As of October 25, 2026, foreign workers in 2027 are included in the city forecast as a significant workforce resource for St. Petersburg: 236,000 people are expected by 2029. For employers, this is a planning benchmark, not a new hiring requirement.
St. Petersburg Forecast Provides for 236,000 Foreign Workers by 2029
According to the statement on the forecast for the socio-economic development of St. Petersburg for 2027–2029, a city planning document, the city expects the number of foreign workers to grow from an estimated 230,000 people in 2026 to 236,000 by 2029. The forecast was prepared by the city committee responsible for economic policy and social development.
The 2029 figure describes the expected number of foreign workers in the city, not the number of workers an individual company must hire. For managers and HR departments, it is a benchmark: according to the city's estimate, foreign personnel will retain a significant role in meeting workforce needs.
The 2026 Estimate Is 0.7% Above the 2025 Level
According to the city forecast, the estimated 230,000 foreign workers in 2026 exceed the 2025 figure by 0.7% and the 2024 level by 3.5%. It is useful to consider this trend together with the absolute figures rather than interpreting 236,000 as a separate quota or limit.
| Period | Number or change according to the forecast |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 3.5% below the 2026 estimate |
| 2025 | 0.7% below the 2026 estimate |
| 2026 | 230,000 foreign workers |
| 2029 | 236,000 foreign workers |
The 2027–2029 Forecast Does Not Introduce New Hiring Rules
According to the explanation accompanying the forecast, it does not change the procedure for hiring foreign nationals, obtaining authorization documents, migration registration, an employer's registration of a foreign national's place of stay, or mandatory notifications, which are official reports to the authorities. An employer does not need to rebuild its process solely because an estimate of 236,000 people has appeared.
In the statement “St. Petersburg Expects the Number of Migrants to Grow to 236,000 by 2029” dated October 25, 2026, the forecast document itself was not published. Therefore, HR decisions should be checked against the current requirements for the specific worker category rather than deriving new obligations from the forecast figure.
A Workforce Plan Through 2029 Helps Fill Vacancies Without Disruptions
It is advisable for an employer to break down its need for foreign personnel by occupation, department, and period through 2029. Such a plan makes it possible to identify in advance which vacancies the company expects to fill with foreign personnel, where a reserve is needed, and which departments are most dependent on such hiring.
According to the explanation accompanying the forecast, verification of current workers should cover citizenship, the legal basis for working, document validity periods, and the address of migration registration. For visa-free nationals, employers generally monitor the work patent, fixed advance personal income tax payments, and the region in which the work patent is valid; for visa-required workers, permits to engage and employ foreign nationals; and nationals of the EAEU are subject to a different procedure.
Document and Contractor Controls Reduce Workforce Risks
Internal control should be linked to the HR system, with the validity periods of work patents, permits, periods of stay, and migration registration tracked separately. According to the forecast, operational dates depend on the status and documents of each specific worker, so a single deadline cannot be applied to the entire foreign workforce.
Employment contracts and the actual working conditions should be compared with the worker's documents and the requirements applicable to the worker's category. According to the explanation accompanying the forecast, the same control is needed for foreign nationals engaged through contractors and outstaffing companies: responsibility for process continuity is not limited to the in-house workforce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the forecast of 236,000 people change the rules for hiring foreign nationals?
No. According to the explanation accompanying the city forecast for 2027–2029, the estimate of 236,000 people by 2029 does not change the procedures for documentation, migration registration, or notifications to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia (MVD) (МВД России), the federal authority responsible for migration control.
Does a company need to hire a specific number of foreign nationals by 2029?
No. According to the statement on the forecast, 236,000 people is the expected total number of foreign workers in St. Petersburg by 2029, not a plan or obligation for an individual employer.
What information should be checked for current foreign workers?
According to the explanation accompanying the forecast, citizenship, the basis for working, document validity periods, and the address of migration registration must be checked. The terms of the employment contract and the employee's actual work are also important for monitoring.
What to Check
- Prepare a forecast of the need for foreign personnel by occupation and department through 2029.
- For each current worker, check citizenship, the basis for working, document validity periods, and the address of migration registration.
- Set up a calendar for monitoring work patents, fixed advance personal income tax payments, permits, and periods of stay.
- Compare employment contracts and actual working conditions with the documents applicable to each worker category.
- Assign responsibility for migration registration and notifications to the MVD, providing for replacement during vacation periods.
- Check the migration status and documents of foreign nationals working through contractors and outstaffing companies.