Uzbekistan tops labour migrant entries to Russia in first half of 2026

According to Podrobno.uz, Uzbekistan ranked first among countries whose citizens enter Russia for work. In the first half of 2026, more than 1.17 million Uzbek citizens entered Russia, stating work as the purpose of their trip.

Tajikistan came second with 494.5 thousand entries, followed by Kyrgyzstan (over 289 thousand), Kazakhstan (122.6 thousand) and China (89.6 thousand). Armenia, Azerbaijan, India, Turkmenistan and Turkey also made the top ten.

Moscow remained the leading Russian region for foreigners working on patents, with 437.6 thousand registered from January to September 2026. Moscow Oblast had 268 thousand, while St Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast had 162.4 thousand. Earlier, a proposal was made in St Petersburg to review a ban on foreigners working in hairdressing and beauty salons; about 70% of barbers in the city's barbershops are Uzbek citizens.