St. Petersburg bans Uzbek migrants from working as couriers

In St. Petersburg, migrant workers holding patents are now banned from working as couriers. This is stated in the resolution of the city governor, Alexander Beglov, “On the establishment of a ban on the attraction of foreign citizens carrying out labor activities based on patents in certain types of economic activity by business entities operating in the territory of St. Petersburg until 2025,” adopted on July 28 of this year.

On August 11, amendments and additions were made to this resolution, adding a clause prohibiting migrants working based on patents in Russia from being employed as couriers. The new restrictions apply to all types of transport, including food delivery services.

The resolution is aimed at combating undeclared employment, improving the quality and safety of courier services, and creating new jobs for Russian citizens, particularly young people and students. Entrepreneurs will be granted a three-month adaptation period before the final ban comes into force.

According to the city authorities, foreign couriers constitute only a small portion of the sector’s workforce, and the measure will not affect the stable operation of the delivery market. The decision will take effect 10 days after its official announcement, that is, on August 11 of this year, and will remain in force until the end of 2025.

It is noted that under the Eurasian Economic Union Treaty, citizens of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan can work in Russia without a permit or work permit. Therefore, the ban mainly affects labor migrants from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

Previously, St. Petersburg authorities had prohibited patent-based labor migrants—primarily from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan—from working as taxi drivers.