Work Permits and Visas: Hiring Foreigners in Russia
A Russian company that wants to employ a foreign national must check which regime applies to that person, obtain the right permit before the first working day and notify the migration authorities about hiring and dismissal. The rules differ for visa nationals, citizens of visa-free countries, citizens of Eurasian Economic Union states and highly qualified specialists. Mistakes are punished with fines per worker, so a company hiring several foreigners faces serious exposure.
Entry Documents for Foreign Staff
Nationals of countries with a visa regime enter on a work visa issued on the basis of an invitation from the employer. The invitation is requested from the migration service of the Interior Ministry. Nationals of most CIS countries enter without a visa and work under a patent. Citizens of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, as EAEU members, need neither a permit nor a patent. A business visa does not allow employment.
Permits Under the General Procedure
Under the general procedure, the employer first obtains permission to engage foreign workers and then a work permit for each person. The worker passes a medical check, fingerprinting and, in most cases, an exam in Russian language, history and law. The permit is tied to the employer and the region. Working in another region or for another company without a new permit is a violation.
The Highly Qualified Specialist Route
| Feature | General procedure | Highly qualified specialist |
|---|---|---|
| Salary threshold | Minimum wage rules | High threshold set by law |
| Quota | Applies to visa nationals | Not required |
| Permit term | Usually up to one year | Up to three years, renewable |
| Language exam | Generally required | Not required |
| Family members | Separate status | Residence documents for family |
The employer must pay the salary stated in the contract and report quarterly on payments. Failure to pay the threshold amount can lead to cancellation of the permit.
How Quotas Work
The government sets annual quotas for invitations and work permits for visa nationals under the general procedure, by region and profession. Employers file requests for the next year in advance. Specialists with the highly qualified status, citizens of EAEU states and some other categories fall outside the quota.
What the Employer Must Do
- Sign an employment contract under the Labour Code with the terms required for foreign workers, including medical insurance.
- Notify the migration authority of hiring and termination within three working days.
- Register the worker at his place of stay.
- Keep copies of the permit or patent and track expiry dates.
- Stop the worker from working when his permit lapses.
Penalties for Violations
The Code of Administrative Offences sets fines for legal entities for employing foreigners without a permit, for missing notifications and for breaching registration rules. Fines in Moscow are higher than in most regions. Instead of a fine, the court may suspend the company's activity for a period. The foreign worker may be expelled and banned from entry.
Compliance Support from Attorney E. V. Petrova
Attorney E. V. Petrova audits your migration files, prepares invitations and applications for the highly qualified specialist route, drafts employment contracts and notification forms, and defends the company in administrative cases after an inspection.
The main channel of communication with the lawyer is email: lawyer@lawyer-moscow.com.