1. Visa House
2. Russian Visa Types
3. Russian Work Visa
4. Procedure for obtaining

The procedure for receiving the work visa for foreign citizens

Obtaining a work visa for the foreign citizen is a multistage and long process. For example, it will take on the average 100 days and 15900 ₽ (only to pay the state fee) for the Company-employer registered in Moscow to hire a foreign worker. Since a work permit is valid maximum for 1 year, it is necessary to start processing a new work visa 6 months after receiving the current work visa.

Citizens of the CIS do not need a visa to enter Russia, and Work permit is issued for them in the simplified order for 10 working days and 4000 ₽ approximately.

Company – member of AmCham can process the documents in Moscow in “one window” mode for its foreign colleagues working not only in Moscow, but also in any other region of Russia.

Steps of the work visa getting procedure:

1. Annual electronic application for foreign manpower need submitted to the Migration quotas automated information system.
2. Placement of vacancy in the administration of Civil service of the employment of population.
3. Permission to involve the foreign labor force in the Migration police.
4. Work permit for foreigner (Plastic Card) in the Migration police.
5. Accreditation at the local department of the Migration police.
6. Work visa Invitation for foreigner.
7. Receiving a single-entry work visa for 90 days at the Russian Consulate.
8. Visa registration with the local department of the Migration police.
9. Notification of the beginning of work of a foreigner submitted to the Migration Police.
10. Re-issue of a single-entry work visa into a multiple-entry visa with the extension of its validity period.

Samples of documents

Front side of the application to the Government Employment Services

Back side of the application to the Government Employment Services

Sample of Permit to employ foreign workers (Permission)

Face side of work permit of foreigner

Wire side of work permit of foreigner

Detailed description of stages for the Company registered in Moscow and hiring foreign citizen to work in Moscow:

1. Every year a Company is obliged to submit the application for foreign manpower need for the next year, so that the needs of the concrete company would be taken into account while the formation of quotas for the Russian Federation subjects and of all-Russian quota. Application includes a compulsory registration with the quick information center “Migration quota” at www.migrakvota.gov.ru. This rule does not apply to non-quota positions which list is renewed every year.
2. Application to the Administration of civil service of the employment of population (UGSZN) of Moscow to obtain a Statement on the expediency of involvement and employment of foreign workers

   Required documents:

   • Application form (PDF file, 48 KB) about the assignment to the employer of the state service of assistance in the selection of the required workers (1 copy);
   • Information about the need of workers (PDF file, 50 KB), the presence of the unfilled vacancies (2 copies);
   • Certificate from the Russian Federal Tax Service of “State registration of legal entities” and the introduction of record into the United state list of legal entities (1 notarized copy);
   • Certificate from the Russian Federal Tax Service of “Registration of the legal entity with the Tax Authorities” (1 notarized copy);
   • Codes of statistics (1 notarized copy);
   • License to carry out activities (if needed) (1 notarized copy);
   • Power of attorney (PDF file, 52 KB) to the authorized representative to submit and obtain statements of the Administration of civil service of the employment of population (UGSZN) of Moscow (1 copy).
3. Application to the Migration police for the “Permission to involve the foreign labor force” (Permit) for the Company.

   Required documents:

   • Conclusion of the Administration of civil service of the employment of population (UGSZN) of Moscow (copy with the assignment of the original);
   • Request to the Administration of civil service of the employment of population (UGSZN) (PDF file, 73 KB) (2 copies);
   • Application (PDF file, 44 KB) to the Migration police of Russia (3 copies);
   • Application form of the organization (PDF file, 37 KB) (1 copy);
   • Application (PDF file, 42 KB) to the Russian Migration police of Moscow (2 copies);
   • Project of a labour contract or other documents confirming the preliminary agreement with foreign citizens or foreign partners about intention and conditions of employment of foreign workers (1 copy, signed and stamped by the employer);
   • Certificate from the Russian Federal Tax Service of “State registration of legal entities” and the introduction of record into the United state list of legal entities (1 notarized copy);
   • Certificate from the Russian Federal Tax Service of “The introduction of a record into the United state list of legal entities on the state registration of changes into the constitutive documents of a legal entity” (if changes were occurred) (2 notarized copies);
   • Certificate from the Russian Federal Tax Service of “The introduction of a record into the United state list of legal entities on the state registration of changes which are not connected with constitutive documents of legal entity” (if changes were occurred) (2 notarized copies);
   • Certificate from the Russian Federal Tax Service of “Registration of the legal entity with the Tax Authorities” (1 notarized copy);
   • Original of a billing document (stamped by bank) proving the payment of the state fee of 10000 ₽ for giving the company a “Permit to involve foreign labour force” for each foreign worker (properties).
4. Appeal to the Russian Migration police of Moscow to obtain a Work permit for a foreign national (plastic card).

