Bad news for migrants working as taxi drivers in Russia

In St. Petersburg, the restriction on employing foreigners as taxi drivers and couriers will be extended to 2026.

As reported by BAKU.WS, this was announced by RIA Novosti with reference to the city's governor Alexander Beglov.

Beglov noted that the authorities found it possible to extend the bans for the entire year of 2026 - both for hiring in taxi services and for courier work. According to him, foreign specialists are in demand, but primarily in those areas where the economy truly needs their participation.

Earlier, the deputy head of the St. Petersburg Labor Committee, Tatyana Morozkova, stated that thousands of migrants will lose the opportunity to work in taxi services and delivery. Last year, over 200,000 work permits were issued to migrants, of which 1.6% were for the taxi sector and 3.4% for couriers. This is approximately 10,000 people.

Morozkova clarified that some migrants work in taxi services and delivery under different permits, for example as general laborers, and employers continue to hire them on these grounds.

She also emphasized that the ban on migrants working in these sectors will not affect the city's economy.