The minister also noted that the department's employees could have identified even more violators subject to expulsion; however, additional funding is required for this.
“Unfortunately, to implement your legislative initiatives, we need funding,” Kolokoltsev added.
Previously, foreigners who violated the laws could remain in Russia until they were detained by the police. Some of them used their financial resources and entered into marriages, which allowed them to legalize their status and cancel deportation orders.
With the introduction of the migration expulsion regime on February 5, 2025, the situation changed. Currently, foreigners who commit violations are automatically included in the registry of controlled individuals and are not allowed to manage the funds in their accounts—they are permitted to use only up to 30,000 rubles and money for paying fines. This situation forces them to leave Russia, and in some cases, they cannot return if a decision has been made against them prohibiting entry.
As of early 2026, there were 5.7 million foreign citizens in Russia.
