in writing to renounce the citizenship of the country in which they previously lived.
Obtaining citizenship in a simplified manner
Another good news in the field of migration: changes to the law “On Citizenship” are expected to come into force in July 2019.
These amendments will provide for simplified receipt of Russian passports by able-bodied parents of Russian citizens. In addition, the president is also awaiting signing bill No. 527255-7 on amendments to the law “On Citizenship of the Russian Federation,” which will introduce many changes to the procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship, if adopted.
At the moment, other categories of foreign citizens can also obtain Russian citizenship in a simplified manner; you will find details about this in this article.
The list of professions of foreigners who can obtain Russian citizenship in a simplified manner has been expanded
What is new in migration legislation in 2021 is, in particular, the list of professions of qualified specialists that came into force at the beginning of the year, which allow one to obtain Russian citizenship in a simplified manner.
If earlier there were 74 professions on the list, now there are 135 professions of qualified specialists. Among the new and desirable ones in the Russian Federation are a psychiatrist, a pediatrician and a therapist, as well as fish farmers and tractor drivers.
The changes were approved by order of the Ministry of Labor of the Russian Federation dated November 25, 2019 No. 734n. The document came into force on February 29, 2020. At the same time, the previous list of professions, approved. by order of July 13, 2015 No. 446n.
For a complete list of professions for which you can obtain citizenship in an accelerated manner, read in the Consultant Plus system. Free access for 2 days will allow you to get into the system and explore all its capabilities - connect.
Indefinite residence permit
And of course, the migration news of 2021 cannot ignore the fact that they want to make the residence permit indefinite in 2021.
It is planned that the corresponding bill on the introduction of an indefinite residence permit in Russia should come into force in September 2021. Let us recall that until 2002, a residence permit in the Russian Federation was unlimited, but since 2002, a residence permit began to be issued for 5 years. After 5 years it must be re-registered. This bill regulates the issuance of residence permits to foreigners without a limitation on the validity period, however, in some categories of migrants, residence permits will still be issued for a specific period, for example, to HQS and their family members, etc.
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Resident card
It is planned to make the residence permit indefinite. According to the plan, the bill providing for this innovation will come into force in September 2019.
Let us remember that the residence permit in Russia was unlimited until 2002. In 2002, the rules changed, and residence permits began to be issued for a period of 5 years. After the expiration of the 5-year period, this document must be reissued. The bill provides for the issuance of residence permits to foreign citizens without limitation of validity. However, for some categories of foreign citizens, a residence permit will still be issued for a specific period. For example, highly qualified specialists and their family members.
US special envoy will find a reason to bury Nord Stream 2
“The conflict between the muftis of Moscow and Kazan is caused by the fact that the Moscow Muslim leader Ravil Gainutdin is losing his influence in the country,” Islamic scholar Roman Silantiev told the VZGLYAD newspaper. Earlier, the head of the Council of Muftis of Russia, Gainutdin, accused the Tatarstan mufti Kamil Samigullin of “sectarianism.”
“Ravil Gainutdin is sometimes called in the press the leader not only of Muslim Tatars, but of all Russian Muslims in general. But in fact, Islamic organizations do not recognize him in this status. The spiritual administration of Tatarstan, for example, does not submit to him. The scandal simply confirms this discrepancy: Samigullin did not express any desire to obey Gainutdin, like his predecessors,” explained Roman Silantiev, candidate of historical sciences.
“Samigullin pursues an independent policy, publishes books that he considers correct, since he is educated in Islam at a high level, no worse than Gainudtin,” the interlocutor emphasized. The background of the conflict, in his opinion, is not related to theology, but to the banal distribution of budget funds.
“Gainudtin believed that it was his Muslim Spiritual Directorate that should have received money for the all-Russian celebration of the 1100th anniversary of the adoption of Islam by Volga Bulgaria, scheduled for next year, which he allegedly “pushed” through the government. But the money was sent immediately to Kazan, so to speak, to the place of celebration,” Silantiev said. “It became clear: although Tatarstan is Gainutdin’s homeland, he has lost access to this resource.”
As for Samigullin, who responded by declaring a desire for reconciliation, on his part this is simply a normal polite act of a Muslim believer, but not without hidden irony. “In this conflict, Samigullin actually won because the majority of Muslims supported him. They did not accept accusations of “sectarianism,” the interlocutor believes.
“Muslim communities are gradually running away from Gainutdin, since there is little point in remaining in his structure. Things are going to the point that he will simply remain the rector of one, albeit large, mosque in Moscow,” Silantiev believes.
At the same time, the split between the communities of Moscow and Kazan is unlikely to become a reason for the start of some kind of “unification” of Muslims in Russia into a single “vertical” organization, Silantiev is sure. “No one needs this: everyone feels great the way they are. Why should Samigullin obey anyone if he is a completely self-sufficient figure? Once upon a time, it was “technically” more convenient for the state to work with one mufti, and then a certain impulse towards centralization arose. But now we have learned to work with ten different muftis - this is quite normal. The authorities are ready to help small independent communities, for example, the Muftiate of Crimea, which no one is forcing into any organization,” Silantiev explained.
Let us recall that on Thursday the head of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SDM) of Russia, Mufti Ravil Gainutdin, made a public appeal to the President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, in which he reproached the chairman of the SDM of the republic, Mufti Kamil Samigullin.
According to the Moscow mufti, his Kazan colleague is spreading the teachings of the “marginal Turkish sect Ismail Agha.” In his letter, Gainutdin accuses Samigullin of publishing an interpretation of the Koran with a “doctrinal error” and calls for “preventing the erosion and weakening of the spiritual space of the republic.”
Samigullin responded by calling Gainutdin’s statements slander. According to him, the preparation of tafsir (interpretation of the Koran) for release in Kazan was carried out publicly, including with the participation of representatives of the Muslim Spiritual Board of Russia. There were no comments from them, noted the Mufti of Tatarstan. Samigullin accused his Moscow colleague of trying to “privatize” the right to broadcast from all Muslims in the Russian Federation, Tatar-inform news agency reports.
At the same time, Samigullin added that he was ready to resolve the dispute with the chairman of the Russian Muslim Spiritual Directorate amicably. According to him, he “would like to enter the month of Ramadan with goodness and goodness, and not as a participant in a dispute between two brothers in faith.” Let us remind you: according to the Muslim calendar, the festive month of Ramadan begins this coming Tuesday.
Simplified acquisition of Russian citizenship
In connection with recent international events, the Government of the Russian Federation decided to develop a project to introduce relaxations in the procedure for obtaining citizenship for certain categories of citizens. Their detailed list and the conditions necessary to receive additional benefits are defined in the relevant Federal Law of Russia. Let us note that the only requirement for these persons is compliance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation. The new draft was adopted in the last reading and came into force at the end of March 2021.
One of the new provisions was the expansion of the powers of the President of the Russian Federation. He received the right to determine which foreign citizens can apply for simplified citizenship on an individual basis. Those citizens who find themselves in the midst of armed conflicts and changes in the political regime can claim a positive decision from the head of state. Naturally, they are forced to leave their country and do not have the opportunity to apply for Russian citizenship at the place of registration (primarily, this applies to those who left the territory of Ukraine).
