A new draft law in Russia is reexamining how long foreigners may stay within the country. The core idea is to cap temporary visits at 90 days within any calendar year, with the plan moving through government bodies that began reviewing it last fall and is now in the final processing stage. The official outline published by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as reported by TASS, describes a single, uniform rule for short term stays that would apply to most foreign nationals on Russian soil, setting a hard ceiling of 90 days.
The draft clarifies that the duration of stay for foreign students and migrant workers who already hold long term residence rights will depend on the basis for those rights. In practice this means the 90 day maximum would apply to those who do not have visa exemptions or other long term permissions, while individuals with established long term status would follow the specific criteria tied to their residency permissions. This creates a distinction between those with immediate short term access and those with a longer, justified presence based on their status in Russia.
Under the current framework, travelers who do not require a visa can stay for up to 90 days in total within any 180 day period. This is calculated as a rolling window that looks at the person’s presence over the previous six months to determine if they have exceeded permissible limits. The proposed changes aim to replace this somewhat fluid approach with a transparent, clearly defined structure that reduces ambiguity for travelers and for the authorities tasked with monitoring compliance. The move is designed to streamline enforcement and make it easier to assess how long a visitor may legally remain in Russia at any given time.
Observers from the Migrants Federation, including the advocate Vadim Kozhenov, have noted that tightening the terms around 90 day stays could shift migration patterns. Proponents argue that a consistent limit could deter irregular employment and reduce unauthorized labor, potentially affecting sectors that rely on temporary foreign labor. Critics caution about the possible impact on education, seasonal work, and other activities that depend on short term foreign presence. The conversation also covers enforcement tools, border controls, and the administrative burden required to verify stay periods across diverse applicant groups. At the same time, the proposal is under review for its broader economic and regional implications, including how foreign workers and students contribute to local projects and institutions. The overall goal appears to be a more predictable, auditable system with clear timelines for permissions and expirations that align with national regulatory aims and international cooperation principles. In addition, discussions consider how the policy would interact with existing international programs and bilateral agreements, ensuring a balanced approach that supports both security and global mobility. The final form of the measure is expected to specify the processes for documenting stays, updating records, and communicating changes to travelers as well as to employers and educational institutions that rely on temporary foreign presence.