Digitalization of the migration sphere in the Russian Federation: state and prospects

This article is dedicated to the analysis of the current state of digitalization of the migration sphere in the Russian Federation. It is demonstrated that the implementation of modern digital technologies, as well as information technology tools into the mechanisms of migration governance (in a broader sense, digital transformation of the system of relations between migrants and accepting country) is objectively inevitable in the context of global digital transition and growing role of the migration factor for the economy. The goal of this research is to determine the political-legal factors and problems that impact digital transition in the migration sphere of the Russian Federation. For achieving the set tasks, the article employs general scientific methods and approaches, including comparative methods. The author provides a brief overview of coevolution of the migration situation and migration regulation in the Russian Federation for the period 20122021. It is noted that the goals, tasks and instruments of migration governance change along with the transformation of perception of the importance of migration factor for the Russian Federation and its role in solution of economic development objective. Based on the parallel consideration of political-legal decisions and practices of digitalization of the migration sphere, the author summarizes the current results and challenges. It is indicated that the project approach and advanced legal regulation contribute to the digital reforms in the migration sphere; however, in practice we can observe deceleration of the pace of reforms due to lack of coherence in actions and conceptual approaches. The key reason is that the basic acts that regulate modernization of the migration sphere in the Russian Federation are not the strategic planning documents.