Information updated on 17.01.2012
Until recently, visa support for the employees of Branches and Representative offices of foreign companies (hereafter “Representations”) was provided only by State organizations in which they had been registered (State Registration Chamber, Chamber of Commerce and Industry).
Visa support was provided only to the accredited employees and their family members who had the sole responsibility for their registration with the migration authorities.
In January 2008, the Federal Migration Service of Moscow started to accept the documents for registration of Representations.
Registration with the FMS of Moscow enables Representations:
- to obtain invitation letters for work visas for their staff;
- to obtain/prolong work visas;
- to register work visas.
Work visa is obtained/prolonged on the basis of work permit and is issued for the period of work permit validity.
Work visa can be prolonged on the basis of the work permit without leaving Russia.
Registration of Representations in the FMS of Moscow also ensures:
- a shorter process of obtaining invitation letters for work visa;
- a shorter process of obtaining/prolongation of work visa;
- an automatic registration for the whole period of visa validity (at the employer’s address);
- visa support and registration for the accompanying family members;
- the inviting company in the visa is the Representation itself (rather than state organizations).
Unlike Russian legal entities Representations registered in the FMS do not have the right to apply for business/commercial invitation letters on their behalf.
Documents for registration can be processed when applying to the FMS with the documents for the first invitation letter for foreign citizen. The following documents should be presented to the FMS of Moscow:
- an application form;
- a copy of permit for accreditation of Representation (notarized);
- a copy of a certified power of attorney for the Head of the Representation (notarized);
- a copy of the INN certificate (notarized);
- a copy of the tax account certificate (notarized);
- an extract from the legal entity’s public register (valid for 3 months);
- a copy of the company’s labour quota certificate (notarized);
- a power of attorney for the courier.
The period of registration processing is from 10 to 15 working days. To obtain the FMS registration card an authorized
person of the Representation should visit the FMS.
The documents and the procedures are the same for registration of Russian legal entities in the FMS of Moscow.
For more detailed information please contact consultants of Confidence Group.
