The concept “Highly qualified specialist”, introdused in 2010, describes the procedure and peculiarities of hiring, defines the necessity and period of work permits validity for appropriate categories of foreign citizens in Russia.
Contents:
- Who is a Highly qualified specialist
- Who can hire Highly qualified specialists
- The period of Highly qualified specialists’ work permit validity
- Necessity of having quota when applying for Highly qualified specialist’s work permit
- The period of Highly qualified specialist’s work permit processing
- Possibility to apply for a Highly qualified specialist’s work permit in different regions of Russia
- Rules of staying on the territory of RF for Highly qualified specialists and their family members
- Procedure of hiring Highly qualified specialist. Periods for processing, necessary documents
- Where to apply
- Can a foreign citizen obtain a work permit as a Highly qualified specialist by himself
- Cases when it is not obligatory to apply for work permit as per Law
Who is a Highly qualified specialist
A Highly qualified specialist is a foreign citizen, who has working experience, skills and achievements in the appropriate sphere of activity and if his annual income in Russia is supposed to be more than 2 million Rubles.
The assessment of competence level and qualification of a foreign citizen can be made at the discretion of employer and employer himself can conclude if a foreign citizen is a highly qualified specialist or not.
To make this assessment employer can use the following documents:
- Information/documents proving professional skills;
- Information regarding previous working activity, including references from Russian and foreign employers;
- Information from the organizations dealing with executive search and personal requirement;
- Information on any intellectual publications;
- Information on grants and rewards;
- Any other objective information which can be confirmed by the documents.
Who can hire Highly qualified specialists
Highly qualified specialists can be hired by the following organizations:
- Russian commercial organizations;
- Representations of the foreign legal entities accredited in Russian Federation;
- Russian scientific organizations;
- Russian organizations executing professional educational activity (excluding professional religious education);
- Medical organizations and other organizations executing scientific, innovative activity, experimental products, tests;
- Organizations engaged in personnel development within State programs.
The period of Highly qualified specialists’ work permit validity
Highly qualified specialists’ work permits are issued for the period of labor contract validity but not longer than 3 years with prolongation opportunity.
Necessity of having Quota when applying for Highly qualified specialist’s work permit
Employer can submit documents for Highly qualified specialist’s work permit for any position. An employer does not need foreign labor Quota in order to get work permit for Highly qualified specialists.
The period of Highly qualified specialist’s work permit processing
The period of Highly qualified specialist’s work permit processing cannot exceed 14 working days from the date of applying to the Federal Migration Service.
Possibility to apply for a Highly qualified specialist’s work permit in different regions of Russia
If according to the labor contract with a Highly qualified specialist his activity is supposed to take place in two or more regions of Russia, the work permit for such a foreign employee can be issued valid in these regions of Russia.
Rules of staying on the territory of RF for Highly qualified specialists and their family members
Highly qualified specialists and their family members (only spouse, children under 18) should have the contract of voluntary medical insurance which should be made by the employer.
Procedure of hiring Highly qualified specialist. Periods for processing, necessary documents:
№ | Procedure of hiring Highly qualified specialist | Necessary documents | Period for processing |
1 | Obtaining work permit (max 3 years) |
| 14 working days |
2 | Obtaining invitation letter (up to 3 years) |
| 14 working days |
3 | Obtaining multiple entry visa at the Russian Consulate (up to 3 years) |
| From 3 to 10 working days |
4 | Migration register (registration) of foreign citizen (up to 3 years) |
| 1 day. Should be made within 3 working days upon arrival to Russia |
5 | Migration Registration within local tax inspection |
| 7 - 10 working days. Shoud apply within 10 working days from obtaining work permit |
6 | Notification of FMS on salary/payments |
| Quartelly within work permit validity period |
7 | Notification of Tax Inspection on labor contract conclusion |
| 1-2 working days. Within 10 days from obtaining of work permit |
Where to apply
GU MVD for the questions of immigration accepts the documents for Highly qualified specialists at the following address: Moscow, Boyarskiy per., 4. tel. 214 9361, 915 5924.
Can a foreign citizen obtain a work permit as a Highly qualified specialist by himself
A foreign citizen can declare himself that he is a Highly qualified specialist. To do this he should apply to the representations of the Federal Migration Service or Russian Consulates in the country of his citizenship with the documents proving his skills and achievements in the appropriate sphere of activity. Russian authorities will publish the information on such foreign citizens on the official web site at: https://гувм.мвд.рф/about/compatriots/information_pack/Upolnomochennie_organi_za_rubezhom/Predstavitelstva_predstaviteli_FMS_Rossi
A Russian Employer can choose the appropriate Highly qualified specialist and invite him to the interview in Russia. For this purposes Russian Consulate will issue a visa for him (without invitation letter) valid for the period up to 1 month.
If the candidate will meet the requirements of an employer (after interview) his business visa can be cancelled and a new work visa valid up to 3 year can be issued instead (without leaving Russia).
Cases when it is not obligatory to apply for work permit as per Law
According to the new law there are some categories of foreign citizens who are free of obtaining work permits in Russia, they are:
- employees of the officially accredited in Russia representations of the foreign legal entities within the approved upon registration number of employees on the reciprocity principle in accordance with the international agreements with Russian Federation;
- employees of diplomatic and Consulate organizations and their home workers staff;
- employees of the foreign legal entities (production and supply spheres) who execute installation works, service and guarantee/post guarantee works of the technical equipment of the supplied equipment;
- accredited journalists;
- those who study in Russian professional institutions and work during their holidays;
- invited to Russia as teachers in educational institutions except those who are going to study within professional religious institutions.
For more information please contact consultants of Confidence Group.
