Stay and live in NW Russia
Regularisation of Immigration Status from Visitor Status to Work Status
General Process
Registration for Residence Permit and Tax Card
Procedure of issuing and extending Russian visas
Employers May Now Apply for Work Permits for 2010. Russian work permits support
Spoiler: Russian legislation is apt to change easily; some information and documents may get outdated right after they are published. Please, consult Norsk Etableringssenter for updates and advice
«Regularisation» of Immigration Status from Visitor Status to Work Status
A foreign employee may not convert her/his immigration status from a «Visitor» (travelling on the basis of a tourist or business visa) to «Work» status while remaining in Russia. The employee can be present in Russia on the basis of travel or business visa while the work permit application is being processed; at that time he/she does not have authorisation to work in Russia. Once the work permit is obtained the employee (the inviting company) should apply for obtaining the invitation for the work visa on its basis in the Russian Consulate abroad.
Types of Work Visas
There are two types of work visas:
a) Ordinary Visa – Purpose: Work – this visa is issued to the foreign employee working in the company established in the Russian Federation;
b) Ordinary Visa – Purpose: Representative office employee visa – this visa is issued to the foreign employee working in the representative or branch office of the foreign company in the Russian Federation.
Visas are distinguished as single entry work visa (representative office employee visa) valid up to 3 months and multiple entry work visa (representative office employee visa) valid up to 1 year.
General Process
In order to sponsor a work permit application, a Russian company sponsor must first be formally registered in Russia. That sponsor must then obtain an employment permit; this process involves an evaluation of the application by three different Russian government agencies: The Local Employment Service, the Moscow Department of Federal Employment Service and the Federal Migration Service.
Obtaining the employment permit is a
Once the employment permit is successfully obtained, the work permit is obtained by submitting an application to the Local Migration Service (Migration Service of the Central Department of Internal Affairs in Moscow). This process requires approximately 21 business days.
The next step towards completing the process is obtaining separate invitation letters allowing the employee and each accompanying family member to apply for a single entry visa for the purposes of work from the Russian Consulate with jurisdiction over his or her place of legal residence. The sponsoring company should apply to the Passport and Visa Department to obtain the invitation letters on behalf of the employee and each family member. Upon issue of the invitation letters, the employee and family members can apply for her/his single entry visa. A personal appearance at the Russian consulate to obtain this single entry visa is not required.
Once the single entry visa for the purposes of work and residence is obtained through the Consulate, the employee (and family members, if applicable) may enter Russia and immediately commence to work. However, immediately upon arrival, the employee and family members must undergo the formalities of registering with the Passport and Visa Department, and converting their single entry visas into multiple entry visas valid up to 1 year.
Basic Requirements to Qualify
1. Employment permit stipulates number, positions and countries of the nationality of foreign employees that the company is authorised to hire.
2. Representative and branch offices can employ foreigners within the framework of the quota of the accredited employees, which stipulates initial 5 foreigners. Representative and branch offices may increase the quota of accredited foreign employees in the accreditation authority. Without increasing quota, the employment permit for more than 5 foreign employees cannot be issued.
3. Preferential procedure of employment of highly qualified specialists for the position of director, his deputies, as well as for foreign employees of accredited representative office was abolished.
4. It is absolutely essential that the foreign employee has the name of the same company stated in her/his work permit and her/his work visa.
5. The hiring company should place on deposit of the Federal Migration Service the approximate price of a
6. The representative office employee visa is issued on the base of personal accreditation card that is sponsored by the accreditation authority.
7. Medical examination by a registered physician in a Russian State clinic certifying that the applicant is free of tuberculosis, leprosy, HIV, syphilis, Chlamydia and genital chancres. For those persons applying for a Residence Permit in Moscow, an additional test certifying a negative result for the presence of narcotics is also required.
Russian Corporate Documents Required for Employment Permit
The sponsoring Russian employer must present the following documents:
1. Charter (3 notarised copies);
2. Certificate of Registration;
3. Certificate of entry into the Consolidated State Register (3 notarised copies);
4. Licence (if any, 3 notarised copies);
5. Statistic Committee Certificate (3 notarised copies);
6. Certificate of registration at Tax Inspectorate (3 notarised copies);
7. Draft of labour agreement with the foreign employee;
8. Lease agreement on premises occupied by foreign employee (a copy);
9. Power of Attorney (to be drafted by local vendor);
10.
11. Bank reference (funds on account);
12. Original of receipt for payment of the state duty (3,000 rubles and 1,000 rubles for each foreign employee);
13. Original of documents proving the payment of deposit, which is required in case of employee’s departure from the Russian Federation.
