Highly Qualified Specialist visa in Russia - all you need to know

If you are a foreign company and you want to open an office in Russia, and send your workers to Russia, then you will inevitably face the question of how to register your employees to work in the country.

For a long period of work - more than 3 months - there are two options for registering employees:
1) regular worker visa. The main difficulty in obtaining it is that employees must take Russian language, history and law exams after arriving in Russia.
2) Highly Qualified Specialist Visa, which this article is dedicated to.

What are its advantages?
Its main advantage over a regular visa is that there is no Russian language, history, and law exam requirement. In addition, a highly qualified specialist can temporarily move to another region to work, rather than work in just one region. Plus, such a worker can invite members of their family to live in Russia.

However, there are some requirements:
1. The salary of a highly qualified employee must be at least 750,000 rubles quarterly (as of April 2025, this is almost 10,000 USD).
2. Such an employee must confirm their high qualifications with documents. The law states that the qualification is determined by the employer, but the forms filled out by the employer require the indication of the diploma of such an employee.

HOW TO HAVE THIS VISA ISSUED?

The list of documents:
1. Employer's petition to hire a highly qualified specialist.
It is drawn up according to a special form established by law. A photograph is pasted onto the petition.
2. Diploma (preferably, but not required) - if available, then with translation;
3. Notarized copy of the passport with a notarized translation into Russian; the translation of the passport should be done in Russia and certified by a notary.
4. Original employment contract. At the time the documents are submitted, the contract must already be signed.
5. Letter of guarantee from the employer on company letterhead. In this letter, the employer guarantees that they will provide insurance for the period of work, as well as the employee's flight in the event of termination of the contract.
6. Power of attorney for the person who will submit the documents, on company letterhead, to represent the interests of the company.
7. Health certificates for the worker about passing all tests in Russia (incl. absence of HIV).
8. Employee fingerprint card obtained in Russia.
9. State fee
10. Insurance certificate
11. Employer's constituent documents

Applying process:
All these documents are submitted to the Migration Service of Russia. To apply, you should make an appointment in advance. Documents are to be submitted in the region where the employee is expected to work or the company is registered.

After applying:
A work permit is issued within 2 weeks, and a highly qualified specialist visa is issued within 1 month.
In addition, when applying, it is necessary to indicate where exactly the worker will receive the visa: in Russia or at the embassy in their country.

Need legal help? Feel free to contact us:
Tel: +7 909 961-19-09
Email: legalsolutions@inbox.ru
Visit us: Moscow, Zubovskiy bulvar, building 4/1, office 308



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