Russia moves to control immigration

A large proportion of foreigners in Russia are Chinese

Russia has begun to issue migration cards to foreigners entering the country in order to curb the number of illegal immigrants.

What is significant for us is that, starting today, we can keep a record of all foreign citizens arriving in Russia

Boris Gryzlov
interior minister

Reports say that it estimates there are up to 3.5 million foreigners living in the country illegally, most of them from former Soviet republics and developing countries.

Russian officials say they account for 40% of all crime, and cost the country billions of dollars in unpaid taxes and fraud.

They believe the new card will establish an accurate system of immigration control and allow them to regulate the labour market.

Russia's population is declining and it needs an influx of workers from abroad.

'Toughest measures'

Foreigners who are already in Russia have 90 days to obtain their cards from local police.

The documents do not entitle holders to any benefits and are not substitutes for ID cards.

Foreigners living in Russia will have to apply to police for cards

They consist of two parts, one of which will be kept by the immigration authorities.

Holders are expected to keep the other part with them at all times.

Interior Minister Boris Gryzlov went personally to the southern Belgorod Region to hand out the new cards.

"What is significant for us is that, starting today, we can keep a record of all foreign citizens arriving in Russia, we will know the purpose of their visit and the expected time of departure," he said.

"If a foreign citizen does not have the counterfoil of the migration card proving their entry into Russia, they could be subject to the toughest measures, even deportation," Interfax news agency quoted him as saying.

Advice

Belgorod Region, which borders on Ukraine, is one of the busiest frontier zones in Europe, crossed by about 15 million people a year.

The BBC's Nikolai Gorshkov in Moscow says there is a general belief that the cards are only meant for nationals of former Soviet republics.

However, UK diplomat Richard Turner told the BBC that the cards applied to all foreign visitors.

"Our advice is very much - get the migration card, make sure that it's registered properly and also carry it with you at all times," he said.