New rules for foreign exchange transactions in 2026: what will change for businesses when working with foreign companies

Changes affecting foreign exchange transactions for Russian companies and entrepreneurs will come into effect in the summer of 2026. Some of the changes are aimed at simplifying cross-border payments and investments, but at the same time, the documentary requirements for certain transactions will be expanded.

For businesses, this means that some restrictions are becoming less stringent, but requirements for internal control and documentation remain no less important.

Investments in foreign companies: the limit has been increased

One of the most notable changes concerns the payment of shares, contributions and stakes in the capital of foreign legal entities.

Residents will now be able to carry out such transactions without obtaining an individual permit, provided they meet established conditions. The main change is an increase in the maximum size of transactions that can be carried out under the simplified procedure.

The maximum size of such investments has been increased to the equivalent of 30 million rubles per foreign legal entity. This is based on the total amount of transfers made over a specified period, not just a one-time payment.

For businesses, this means expanded opportunities to establish subsidiaries abroad, increase participation in foreign projects, and finance joint ventures without undergoing additional approval procedures.

However, increasing the limit does not mean a complete abolition of currency controls. Companies must still take into account restrictions applicable to specific transactions and monitor the accumulated volume of transfers to each foreign counterparty.

Why is this important?

In practice, many Russian companies use foreign legal entities to organize international trade, create regional representative offices, own intellectual property, or participate in joint investment projects.

Previously, obtaining individual permits often extended the timeframe for such projects. Increasing the limit significantly reduces the administrative burden for those operations that fall within the established scope.

It’s important for companies to organize internal accounting of all transfers to each foreign organization. If the total volume of transactions exceeds the established limit, the transaction procedure will be modified.

New rules for settlements under foreign trade contracts

The changes also affect the sphere of foreign economic activity.

Companies now have the opportunity to use not only bank accounts, but also accounts opened with foreign financial market organizations that are not formally classified as banks, for settlements under certain foreign trade contracts.

For participants in foreign economic activity, this expands the range of available payment instruments, especially when working with foreign financial intermediaries.

In fact, legislation is gradually adapting to the changing international financial infrastructure, where settlements are increasingly conducted through non-bank payment organizations, electronic financial platforms, and specialized operators.

Less technical formalities

Another change concerns the registration of foreign exchange transactions.

For a number of transactions, it will no longer be necessary to provide the servicing bank with the currency transaction type code.

At first glance, this appears to be a technical adjustment, but in practice, it will reduce the number of formal errors in payment processing and ease the administrative burden on companies’ accounting and finance departments.

At the same time, control over documents is being strengthened

Despite some relaxations, the requirements for payment confirmation are becoming more detailed.

If settlements under foreign trade contracts are made in cash, the parties to the transaction will need to provide the servicing bank with documents confirming the grounds for receiving or transferring such funds.

Moreover, the obligation extends not only to cases where cash is received or transferred directly by a party to the contract, but also to certain situations involving other persons.

Thus, the emphasis is gradually shifting from monitoring individual payment transactions to monitoring documentary evidence of the economic content of the transaction.

What companies should do now

The changes require not so much a revision of the business model as an update of internal currency control procedures.

Companies engaged in foreign economic activity should:

• conduct an inventory of current foreign trade contracts;
• check the procedure for accounting for investments in foreign companies;
• organize control over the total volume of transfers to each foreign legal entity;
• update internal regulations on foreign exchange transactions;
• check the procedure for storing documents confirming settlements with foreign counterparties;
• If necessary, adjust internal instructions for the accounting and financial departments.

The 2026 amendments demonstrate a trend toward more flexible regulation of international settlements. The state is gradually removing certain administrative barriers for bona fide participants in foreign economic activity, while maintaining a high level of control over the economic content of transactions.

Therefore, the primary challenge for businesses today is not only to exploit new opportunities but also to build an effective internal currency compliance system. The quality of transaction documentation is increasingly becoming a key factor in assessing their legality and mitigating regulatory risks.