Today, Moscow has lost its status as the only center of attraction for labor migrants from CIS countries. Difficulties such as long queues at migration centers, high housing prices, and intense competition for jobs are prompting many to seek more advantageous alternatives. In this regard, the question arises: where in Russia is it currently easier, safer, and more profitable for foreigners to work?
The answer to this question often lies outside the capital region. For example, starting January 1, 2026, the cost of a work patent in the Republic of Tatarstan will be around $100, which is 30% lower than in Moscow and the surrounding area.
Russian regions, focusing on the assistance and adaptation of migrants, offer clear rules, simplifying the process of attracting specialists from Kyrgyzstan, who come not only for earnings but also for the opportunity to build a stable future.
CHANGES IN RUSSIA
Creating a transparent labor migration system is crucial not only for security and tax revenues but also for forming a sustainable social environment. Understanding who works where helps create safer working conditions for foreigners.
However, many bloggers and media outlets often present Russia's migration policy in a negative light. Yet, the logic of the ongoing changes suggests otherwise: this is not the closing of the country, but rather the establishment of order and the creation of legal conditions for work.
In recent years, mechanisms for migration amnesty and official employment programs have been introduced, forming a clear message: it is possible to work legally and safely in Russia with the available tools.
Migration amnesty has already helped many foreigners restore their legal status. The state does not seek to rid itself of labor resources; on the contrary, it wants to streamline the system and provide a chance for those willing to work within the law. Mechanisms are being created to rectify status and avoid deportation for those wishing to live and work legally.
Updates to the rules are an attempt to move the labor migration sphere out of the "gray zone." Digital registries, employer checks, and increased accountability should make the system more transparent and predictable. In the long term, these changes aim to create a fairer model.
Opportunities in the Regions and for Girls from Kyrgyzstan
Discussions about migration difficulties often focus on Moscow and the surrounding area. This is quite understandable, as it is where the main flow of labor migrants heads, leading to high competition for jobs, overloaded migration centers, and high housing prices.
However, in other regions of Russia, such as the Republic of Tatarstan, the situation looks different. Here, migration processes are more manageable, and the interaction between business, authorities, and foreign workers is more structured. The possibility of transitioning from chaotic migration to organized and legal forms of employment is becoming a reality.
Every year, the Government and the Ministry of Labor of Russia set quotas for the employment of foreign employees, which are then distributed across regions. The majority of Tatarstan's quotas are intended for large companies and factories, such as the Special Economic Zone "Alabuga" and PJSC "KAMAZ".
The organization of migration processes varies significantly across regions. In the Moscow region, there is only one large migration center in Sakharovo, where the main flow of foreigners arrives. This creates long queues and extended waiting times for document submission.
In Tatarstan, the situation is much more comfortable. Most labor migrants are distributed among several large cities, where there are no issues with queues and waiting times. Today, the Republic of Tatarstan is becoming one of the most attractive regions in Russia for labor migration due to its developed infrastructure, active economic growth, and systematic approach to attracting personnel.
The region not only accepts migrants but also creates conditions for their adaptation and professional growth. In this regard, the "Alabuga Start" program has been launched within the framework of the special economic zone "Alabuga".
The program offers girls from Kyrgyzstan aged 16 to 22 the opportunity to build a career under legal employment conditions in Russia, with social guarantees and development prospects.
This approach, where a migrant arrives with a predetermined professional trajectory, fundamentally changes the nature of migration. Instead of uncertainty and lack of guarantees, there are transparent rules, legal status, and a clear plan.
CAREER PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH FROM THE CIS
The "Alabuga Start" program is exclusively aimed at girls, while for men in Tatarstan, there is the "Alabuga Polytech" program aimed at training specialists in technical and engineering fields for regional enterprises.
The educational center offers relevant fields, including industrial robotics, web development, and biotechnology. Training is conducted under a dual system, where theory is immediately supported by practice. Program participants can officially be employed from the first year, providing them not only with a professional foundation but also the opportunity to earn throughout their studies.
For young people considering moving to Russia not just for temporary earnings but as a chance to obtain a promising specialty and lay the groundwork for a long-term career, this format is particularly relevant.
In the context of tightening and transparency of labor migration rules in Russia, an important factor for foreign workers becomes not only the level of earnings but also the environment itself: the availability of legalization, employer attitudes, and the ability to plan for the future.
The experience of the regions confirms that it is the systematic approach, rather than a spontaneous labor market, that creates new points of attraction for migrants from the CIS, making the employment process clear and beneficial for all parties.
