President Vladimir Putin said that the issue of abolishing the patent system for labor migrants in Russia should be considered. He stated this during a meeting with faction leaders in the State Duma.
“We need to think about abolishing the patent system for migrants. I am not ruling anything out,” said Putin. The Russian leader also noted that migration is a sensitive issue for Russians.
“This is a very sensitive issue for citizens, and local authorities should not pretend that there are no problems. These problems exist and they need to be solved, but they are not solved until they are constantly monitored,” he said.
For reference, Russia has a patent system for labor migrants from visa-free countries. This is a work permit that must be obtained within 30 days of entering the country. Foreigners must register at their place of residence, pass a medical examination, demonstrate knowledge of the Russian language, history, and legislation, submit documents to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and pay a state fee to obtain a patent.
