Work Permits for Foreign Employees in Russia

Like most countries, Russia imposes limitations on the employment of foreigner workers. The process of securing permission for foreign employees to work in Russia is cumbersome can take more than two months to complete.

Representative and branch offices of foreign companies may have up to five foreign employees although it is possible to apply for permission to have a higher number. Three agencies must approve the work permit:

1. The Local Employment Service,
2. The Federal Employment Service and
3. The Federal Migration Service.

These approvals must be secured sequentially and each step normally takes two to four weeks.

The peculiarly Russian requirement of a government "invitation" before a visa can issue is a practice continued from the Soviet period and applies to work permits as well as other visas. Another feature of the Russian immigration system is that one cannot change one's immigration status while in Russia. It is necessary to leave the country and return. So if an employee has entered the country under a business visa, they will have to leave the territory of the Russian Federation and return before they can lawfully exercise the privileges afforded by their work permit.

The list of documentation required of the company and the worker is somewhat onerous and simply collecting it will require some time. The lawyers and staff at Jus Privatum have extensive experience in guiding companies through this process and are ready to assist you.

Through the employment process the Russian company will be required to present a substantial amount of documents. The documents needed at the various steps in the process are:

1. Articles or incorporation duly notarized (1 copy);
2. Certificate of entry into the Consolidated State Register (2 notarized copies);
3. Company License duly notarized, if applicable (2 copies);
4. Certificate from the Statistic Committee duly notarized (2 copies);
5. Certificate of registration at Tax Inspectorate (2 notarized copies);
6. Draft of labor agreement with the foreign employee;
7. Power of Attorney (to be drafted by local counsel);
8. Original receipt proving payment of the state duty (3,000 rubles and 1,000 rubles for each assignee).

The foreign worker will be required to present the following documents:

1. passport copy (all passports must have at least 6 months left before expiration);
2. copy of the Russian visa;
3. copy of the university diploma;
4. medical examination performed by a registered physician in a Russian State clinic certifying that the applicant is free of: tuberculosis, leprosy, HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and genital chancres. Medical Certificates must be less than 90 days old.
5. a color photograph.