The authorities of St. Petersburg have added the field of courier delivery to the list of activities to which employers of the city cannot involve foreign citizens working on the basis of patents in 2025, the press service of the administration of the governor of St. Petersburg reported.

"To the already existing restriction in the taxi industry, activities related to courier delivery have been added: courier activities (OKVED 53.10.3), courier delivery activities by various modes of transport (OKVED 53.20.31), food delivery activities (OKVED 53.20.32), other courier activities (OKVED 53.20.39)," the report says.

According to the city authorities, this decision is aimed at combating shadow employment, improving the quality and safety of services in the courier sector, as well as creating new jobs for Russian citizens, primarily for young people and students.

It is noted that according to statistics, foreign couriers make up a "small proportion" of the total number of people employed in this field, so restrictions on their admission will not affect the stability of the delivery market.

"In order to adapt the business to the new requirements, a three-month transition period has been established to adjust personnel policy in accordance with the new requirements," the government of St. Petersburg added.

At the end of July, the city authorities announced a similar ban on hiring migrants as taxi drivers in 2025. ria.ru.