In the Leningrad region after St. Petersburg prepared labor bans for migrants

In the Leningrad region prepared a draft resolution on the ban on the involvement of foreign workers with patents in certain types of activities in 2027. Taxi services and catering enterprises may be subject to restrictions. The relevant document was prepared on behalf of Governor Alexander Drozdenko.

According to the project, migrants with patents are planning to be banned from working in passenger taxis and rented cars with a driver. In addition, restrictions may affect catering enterprises that prepare meals for state and municipal institutions or directly on their territory.

Employers are offered three months from the date of entry into force of the decree to bring the number of foreign employees in accordance with the new requirements. The document is still at the project stage.

In the Leningrad region, a ban on attracting migrants with patents to work in taxis was first established in August 2024. St. Petersburg introduced similar restrictions a year later, in July 2025, and in December extended their effect for the whole of 2026.

Recently, St. Petersburg has expanded the list of areas in which it is forbidden to attract migrants with patents. In addition to taxis and courier services, restrictions were extended to the grocery trade, the beauty industry, sports and health services and certain medical areas.

Earlier, MK in St. Petersburg detailed how new restrictions for migrants will change the labor market in St. Petersburg. Lawyer Kyrlan Marchel explained that the ban will affect only foreigners working on patents. At the same time, simply replacing a patent with a work permit or renaming a position will not help to circumvent the restrictions. Violators face fines and possible expulsion from Russia, and employers face penalties of up to a million rubles or suspension of activities for up to 90 days. In order to retain their jobs, migrants will have to seek vacancies in permitted areas, consider moving to another region or change their migration status if there are legal grounds.