The number of foreign residents in Russia has dropped to 5.7 million this month, which represents a 10% decrease compared to January 2025, largely due to a series of new migration regulations, as reported by the business newspaper Vedomosti on Thursday.

This current figure indicates a fall from 6.3 million foreigners the previous year, based on data shared by Alexander Perezhogin, who heads the analytics unit of the Interior Ministry’s migration service.

Perezhogin noted that a significant factor contributing to this decline is the 25% reduction in the population of foreign children in Russia. This is a direct result of new policies implemented last year, which require these children to pass a Russian-language examination and provide proof of legal residency to enroll in schools.

Irina Volk, the spokesperson for the Interior Ministry, cautioned this week that noncompliance with these regulations could lead to deportation for foreign nationals.

Additionally, a new law that came into force on Wednesday enables educational authorities to directly share information about foreign children with the Interior Ministry, thereby tightening government control over migrant families.

Another important reason for the decrease was the establishment of a “controlled persons registry” introduced last year, according to Anna Minushkina, the head of Minushkina & Partners law firm.

This registry contains the names of foreigners who may face deportation and enforces strict limitations, such as prohibiting driving, marrying, traveling within the country, opening bank accounts, or spending over 30,000 rubles ($394) monthly, effectively hindering the ability to send money abroad.

Anti-immigrant sentiment has increased following the mass shooting at Moscow’s Crocus City Hall in March 2024, for which several suspects from Central Asia were apprehended.

In 2024, Russia deported over 80,000 foreigners, nearly double the 44,200 deportations that occurred in 2023.