Obtaining a Work Permit for a Highly Qualified Specialist (HQS)

Foreign nationals who wish to work in Russia generally need to comply with Russian immigration and employment requirements before starting work. One of the available immigration routes is the Highly Qualified Specialist (HQS) procedure, which is intended for foreign professionals employed by eligible Russian companies. The HQS framework provides a specific procedure for obtaining a work permit and, where required, a work visa, as well as for arranging the immigration status of accompanying family members.

The process involves both the foreign specialist and the Russian employer. The employer is responsible for preparing and submitting a number of documents to the Russian migration authorities, while the specialist must provide passport, qualification and other supporting documents and complete the required immigration formalities. Depending on the circumstances, the procedure may also include obtaining an invitation to enter Russia, arranging medical insurance, undergoing medical examinations and fingerprinting, and obtaining Russian identification numbers such as a SNILS and taxpayer identification number (INN).

Legal Bridge assists foreign specialists and their employers throughout the entire process, from the initial review of eligibility and preparation of documents to obtaining the work permit and completing the necessary post-arrival formalities in Russia. We coordinate the different stages of the procedure and help ensure that the documents submitted by the employer and the foreign employee are consistent and comply with the applicable requirements.

Service Fees

• Notification to the Migration Department of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for Moscow regarding the conclusion of an employment agreement with a foreign employee - RUB 10,000.
• Registration of the employer with the Migration Department of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for Moscow for the purpose of issuing invitations and visas - RUB 25,000.
• Issuance of an invitation - RUB 10,000.
• Obtaining a work permit for a foreign employee - RUB 45,000.
• Arranging a voluntary medical insurance policy for three years - RUB 12,500.
• Accompanying the foreign employee to the Pension Fund for obtaining a SNILS - RUB 8,500.
• Accompanying the foreign employee to the tax authority for obtaining a taxpayer identification number (INN) - RUB 8,500.
• Accompanying the foreign employee to a medical center for medical examinations and tests - RUB 8,500.
• Courier services due to the remote location of the Migration Department of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for Moscow - RUB 5,000.

Mandatory Additional Payments

• State fee for issuance of a work permit - RUB 3,500.
• Fee for fingerprinting - from RUB 1,100 to RUB 10,100, depending on where the procedure is carried out.
• State fee for issuance of an invitation - RUB 800.
• Medical examinations and tests at a medical center - RUB 8,900.

Timeframe

The overall timeframe for obtaining a work permit is up to 2 months, but it may be extended by decision of the migration authorities.

Required Documents

From the employer (copies certified by the signature of the General Director and the company seal):

• Certificate of tax registration.
• Certificate of state registration / record sheet confirming registration of the company.
• Articles of Association (latest version).
• Resolution / Minutes appointing the General Director.
• Resolution / Minutes extending the term of office of the General Director.
• Order confirming the General Director's assumption of office.
• Documents confirming the company's registered / actual address.
• Bank certificate containing the company's banking details.
• Copy of the General Director's passport (photo page and registered address page).

From the specialist (hereinafter referred to as the HQS)

• Copy of the international passport.
• Copy of a document confirming education and qualifications.
• Copies of the international passports of accompanying family members of the HQS, if any.
• Copies of documents confirming the family relationship between the accompanying family members and the HQS.
• Information on the country and city where the work visa is expected to be obtained.
• Information on the permanent place of residence abroad, including the full address and postal code.
• Information on the most recent place of employment, including the full company name, position, full company address with postal code, and telephone number.
• Letters of recommendation, references from previous employers, information on professional awards and other achievements of the HQS are welcome, but their absence will not prevent the issuance of a work permit.

Document Requirements

Requirements for the Foreign National's Passport

• For the purpose of obtaining a work permit, the passport must remain valid for at least 1.5 years from the date of submission of the relevant application.
• For the purpose of obtaining an invitation to enter Russia, the passport must also remain valid for more than 1.5 years from the expected date of entry.
• For the issuance of a work visa, the passport must show no signs of forgery, contain no corrections or missing pages, and have at least two blank pages. It must remain valid for at least six months after the visa expiry date.

If the passport is replaced, the information in the work permit must be amended within 7 business days after receipt of the new passport or entry into Russia. Failure to comply with this deadline may result in an administrative fine and the need to restore the visa.

Requirements for Documents Confirming Education and Qualifications

• The employer determines the qualifications of the HQS on the basis of the documents provided as evidence of the specialist's professional skills and experience.
• For certain specialized positions, a diploma may be required. Such diploma must undergo consular legalization or bear an apostille unless otherwise provided for by an applicable international treaty.
• For certain professions, including medical, legal and engineering professions, recognition of foreign education documents by Rosobrnadzor may be required.

Documents Confirming the Family Relationship with the HQS

• Marriage certificate.
• Birth certificate.
• Extracts from a family register or state population register confirming the family relationship in accordance with the laws of the HQS's country of citizenship.

Key Points to Consider When Preparing Documents

• The HQS's passport must be translated into Russian, and the translation must be notarized. Make sure that the details stated in the employment agreement and other documents correspond exactly to the details in the translated passport. It is recommended to prepare two copies of the translation, as one copy may be required for the medical examination after entering Russia on a work visa.
• Any documents issued by foreign authorities or institutions, such as civil status documents confirming family relationships, education documents and criminal record certificates, must undergo consular legalization or bear an apostille if the issuing country is a party to the Hague Convention. Exceptions may apply where international treaties on mutual recognition of documents are in force.
• All documents issued in a foreign language must be translated into Russian, and the translation must be notarized.
• Documents or copies consisting of several pages must be bound, numbered and bear a certification statement on the reverse side of the final page.
• The application for engagement of an HQS must be signed by the head of the organization or another person authorized to act on behalf of the organization without a power of attorney, with their position indicated.
• The state fee for issuance of a work permit is RUB 3,500. It must be paid from the employer's bank account and supported by a payment order bearing the bank's signature and seal.
• The state fee for issuance of an invitation to a foreign national is RUB 800 for each invitation. The payment order must be certified by the bank's original round seal and signed by a bank officer.
• The state fee for issuance of a work visa in the amount of RUB 1,600 may be paid through a bank, although payment from the employer's bank account using a separate payment order for each foreign national is preferable. The payment order must also be certified by the bank's original round seal and signed by a bank officer.
• All payment orders for state fees must state the full names of the relevant foreign nationals.