The Russian government has approved new, stricter quotas for the share of foreign workers in key sectors of the economy for 2026, continuing its policy of tightening migration policy.
(Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1995 dated December 5, 2025, “On establishing the permissible share of foreign workers employed by economic entities engaged in certain types of economic activity in the Russian Federation for 2026”).
The table shows the key changes in certain industries:
Main changes in quotas (2025 → 2026)
| Industry / Type of activity | Permissible share of foreigners (2025) | Permissible share of foreigners (2026) | Changes |
| Construction | 80% | 50% | Significant decrease |
| Vegetable cultivation | 50% | 40% | Decrease |
| Wholesale trade in wood and sawn timber | 50% | 40% | Decrease |
| Retail sale of alcohol and tobacco in specialized stores | 15% | 0% (ban) | Complete ban (except Moscow: no more than 15%) |
The reduction has had the most noticeable impact on the construction industry. Experts note that in the short term, the effect may be limited, as the main labor migrants in this sector—citizens of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan—often work under patents, which are not subject to the established quotas. Nevertheless, in the medium term, the reduction in quotas may exacerbate the labor shortage, especially for unskilled positions, and potentially reduce the interest of foreign workers (e.g., from India) in working in Russia.
Responsibility and regional exceptions
We remind you that companies that violate the established restrictions are subject to a fine of between 800,000 and 1 million rubles or suspension of activities for up to 90 days (Article 18.17 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation).
Special conditions have been established for a number of regions:
– Certain regions are exempt from restrictions on specific types of activity. For example, in 21 regions, including Moscow, the Moscow Region, St. Petersburg, and the Leningrad Region, the 50% restriction on construction does not apply.
– Some regions have set lower quotas for certain types of activity, for example, 30% for construction in Dagestan, 45% in the Lipetsk Region, etc.
The tightening of industry quotas is part of a broader policy to reduce the share of foreign labor in the labor market, which began in 2025. At the same time, employers are advised to bring the number of foreign workers strictly in line with the established restrictions in order to avoid the risk of liability.
Author
Olga Tumasova
- Senior lawyer, labour and migration practice
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