[Exemption from Exams: Major Changes in Russia's Quota Immigration Policy]
On May 31, RBC reported that the Russian government submitted relevant draft laws to the State Duma, planning to exempt foreign citizens working in Russia under the quota system from the Russian language, history, and basic legal exams. This draft involves amending Articles 15-1 and 18 of the "Law on the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation."
The draft states, "Foreign citizens who obtain work permits according to the Russian government's quota regulations are not required to provide proof of Russian language proficiency, knowledge of Russian history, and basic legal knowledge when applying for work permits."
Russia's quota-based immigration policy mainly targets technical talents from visa-required countries. In 2024, approximately 156,000 quota permits were issued, increasing to nearly 235,000 in 2025. The largest quota (74,100) is for "skilled workers in various industrial enterprises," followed by mining and construction (43,100) and equipment operation (29,100), with only 157 in the medical and bioscience fields.
Data from 2024 shows that the completion rate for the quota was 65.1%, mainly from China, India, Turkmenistan, and Turkey. Such immigrants can stay in the area of their workplace for up to one year.
The Russian government believes that the exemption policy will "reduce the time cost of introducing talent, more efficiently meet the economic needs of Russia, especially large-scale investment projects."
In recent times, Russia has strengthened its management of the entry of foreign citizens. On May 30, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs required foreign citizens to declare their itinerary three days before entering the country. Starting June 30, 2025, visa-free entrants need to submit an electronic entry application through the RuID app 72 hours in advance, which can be shortened to four hours in emergencies (such as medical treatment, serious illness or death of relatives) but requires proof documents. This app is similar to the "Government Services" platform, where you can check entry restrictions and customs information.
Starting December 2024, Russia will trial biometric checks (photography and fingerprinting) at airports like Sheremetyevo and land border checkpoints in Orenburg Oblast (except for children under six and Belarusian citizens). Starting June 30, 2025, the pilot program will be expanded.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1833645743720448/
Disclaimer: The article solely represents the author's views.