10.10.04

The State Duma has approved in the second and third readings an amendment to the Administrative Violations Code, toughening penalties for immigration violations. Going forward, the administrative responsibility for violations in areas of immigration law is increased and the law establishes higher penalties for violations. For example, the fine for violating regulations for a foreigner’s residence in Russia by an official or other individual is planned to increase up to 5-50 minimum wage units (MWU). This fine was previously up to 10 MWUs. Fines applied to a Russian citizen who invites and provides accommodation to a foreign individual without citizenship, for not taking measures to register a foreign citizen and seeing that the foreigner leaves Russia when his/her visa ends will increase to 5 – 50 MROT; previously this was 1–3 MWUs. For providing accommodation, transport or other services to a foreign person without citizenship and residing in Russia illegally, the fine for individuals is up to 10–20 MWUs, for officials – up to 20–50 MWUs, for organizations – up to 100–500 MWUs. Fines for working in Russia illegally are now up to 10–25 MWUs followed by extradition. The fine for using illegal foreign labour is stated to be from 10 to 25 MWUs for individiuals, from 25 to 100 MWUs for officials, and from 50 to 2,000 MWUs for organizations. Russian citizens who live in a place they are registered at or travel within the country without valid passports are charged a fine up to 25 MWUs; this was previously 1 MWU.

Note that a Minimum Wage Unit (MWU) is 600 RUR for wage purposes, but 100 RUR for the purpose of calculating fines. At current exchange rates 10 MWUs would be roughly $35 and 500 MWU (maximum fine referenced in this article) is roughly $1725.