Published on
September 6, 2025
Georgia joins Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Moldova, and more in facing new travel rules because Russia has introduced a digital address tracking system for foreign workers in Moscow, requiring registration through the Amina mobile app linked to continuous GPS monitoring. The rule represents a dramatic change from traditional paper-based registration to ongoing digital oversight and is applicable to citizens of nine different countries. Russia hopes to strengthen migration control by linking a legal stay to continuous location data, but this measure also heavily relies on workers to stay connected, charged, and compliant at all times.
Russia Launches Digital Address Tracking for Foreign Workers in Moscow from September 2025
From September 1, 2025, Moscow and the surrounding region will introduce a major digital change affecting thousands of foreign workers. A new system requires employees from nine countries to register their local address through a mobile application called Amina. Unlike previous paper-based procedures, this initiative uses constant GPS tracking, marking a significant shift in how migration is monitored.
Who Falls Under the New Rules
The measure applies specifically to foreign citizens working in Moscow and the Moscow region who come from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. These countries represent the largest share of migrant labor in the Russian capital, particularly in construction, public services, and retail. Families of these workers remain exempt, but the obligation applies strictly to the workers themselves.
Anyone entering Moscow for employment from the listed countries must complete the registration through the app immediately upon arrival. Even if they already live in Russia, a fresh registration is required each time they enter Moscow or return after traveling elsewhere.
How the Amina App Works
Authorities describe Amina as an “experimental system,” but its functions are already comprehensive. After downloading the app, the user must register their residential address. From that point, the phone continuously sends geolocation data, confirming that the worker actually lives where they have declared.
If the system loses this GPS connection—whether because the phone was switched off, the location function disabled, or the signal interrupted—the address registration is automatically cancelled. Once this occurs, the individual must register again to stay compliant. This constant monitoring is designed to prevent false addresses or unauthorized movement, but it introduces new challenges for workers who rely heavily on their mobile phones.
The Stakes of Compliance
The stakes are high. Registration is mandatory, and ignoring it can result in heavy fines or even deportation. Russian officials have underlined that enforcement will be strict, with the app acting as a round-the-clock compliance tool. In practice, this means migrant workers need to ensure that their devices are always charged, their GPS services stay active, and they avoid long periods of connectivity loss.
Even minor lapses—such as forgetting to turn location services back on after switching phones or losing access to mobile data—could put someone at risk of losing their legal registration status. For workers who rely on uninterrupted employment to support families back home, the consequences could be severe.
Why the Change Matters
Russia has long required address registration for foreigners, but until now the process relied on paperwork filed with local migration offices. That system was bureaucratic but predictable. The new digital approach marks a major policy shift, blending traditional registration rules with real-time technological surveillance.
The change highlights Russia’s growing reliance on digital tools to monitor migration. Officials frame Amina as a test project, yet its scope and penalties suggest a broader strategy is emerging. If successful, similar systems could be extended to other cities or applied to a wider group of foreigners in the future.
Impact on Migrant Communities
Moscow’s economy relies heavily on labor from Central Asia and the Caucasus. These workers fill roles that keep the city functioning, from building projects to essential public services. For many, the new rules feel like another layer of red tape on top of already demanding conditions.
The need to carry a fully functioning smartphone at all times creates additional costs. Not all workers own modern devices with reliable GPS capabilities, meaning some may need to buy new phones simply to comply. Battery life, data expenses, and constant monitoring add to the daily challenges of living and working far from home.
Some also fear that the system blurs the line between address verification and broader personal surveillance. Since the app tracks constant geolocation data, it effectively monitors workers’ movement patterns. Although officials insist the system’s goal is administrative accuracy, concerns about privacy and overreach remain.
Preparing for the Rules
For those planning to work in Moscow after September 1, preparation is key. Migrants are being advised to:
Download and install the Amina app before travel. Early setup can help avoid delays on arrival.Ensure phones are compatible with continuous GPS tracking. Older devices may not work with the system.Keep devices charged at all times. Losing power could trigger an automatic cancellation.Avoid disabling location services. Even accidental shutdowns can create problems with registration status.
These steps may sound simple, but for workers balancing long shifts, travel, and limited resources, maintaining constant compliance could prove complicated.
Broader Implications
The rollout of Amina underscores a broader global trend: governments increasingly use technology to regulate migration. Russia’s approach is particularly direct, tying legal residency to uninterrupted geolocation tracking. While authorities present the system as experimental, the penalties for non-compliance show it is more than a small-scale trial.
For migrant workers, this reflects a new reality where digital surveillance becomes part of daily life. The transition from paper forms to a location-based app signals the government’s intent to tighten migration controls, reduce undocumented movement, and reinforce administrative authority.
At the same time, the move raises important questions about worker rights, privacy, and the balance between security and freedom. For the communities most affected, it represents another hurdle in the complex experience of living and working abroad.
As of September 2025, foreign nationals from nine countries entering Moscow for work face a new digital obligation. By requiring address registration through the Amina mobile app, Russian authorities have introduced a system that merges traditional migration rules with round-the-clock GPS monitoring.
For migrants, the consequences are clear: compliance is no longer just about paperwork but about staying connected, charged, and traceable. Although framed as a pilot project, Amina could set the stage for a wider shift in Russia’s migration policy—one where digital surveillance becomes the standard tool of enforcement.
Georgia joins Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Moldova, and more in new travel rules as Russia begins digital address tracking for foreign workers in Moscow to tighten migration control.
For now, anyone traveling to Moscow under these rules must prepare carefully. The stakes are too high to risk non-compliance, making the app an unavoidable part of life for thousands of foreign workers in the Russian capital.