A Russian visa lists:
• Traveller’s name and surname written in both Russian and Latin characters
• Date of birth
• Gender
• Citizenship/nationality
• Passport number
• Visa Issue date
• Entry and exit dates;
• Visa type (for example, a tourist visa or business visa)
• Number of entries allowed (i.e. single entry, double entry or multiple entry)
• Purpose of visit (e.g. study or tourism)
• Information of the host organisation in Russia
• Russian visa invitation number
• Choose the visa type you need
• Obtain necessary visa invitation to Russia
• Contact your local Russian Consulate to find out their requirements for obtaining visa
• Prepare the required package of documents
• Apply for the visa at the Consulate and pay the Consular Fee
• Pick up and check your visa to make sure that the information is correct.
Processing Time
The approximate time to assemble all corporate and employee’s personal documentation is approximately one month. The term for obtaining the employment permit is 2 months. The work permit is obtained within 21 working days. Single entry work visa can be obtained within 12 working days, the multiple entry one – within 21 working days.
Validity of the Work Visa
A single entry work visa is valid up to 3 months and enables to the foreigner to come to Russia within these 3 months and begin to work. A multiple entry work visa is valid up to 1 year.
Documents Required to Apply for a Work Visa
Following are the documents required to obtain the work visa, which should be provided by the foreign employee to the Russian Consulate:
1. Application form;
2. Passport copy (necessary pages) of a foreign employee. Passport should be valid no less than for 6 months;
3. Copy of employment permit with grant of original;
4. Copy of work permit (a plastic card) with grant of original;
5. 3 photographs 3×4 (mat, colour) – for
6. Required application fee.
Registration for Residence Permit and Tax Card
Foreigners (and their dependents) must register their residence within three days upon their arrival to the Russian Federation. If a foreigner would like to live in the private sector, the landlord of the apartment (house) has to give her/his consent on registration of the foreign citizen, which has to be legalised in House managing service (DEZ). Consent has to be provided by all individuals that are permanently registered in the apartment.
Foreigners arriving to the Russian Federation are not obliged to register as a taxpayer and to receive tax card.
Deadline approaches for foreign labour forecasts in Russia
As previously reported, the Russian Government set the deadline for employers to report the number of foreign employees (taking both actual employees and also civil/legal contractors) they anticipate needing to engage in the following year (including CIS citizens) to May 1 2009.
These reports are mandated by decree №783. The format of corresponding report had been established by another decree (№ 603) from the Ministry of Health and Social Development in September 17, 2007. The report must include information regarding the type of business activity, list of positions and professions (with relevant codes), total headcount of all employees and separately of foreign employees, country of origin of individuals whom the company expects to engage next year, etc.
This projected number is to be taken into account by the Russian Government for establishment of the overall quota for work permits and work visa invitations for 2010.
Companies must submit their forecasts to the corresponding local authorities. On the basis of this information, the designated authorities will make aggregate estimates of foreign labor requirements in their regions. The data is then to be further consolidated and the final quota for work permits and work visa invitations for the as a whole is to be presented to the Russian Government for approval.
Although this forecasting exercise has historically been for informational purposes, in current practice there is a risk of work permit applications being rejected if the position has not been included on the forecast. This procedure should be taken very seriously.
With regards to the 2009 forecast, there is still an opportunity to submit amendments to foreign labor forecast for 2009. According to the latest information from Russian immigration authorities, amended forecasts for 2009 will be taken into consideration after June 15, 2009 and the Russian Government may consolidate the amended overall quotas on work permits and work visa invitations for current year.
Move one would be happy to assist you with completion and submission of the foreign labor forecast for 2010 and amended foreign labor forecast for 2009 to the corresponding authority.
Procedure of issuing and extending Russian visas
To enter the Russian Federation a foreign citizen must submit a valid identity document, accepted as such by the Russian Federation, and a visa, if no other order of entry into the Russian Federation is established by an international agreement.
To enter the Russian Federation a foreign citizen must submit a valid identity document, accepted as such by the Russian Federation, and a Russian visa, if no other order of entry into the Russian Federation is established by an international agreement.
Procedure and terms of issue and provision of a Russian visa, extending its validity period, reissue in case of loss as well as Russian visa cancellation procedure are established by the Russian Federation Government Regulation № 335, adopted June 9, 2003 (with amendments and additions contained in the Government Regulation № 635, October 4, 2007). Fundamental provisions of the mentioned Procedure are in full conformity with the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the European Community on visa issue facilitation for nationals of the Russian Federation and the European Union that entered into force on June 1, 2007.
