Net migration inflow to the Russian Federation was 212 000 in 2017, a 19% decrease compared to the previous year (262 000). The inflow of permanent immigrants amounted to 598 000 (575 000 in 2016). The main countries of origin were Ukraine (150 000), Kazakhstan (72 000), Uzbekistan (64 000), Tajikistan (63 000) and Armenia (47 000). Emigration from the Russian Federation increased significantly to 377 000, compared to 313 000 in 2016. This is even more than in 2015 (353 000) and is mainly driven by labour migrants departing after being unable to renew work permits due to negative economic conditions. The main destination countries were Ukraine (102 000 – a 72% increase since 2016), Uzbekistan (42 000), Kazakhstan (39 000) Armenia (33 000), Tajikistan (29 000), Moldova and Kyrgyzstan (22 000 each).
In 2017, the migration authorities issued 304 000 temporary residence permits (an 8% drop compared to 2016) and 182 000 permanent residence permits (almost the same as in 2016). Most permits of both types were issued to nationals of Ukraine (34%), Kazakhstan and Tajikistan (12% each), and Uzbekistan (11%). At the end of 2017, the stock of residence permit holders reached 1.14 million persons, 2% more than at the end of 2016. Most of the residence permit holders were citizens of Ukraine (346 000 or 30% of the total), Uzbekistan (149 000), Tajikistan (126 000), Armenia (107 000), Azerbaijan or Kazakhstan (around 93 000 each)
Labour migration grew in 2017. Russian authorities issued about 1.8 million permissions to work (a 9% increase compared to 2016). Citizens of visa-requirement states received 148 000 work permits (almost the same as in 2016), with China (35%), the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (22%) and Viet Nam (10%) among the top recipients of these permits. Nationals of visa-free states of the former USSR purchased about 1.7 million licenses (patents), an increase of 11%. About 94% of all patents were issued to workers from three countries: Uzbekistan (976 000 or 58%), Tajikistan (468 000 or 28%) and Ukraine (133 000 or 8%). Citizens of Moldova and Azerbaijan each purchased about 3% of all patents. Recruitment of permit-free foreign workers (as reflected in notifications sent by employers to migration authorities) increased considerably to 626 000, 90% more than 2016. The majority of them (470 000) were citizens of member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (a twofold increase compared to 2016), while the rest were residence-permit holders and some other categories of foreign workers.
The number of international students in tertiary education in Russia continued to grow. At the beginning of the 2017/18 academic year the stock reached 259 000, an increase of 6% compared to 2016. Most enrolled students were from former USSR countries, including Kazakhstan (65 000), Uzbekistan (26 000), Turkmenistan (22 000) and Ukraine (20 000). Students from China formed the largest group among other countries (16 000). The number of newly enrolled foreign students remained nearly the same as in 2016 (86 000).
The stock of refugees in Russia amounted to 592 persons at the end of 2017, while the stock of temporary asylum holders fell to 125 000, from 228 000 in 2016 and 314 000 in 2015. Temporary asylum is the main type of protection Russia provides. Since the beginning of the armed conflict in the South-East regions of Ukraine in 2014, more than 300 000 forced migrants from this country were granted temporary asylum in Russia. After reaching its historical high in 2015 (151 000), the number of applications continued to decrease and in 2017 amounted to 13 000. Inclusion of temporary asylum holders in the State Program for Voluntary Resettlement to the Russian Federation of Compatriots Residing Abroad allowed many asylum seekers to obtain Russian citizenship through a simplified procedure.
Over 254 000 foreigners were naturalized in Russia in 2017, a 4% decrease since 2016. Most of the naturalized persons were citizens of Ukraine (40%), Kazakhstan (15%), Armenia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan (9% each).
There were few changes in the migration policies of the Russian Federation in 2017. The most important change was the amending of the Law on citizenship with respect to the citizens of Ukraine, who are now allowed to apply for Russian citizenship without a confirmed renunciation of their former citizenship. Other minor changes to migration policy were made in the sphere of exit from / entry to the Russian Federation, rules of stay and residence in the country, and bilateral cooperation of Russia with selected countries. Reorganisation of the Federal Migration Service following its integration into the Ministry of Interior (in April 2016) continued in 2017.
