Russian Parliament Adopts Law, Permitting Prolongation of Labor Permits for Immigrants without Leaving Russia

The State Duma and the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation approved the Law on Amending the Article 13-3 of the Federal Law on Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation.

According to the law, the foreign citizens, who do not need visa, can apply for renewal of a labor permit repeatedly without leaving Russian territory. Labor migrants can work without permit for up to 90 days before reissuance of a new document.

On 18 April, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin signed a Decree on Regulation of Legal Status of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons in the Russian Federation Due to the Risk of COVID-19. According to the document, from 15 March to 15 June 2020 foreign citizens may stay in Russia without renewing their visa, residence permit and other documents regulating their status in the country, which expire within the stated period.

The adopted decisions were commended by Speaker of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan Tanzila Narbaeva, who had previously addressed Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko with a request to assist the citizens of Uzbekistan in the current situation.