To obtain a Russian visa a foreign national should apply to a diplomatic or a consular representative office of the Russian Federation in person or by his legal representative and should submit the following documents:
• a valid identity document, accepted as such by the Russian Federation;
• a completed visa application form with one photograph;
• one photograph (usually 30×40 mm);
• a medical insurance policy, unless otherwise provided for by international agreements of the Russian Federation;
• an additional certificate proving that the applicant does not have HIV (AIDS), in case the foreign national applies for a visa for a term exceeding three months.
The size of consular fees taken for issuing Russian visa is established on the basis of reciprocity. Consular fee for the European 61 Union citizens is 35 euro for an ordinary Russian visa, and it doubles in case of an urgent issue (within three days).
To obtain a Russian visa the visitor must have an original Russian visa support letter («priglashenie to the Russian Federation»), issued by one of the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation offices. The Russian visa support letter can be issued on application by a citizen of the Russian Federation, as well as by a foreign citizen or a stateless person residing in the Russian Federation, or by a legal entity.
The following types of ordinary visas can be issued on the basis of invitations provided by the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation offices:
• private;
• business;
• humanitarian;
• study;
• work.
Depending on the number of authorized
It is necessary to know that the actual purpose of the entry of the foreign citizen must correspond to the type of the Russian visa issued to him (her) .
Entering the Russian Federation the foreign national fills in a Russian Migration card, giving the information contained in the Russian visa, and upon arrival to the point of destination in the territory of the Russian Federation he (she) submits the available documents to the host party for registration in the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation.
The duration of stay of a foreigner in the territory of the Russian Federation is determined by the validity period of his (her) Russian visa.
The foreign citizen is obliged to depart from the Russian Federation upon the expiry of the authorized term of stay. To extend the Russian visa validity period and the duration of stay the visitor should apply to one of the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation offices in advance, before the expiry of the abovementioned validity term.
In addition, the foreign citizens arriving to the Russian Federation on
If it is necessary for a foreign citizen to depart from the territory of the Russian Federation, his (her) Russian visa validity period can be extended by an office of the Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs stationed within the frontier zone (including at the state border checkpoint), or by an office of the Frontier Service – for a term not exceeding three days.
In all other cases extension of validity period of an ordinary Russian visa comes within the terms of reference of the Russian Federal Migration Service or its local departments.
The Russian visa validity period can be extended for up to 10 days provided that the total duration of stay of the foreign national in the Russian Federation doesn’t exceed 90 days in each
Given the circumstances of humanitarian nature (the necessity of immediate treatment, grave disease or death of a near relative residing in the Russian Federation) the present visa can be extended for a period necessary for taking ensuing measures and departure of the foreign citizen from the Russian Federation (on delivering documents confirming the given circumstances).
In case of the circumstances of insuperable force (emergency situations and circumstances unavoidable under the given conditions) as well as disasters Russian visa can be extended for a period necessary for the departure from the Russian Federation.
The Russian visa extension is executed by the mentioned above state bodies, i.e. by a territorial office of the Russian Federal Migration Service at a place of migration registration at his residence location, either at his actual residence, or at the state border crossing point of the Russian Federation. The procedure is commenced on the submission of the foreign citizen’s application by letter alongside with the petition of a physical person or organization applied for invitation for the foreign citizen and documents confirming the necessity of such extension.
A foreign national staying in the Russian Federation on the basis of a yearly multiple employment or educational Russian visa can continuously reside in the Russian Federation during the whole period of the given visa validity.
Having reasonable grounds for Russian visa extension a foreign citizen applies to a local department of the Russian Federal Migration Service in person. The application for the Russian visa extension should be submitted before the visa expiry. Concurrently with the application the foreign citizen submits:
• his/her identity card,
•
Also attached are:
• the petition of an inviting organization or a person,
• 2 photos (3×4 mm), and
• a state duty bill.
The size of the state duty is specified in accordance with the Tax Code of the Russian Federation. Selective classes of foreign citizens are granted exemption from the state duty for the Russian visa extension on terms of reciprocity and under the existing international conventions. At the present time the citizens of the European Union come within this statute.
Time for consideration of Russian visa extension application cannot exceed 20 days.
A foreign citizen, who did not leave the territory of the Russian Federation upon the date of the Russian visa expiry or did not apply for its extension, can be brought to administrative responsibility (money penalty) up to and including deportation from the Russian Federation and the sequential
Employers May Now Apply for Work Permits for 2010. Russian work permits support
Russia: Employers May Now Apply for Work Permits for 2010
Russian authorities recently released the 2010 work permit quota distributions for each region of the Russian Federation. The Russian government sets a national quota for the maximum number of available work permits each year, which are later allocated by region and occupation. Employers cannot file work permit applications on behalf of foreign workers until the allocation figures are released. Now that they have been, employers may now file work and employment permit applications and invitation letter applications for 2010.
