According to data from the analytical company First Data, the volume of online payments made by labor migrants in Russia between January and August 2026 amounted to 1.2 billion rubles. During this period, the number of online operations grew by 116 percent, with a total of over 1 million transactions recorded.
According to statistics, the largest share of expenses consists of payments for patents and migration services. The number of transactions of this type has increased by 2086 percent since the beginning of the year, which is more than 20 times. Currently, every third online payment is made for these specific services.
Also, the volume of online purchases for daily needs has increased significantly. In particular, clothing purchases rose by 180 percent, payments for mobile communications and internet services by 115 percent, and car-sharing and vehicle rentals by 89 percent. Purchases of smartphone accessories and electronics increased by 65 percent, while spending on streaming platforms and entertainment services grew by 54 percent.
According to the study results, online purchases are mainly made by users aged between 25 and 45. Men accounted for 73 percent of total purchases, while women accounted for 27 percent. It should be noted that, according to the Russian Interior Ministry, starting from January 1, 2027, labor migrants are required to pay taxes for their non-working family members.
