Legal Guides for Foreigners in Russia

Each guide explains one legal topic from the point of view of a foreigner or a foreign-owned company: what the law requires, which documents are needed and where problems usually appear.

Starting a Business in Russia: A Legal Guide for ForeignersHow a foreigner registers an OOO in Russia: choice of vehicle, apostilled documents, tax number, bank account and the steps that most often cause delay.Read more →Buying Real Estate in Moscow as a ForeignerHow a foreign buyer purchases property in Moscow: legal limits on ownership, title checks, steps from offer to keys, Rosreestr registration and taxes.Read more →Divorce in Russia: What Expats Need to KnowHow divorce works for expats in Russia: which court hears the case, recognition of foreign marriages, division of property and arrangements for children.Read more →Inheritance in Russia: A Guide for Foreign HeirsHow foreign heirs claim an estate in Russia: the six-month deadline, notary procedure, will or statutory shares, real estate and bank accounts, documents.Read more →Work Permits and Visas: Hiring Foreigners in RussiaWhat a company needs to hire a foreign employee in Russia: visa regime, work permit or patent, highly qualified specialists, notifications and penalties.Read more →Russian Contract Law: What Foreign Businesses Must KnowKey rules of Russian contract law for foreign companies: governing law, form and signing, penalties, termination, language of the contract and enforcement.Read more →Resolving Business Disputes in RussiaHow commercial disputes are resolved in Russia: arbitrazh court stages, jurisdiction clauses, arbitration awards, interim measures and enforcement of rulings.Read more →Russian Taxes for Foreign Companies: The EssentialsOverview of Russian taxes for foreign companies: tax residency, permanent establishment, profit tax, VAT, withholding on payments abroad and tax audits.Read more →Criminal Defence in Russia: Rights of Foreign CitizensWhat a foreign citizen should know if detained or charged in Russia: right to a lawyer and interpreter, consular notice, interrogation, measures of restraint.Read more →Employment in Russia: Rights of Foreign EmployeesEmployment law for expats working in Russia: contract form, probation, working time, termination grounds, pay, and how labour disputes are resolved.Read more →Trademark Registration in RussiaHow a foreign owner registers a trademark in Russia: Rospatent search, application, examination stages, fees, protection term and defence against copycats.Read more →Representative Office vs Branch in RussiaHow a foreign company opens a representative office in Russia: accreditation, permitted activity, tax registration, staff, reporting and closing the office.Read more →