Medidas para resolver el estatus legal de los extranjeros en Rusia en medio de una pandemia

On April 18, 2020, Russian president Vladimir Putin signed a decree “On temporary measures regulating the legal status of foreign citizens and stateless persons in Russia amid the threat of the further spread of a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19)”. Decree allows all labor migrants whose stay in Russia was legal on March 15 to freely stay and work until June 15.

From March 15 to June 15, 2020, foreigners do not need to renew temporary and permanent residence permit, visa, registration at place of stay and other documents allowing them to legally stay in Russia.

It is not required to renew work permits, patents and documents allowing attracting foreign employees. During three months, the period of their stay will not be taken into account and that’s why work permits and labor patents, will not be able to expire.

According to the decree, terms of stay period abroad for participants of State program to facilitate voluntary resettlement of compatriots living abroad and for persons who have temporary residence permit, residence permit in the Russia have also been suspended.

In addition, employers observing the sanitary and epidemiological measures, are entitled to attract foreigners and stateless persons as workers if they do not have work permit in Russia, but have arrived in the manner requiring visa. It is also allowed to attract foreigners who do not have patents and arrived in Russia without visa.