The expulsion regime will change from November 2026 for foreign nationals subject to administrative liability. According to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (Госдума), Russia’s lower house of parliament, the number of articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (КоАП), the federal law governing administrative offenses in Russia, providing for a fine and administrative expulsion will more than double.
The number of administrative offenses involving expulsion will more than double
According to the State Duma, amendments to the liability of foreign nationals for administrative offenses will take effect in November 2026. The number of articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation providing for both a fine and administrative expulsion will more than double.
This change does not concern all foreign workers as a separate category, but foreign nationals subject to liability under articles from the updated list. The mere presence of a foreign worker on the staff does not mean that expulsion applies to them: the grounds are determined by the specific elements of the administrative offense.
Employers need to account for expulsion as a migration risk from November 2026
For employers, the expanded list means an increased employment risk in situations where a foreign employee is subject to administrative liability. According to the State Duma, the change specifically concerns foreign nationals and administrative offenses for which a fine and expulsion are provided.
In practice, this matters when assessing the continuity of a foreign worker’s employment. If an administrative case is being considered against an employee, the HR department should not assume in advance either that expulsion is the guaranteed outcome or that it will not occur: the decision depends on the applicable article of the Code of Administrative Offenses and the circumstances of the case.
Expulsion is not identified as an automatic consequence of every violation
The State Duma’s announcement does not mean that every administrative violation by a foreign national will lead to expulsion. It refers to an expansion in the number of articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses providing for this measure together with a fine, not to a universal rule for all administrative cases.
Employers should not apply information about the future list to a specific case without checking the provision under which the case has been opened or is being considered. For internal control, it is useful to record separately the relevant article of the Code of Administrative Offenses, the status of the case, and the information the employee has provided to the employer.
The specific offenses and conditions for ordering expulsion must be checked against the law
The State Duma did not list the articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses that will be included in the expanded list or describe the conditions under which expulsion may be ordered under them. Therefore, an HR decision cannot be based solely on the announcement of a multiple increase in the number of articles.
When information about administrative proceedings first becomes available, the employer should establish exactly which article of the Code of Administrative Offenses applies to the employee. It should then be compared with the text of the provision that has entered into force and the circumstances of the specific case, rather than drawing a conclusion from the general announcement about the November amendments.
The exact date within November 2026 requires a separate check
The State Duma’s announcement does not specify the exact date on which the provisions will take effect. It confirms only that the amendments are to enter into force in November 2026.
Until the text of the law has been checked, internal documents should not specify a particular day on which the new list will take effect. In communications with HR, it is appropriate to state the confirmed timeframe—November 2026—and distinguish it from the circumstances of a specific administrative case.
Frequently asked questions
Who is affected by the November amendments?
According to the State Duma, from November 2026 the amendments will apply to foreign nationals subject to liability under articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses included in the expanded list.
Will foreign nationals be expelled for any administrative violation?
No, this conclusion does not follow from the State Duma’s announcement. It concerns only articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses that provide for a fine and expulsion.
What should an HR specialist do if a foreign worker reports an administrative case?
The HR specialist should establish the article of the Code of Administrative Offenses under which the case is being considered and check the applicable provision. The general change takes effect in November 2026, but the consequences are determined by the specific offense.
What to check
- From November 2026, account for the expanded list of articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses providing for a fine and the expulsion of a foreign national.
- Do not treat expulsion as an automatic consequence of any administrative violation.
- If there is information about a case, establish the specific article of the Code of Administrative Offenses alleged against the employee.
- Compare the applicable article with the text of the provision that has entered into force.
- Record the employee’s administrative case status separately for HR control purposes.
- Check the exact date on which the amendments take effect against the text of the law.