In January—August 2026, internal affairs agencies initiated more than 260,000 entry bans on foreign nationals and stateless persons, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. No new rules with a specific effective date were announced: the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported on the application of existing grounds.
Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia reported a 75.8% increase in entry-ban initiatives
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia (МВД России), the federal agency responsible for internal affairs and migration matters, reported that, in January—August 2026, internal affairs agencies initiated more than 260,000 decisions denying entry to Russia to foreign nationals and stateless persons. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the figure was 75.8% higher than the number of such initiatives in January—August 2025.
For an employer, this statistic means that the risk of a candidate being unable to enter Russia should be taken into account even before planning the actual start of work. The Ministry of Internal Affairs’ statement does not impose a new obligation on companies and does not describe the consequences of employer inaction, but it shows the scale of decisions that can affect recruitment from abroad.
| Indicator according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia | Value |
|---|---|
| Decisions initiated in January—August 2026 | more than 260 000 |
| Increase compared with January—August 2025 | 75.8% |
| Decisions related to a threat to public safety and public order | more than 13 500 |
An entry ban may be related to administrative removal, deportation, or exceeding the permitted period of stay
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, common grounds for denying entry include administrative removal, a migration measure requiring the foreign national to leave Russia, deportation, and exceeding the established period of stay in Russia. The agency also mentioned providing false information, using forged documents, and repeated administrative offenses.
An employer should not assume that the reason is always related to future employment or the actions of a particular company. The Ministry of Internal Affairs’ statement describes grounds related to the foreign national’s migration status and conduct. Therefore, it is important for HR departments not to replace an examination of the circumstances with assumptions about the reason for the restriction.
Articles 26 and 27 of Federal Law No. 114-FZ contain the listed grounds
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, the grounds for an entry ban are set out in Articles 26 and 27 of Federal Law No. 114-FZ (Федеральный закон № 114-ФЗ), the federal law governing entry into and exit from Russia. The agency’s statement did not specify the date of this law; nor did the Ministry of Internal Affairs announce any changes to its provisions in connection with the statistics for January—August 2026.
For internal control purposes, it is useful for an employer to distinguish between two issues: the candidate’s ability to enter Russia and the completion of HR procedures after the candidate is admitted to work. The Ministry of Internal Affairs’ statement does not establish a special verification procedure for employers, specify the documents a company must request, or set a deadline for such verification.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia separately reported more than 13,500 decisions related to a threat to public safety and public order. This is a separate category in the agency’s statistics; the statement does not disclose its composition and does not allow an employer to determine the ground from indirect indicators.
The HR process should be structured without promises to cancel an entry ban in one day
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, a decision denying entry may be appealed to the relevant agency or a court. The agency’s statement did not specify the time limits for considering appeals, the deadlines for court appeals, or the list of documents required in each case.
Therefore, a company should not plan the arrival date, start of work, or replacement of a candidate based on intermediaries’ promises to quickly cancel the restriction. The Ministry of Internal Affairs expressly warns against counting on the cancellation of an entry ban in one day. The practical solution is to wait for a confirmed result under the official procedure and only then adjust the HR plan.
If a candidate reports an entry ban, the employer may record in work-related communications that the matter must be resolved by the foreign national through the competent agency or court. This does not mean imposing nonexistent obligations on the candidate: the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ statement does not establish a special procedure for the employer’s participation in an appeal.
Checking migration risks helps keep recruitment and appeals separate
When recruiting a foreign employee, it is useful to agree in advance on a realistic sequence: confirm the ability to enter, then plan the arrival and subsequent HR actions. This sequence is not a new rule of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but an organizational measure to reduce the risk of the candidate’s start date being disrupted.
If a restriction has already been identified, the employer should not independently promise that it will be cancelled or interpret the reason without confirmed information. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, the lawful appeal route is through the relevant agency or a court. The timing of any new rules was not specified in the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ statement because the agency did not announce any new rules.
Frequently asked questions
Does the employer need to re-prepare HR documents because of the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ statement?
No, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia did not report any new rules or new employer obligation for January—August 2026. The statement provides statistics and grounds for denying entry.
Can a candidate start work if they are banned from entering Russia?
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia’s statement does not describe the employment consequences of an entry ban. However, if entry is impossible, the candidate’s arrival cannot be planned as a confirmed fact; the decision may be appealed to the agency or a court.
Can an entry ban be lifted in one day?
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia warns against promises to cancel an entry ban in one day. The appeal deadlines were not specified in the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ statement.
What reasons for entry bans did the Ministry of Internal Affairs identify for January—August 2026?
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia identified removal, deportation, exceeding the period of stay, false information, forged documents, and repeated administrative offenses. The agency links the grounds to Articles 26 and 27 of Federal Law No. 114-FZ.
What to check
- When planning recruitment, take into account that, in January—August 2026, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia initiated more than 260,000 decisions denying entry.
- Do not set a final arrival date for the candidate if their ability to enter has not been confirmed.
- Check Articles 26 and 27 of Federal Law No. 114-FZ, to which the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia referred.
- Do not determine the ground for the entry ban based on assumptions: the Ministry of Internal Affairs identifies several different reasons.
- Do not promise that the restriction will be cancelled in one day.
- If a decision exists, rely on an official appeal to the relevant agency or a court.