Foreigners will find it significantly more expensive to obtain documents for living and working in Russia. The day before, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law that sharply increases state fees in the migration sphere. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
The new rules will take effect in a month. The most noticeable change concerns obtaining Russian citizenship. While currently foreigners pay 4,200 rubles (26,200 tenge) for a Russian passport, the amount will soon increase almost 12 times to 50,000 rubles (312,300 tenge).
Other documents will also become more expensive. A temporary residence permit will cost 15,000 rubles (93,700 tenge) instead of 1,920 rubles (about 12,000 tenge), and a residence permit will cost 30,000 rubles (187,400 tenge) instead of the current 6,000 rubles (37,500 tenge).
Visa costs will also rise. The fee for issuing or extending a visa will increase from 1,200 rubles (about 7,500 tenge) to 2,000 rubles (about 12,500 tenge).
The changes will also affect employers hiring foreign specialists. For a permit to employ each migrant, companies will now have to pay 15,000 rubles (about 93,700 tenge) per worker.
At the same time, some foreigners will retain the right to benefits. Former USSR citizens participating in the resettlement program for compatriots, as well as foreigners recognized by Russian authorities as of interest to the country, will be exempt from fees for obtaining citizenship.
The day before, deputies of the "A Just Russia" faction introduced a bill in the State Duma providing for the death penalty for corruption crimes.