Nationwide, the quota will be 1,944,356 for all types of work permits in 2010. This figure is based on Russian employers’ reported needs for 2010. The number of work permits reserved for Moscow city is 250,000 overall. There is an additional 85,600 for the outlying Moscow region.
An additional 583,307 quota numbers will be held in reserve for all regions of Russia. The reserve quota may be made available to employers later in the year, at the discretion of Russian authorities.
Russian work permits support
All companies operating on the territory of Russia and inviting foreigners to work in Russia shall have Permission from Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation on the right to attract and use foreign workers.
For each foreign worker they shall execute personal Work permit. A Russian Work permit is a document, which proves the right of a foreign citizen to temporarily perform working activities within the territory of the Russian Federation.
Entry of a foreigner into the territory of Russia for the purpose of work shall be executed under Russian Work visa only.
A Russian Work permit is a document, which proves the right of a foreign citizen to temporarily perform working activities within the territory of the RF.
From the 1st January 2003 some alterations to Russian legislation regulating the procedure of issuing Work Permits for Foreign Citizens came into force. This concerns all Russian legal entities (with foreign investments or not): now they all shall obtain permission to invite foreign labor force (for any ranks and positions in a company).
And then every foreign employee of the company having such permission shall obtain personal Russian Work Permit. In order to have a Russian work permit, a foreign employee has to have a Russian work visa.
The following documents are necessary to obtain work permit:
1. Photo 3×4 (2 ps. mat, color);
2. Medical document confirming negative test on AIDS, lepra (Hansen’s disease), tuberculosis, syphilis, clamidiosis, shankroid;
3. Copy of passport with registration;
4. Copy of the migration card;
5. Receipt for payment of the state duty in the amount of 1000 rubles per one person (original) -will be left at the state authority
The following documents are necessary to obtain permit for engagement of foreign labour force.
PLEASE NOTE: All foreign documents require legalization in the country of its origin (apostille) and notarized translation into the Russian language. Letters and applications necessary for submittal to the mentioned authorities can be signed by the Head of the Representative/Branch Office of a foreign company if General Power of Attorney contains the respective authorization.
For a company – resident:
1. A Company’s Charter (3 notarized copies);
2. Decision about Incorporation of the Company (1 notarized copy);
3. Certificate of registration at Moscow Registration Chamber (3 notarized copies) – if any;
4. Certificate of registration at the Unified State Register of Legal Entities (3 notarized copies)
5. Extract from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities (1 notarized copy)
6. Certificate proving registration at Tax Inspectorate (3 notarized copies)
7. License (if activity of your Company requires licensing)
8. Information Letter from the State Statistics Committee (1 copy)
9. Extract from a Company’s Stuff Schedule
10. Decision about appointment of the General director of a Company (1 copy with seal of a company)
11. Draft of a labour contract containing the information about position and salary of an employee (sealed and signed by General director of a Company, but not by an employee)
12. Bank reference (funds on account)
13.
14. Receipt for payment of the state duty in the amount of 3000 rubles per one person (original)
15. Power of Attorney given to the consulting company by employee
For the representative office of a foreign company:
1. Charter of a head company (2 notarized copies);
2. Extract from the Trade Register or Certificate of Incorporation of a head company (2 notarized copies);
3. Permit on Opening (3 notarized copies);
4. The Certificate of entering the Consolidated State Register issued by the State Registration Chamber (3 notarized copies);
5. General Power of Attorney for the Head (2 notarized copies);
6. Certificate proving registration at Tax Inspectorate (3 notarized copies);
7. Bank reference (funds on account);
10.
11. Receipt for payment of the state duty in the amount of 3000 rubles for each employee (original) -will be left at the state authority;
12. Power of Attorney given to the consulting company by employee
For the branch office of a foreign company
1. Charter of a head company (2 notarized copies);
2. Extract from the Trade Register or Certificate of Incorporation of a head company (2 notarized copies);
3. The Certificate of entering the Consolidated State Register from the State Registration Chamber (3 notarized copies)
4. General Power of Attorney for the Head of the Branch Office (2 notarized copies)
5. Certificate proving registration at Tax Inspectorate (3 notarized copies)
6. Extract from the Branch Office’s Stuff Schedule;
7. Draft of contract with a foreign employee indicating the position and the salary;
8. Bank reference (funds on account)
9.
10. Receipt for payment of the state duty in the amount of 3000 rubles for each employee (original) -will be left at the state authority;
11. Power of Attorney given to the consulting company by employee.
The following sources were used
• www.pwc.com
• www.waytorussia.net
• www.russia.alloexpat.com
• www.moveoneinc.com
• www.
• www.