   Required documents:

   • Copy of a “Permit to involve foreign labour force” (with the presentation of the original);
   • Application (file PDF, 42 KB) to the Russian Migration police of Moscow (2 copies);
   • Application form of the organization (PDF file, 37 KB) (1 copy);
   • Warrant to the authorized representative (file PDF, 52 KB) for the right to supply and obtain a work permit (plastic card) (2 copies);
   • Application (file PDF, 102 KB) about issuing to foreign citizen or person without citizenship of work permit (1 copy);
   • Letter of guarantee (file PDF, 55 KB) for the return of foreign worker (1 copy);
   • Examination certificate for knowledge of Russian language;
   • Medical certificate according to the results of the analyses:
     • Form B20-B24 – about absence of HIV-infection;
     • Form A30 – about absence of disease of Hansen (leprosy);
     • Form A15-A19 – about absence of tuberculosis;
     • Form A50-A53.9, A55, A57 – about absence of sexually transmitted infections (syphilis, lymphogranuloma (venereal), chancre);
     • Form 086 – for the workers connected with physical labor;
     • about absence of addiction;
   • Notarized translation of passport of foreign citizen (1 copy);
   • Colored photo of foreign citizen on the mat paper – 2 pieces;
   • Copy of document with apostille about the vocational education with the translation into Russian (1 notarized copy); or a certificate of equivalency of such document to the Russian school certificate or diploma of professional education;
   • Original of billing document (stamped by bank) about the payment of the state duty of 3500 ₽ for obtaining a “work permit for a foreign citizen or a person without citizenship” (properties).
5. Appeal to the Russian Migration police of Moscow for registration of a legal entity as an organization applying for issuing invitations (accreditation).

   Required documents:

   • Application form (PDF file, 75 KB);
   • Extract from the “United state list of legal entities” (remoteness of an extract should not exceed one month; 1 notarized copy);
   • Passport of the head of organization (1 notarized copy);
     • If the head (Director-General) is not Russian citizen, copies of Permit to involve foreign labour force and Work permit for foreign citizen (both notarized copies) are also required;
   • Non-residential Lease Agreement (in case of sublease, copies of sublease agreement and non-residential lease agreement should be presented; 1 notarized copy);
   • Certificate of “State registration of the property rights” of the non-residential premises (at owner of premises) occupied by organization (1 notarized copy);
   • Letter of guarantee (file PDF, 41 КB).
6. Appeal to the Russian Migration police of Moscow in order to obtain a single-entry 90-day Russian visa invitation for foreign national with the purpose of visit “employment” (Visa Invitation).

   Required documents:

   • Organization Registration card in the Russian Migration police of Moscow;
   • Application letter for invitation (file PDF, 116 KB) for Russian visa (1 copy);
   • Letter of guarantee (file PDF, 45 KB) from organization (1 copy);
   • Copy of “permit to employ foreign workers” (Permission) (1 copy);
   • Copy of both sides of “Work permit of foreign citizen” (Plastic card) with the presentation of original;
   • Copy of the page of passport of foreign citizen, which contains photo and specifications (1 copy);
   • Copy of labor contract;
   • Receipt for state fee payment.
7. Application of foreign citizen to the Russian consulate with purpose of obtaining single work visa for 90 days.
8. Notification of the beginning of work of the foreign national in the organization.
   After obtaining a work permit and a work visa, signing a labor contract with a foreign worker (or extending the existing labor contract for the new period), the Company- employer is obligated to send the notification of conclusion of the employment agreement with a foreign worker to the Migration police of Moscow in 3 days.
   Similar notification should be sent in case of cancellation of an employment agreement with a foreign worker.
9. Registration of the work visa with the local department of the Migration police.
10. Appeal to the Russian Migration police of Moscow in order to re-issue a single-entry 90-day work visa into a multiple-entry work visa.

    Required documents:

    • Notification of arrival (Visa registration) (file XLSX, 130 KB) of foreign citizen to the place of stay (1 copy);
    • Letter of guarantee (file PDF, 52 KB) from the inviting organization with the request to obtain a multiple entree work visa for foreign citizen (1 copy);
    • Application with request to obtain a multiple entree work visa (file PDF, 55 KB) from a foreign citizen (1 copy);
    • Passport copies of foreign citizen with the visa and migratory card, with the presentation of originals;
    • Two photos (colored, mat paper, size of 3×4);
    • Copy of “permit to employ foreign workers” (permission), with presentation of original;
    • Copy of “work permit of foreign citizen” (Plastic card), with presentation of original.