The Ministry of Labor plans to attract more than 382 workers from visa countries in 2027—the highest number in recent years.
The quota for foreign workers from visa countries in 2027 is 382,8 permits, according to a draft resolution from the Ministry of Labor. This is a 37% increase from last year.
Ministry of Labor developed A draft government resolution increasing the quota for attracting foreign specialists from visa countries. The main influx of specialists under this system is expected from China, India, Vietnam, Turkmenistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Turkey.
The announced volume of 382,8 permits is 37% higher than last year. In 2026, the limit for foreign employment permits was set at 279, in 2025 – 235, and in 2024 – 156.
According to the Ministry of Labor, the vast majority of employer requests—92%—are for skilled workers. The remaining quota is for support staff.
Employers are short of specialists for the construction of gas chemical and gas processing complexes on the Amur River, the second stage of the Vostochny Cosmodrome, and the cableway between the cities. Blagoveshchensk and Heihe, high-speed rail Moscow - St. Petersburg, production of ethylbenzene, styrene and polystyrene in Tatarstan, as well as work in the Alabuga special economic zone.
First, Russian workers
According to the Ministry of Labor, jobs are offered first to Russian citizens. Foreigners may only be hired if suitable workers are not found among Russians.
A shortage of personnel with unemployment at minimum levels
The growing need for foreign labor is occurring against the backdrop of a large-scale labor shortage in many sectors of the economy. evaluation heads of the Ministry of Labor Anton Kotyakov, Over the next seven years, the market will need to attract an additional 3 million qualified specialists—primarily production plant operators, welders, turners, and blue-collar workers.
The situation is complicated by the fact that there are practically no labor reserves left within the country—the unemployment rate is at historic lows.
