Work Permits for Qualified Staff Members

According to the Administrative regulations, the process of obtaining Work Permits for qualified staff members from abroad for employment in Representative Offices or Branches of foreign firms follows a three-phase pattern:

• Advertising the vacancy at a Job Centre (JC) based on the company’s legal address, for a period of 30 calendar days. This period is intended to allow the Job Centre to recommend candidates for the vacancy from the Russian workforce.
• On the expiry of this month, assuming a Russian candidate has not been found, the employer then receives the right to submit documents for hiring foreign staffers for the position (RPIRS). RPIRS gives information about the number of vacancies, the job descriptions, what period of employment and at what location the hiring company is entitled to hire staff. The turnaround period for setting up an RPIRS is 30 calendar days.
• Once the RPIRS has been set up, the company can submit documents for the individual work permit of a foreign national. The turnaround time for receiving such an individual work permit is one month.

1. Confirmation of the Company’s INN. A notarised copy, in one example.
2. Certificate of inclusion in the register of legal entities (OGRN). A notarised copy, in one example.
3. A letter from the State Statistics Commission. A notarised copy, in one example..
4. Details of the vacant post to be advertised — in an attachment (Details of the vacancy, in 3 copies)
5. A request for confirmation of the feasibility of hiring and employing foreign staffers — in an attachment (Request) — in 2 copies.
6. Power of Attorney for a representative person— in an attachment (JC Power of Attorney) — 2 copies.

* if the documents are signed by a person who is not the Head of the organisation, it is required to attach a copy of a document confirming the right of the signatory to sign such documents, with a legalised and stamped copy which is signed by the Head of the organisation.

1. Listing of the employer, as registered at the UVM of the State Ministry of Domestic Affairs of Russia in Moscow (Listing for RPIRS) — 2 copies
2. Certificate of inclusion in the register of legal entities (OGRN). A notarised copy, in one example.
3. Confirmation of the Company’s INN. A notarised copy, in one example.
4. The model of the Contract of Employment. This Contract of Employment must state the medical and social insurance details, the amount of the salary according to staffing details, details of the work timetable and agreed time off specified for the location of the employment (provision of services), and noted that the employer provides the employee with voluntary medical insurance. It is similarly required to leave space for document details. The Contract should be signed by the General director and confirmed with a company seal.
5. An original payment instruction for payment of State Duty in the amount of 10,000 roubles per foreign employee, with the bank’s blue stamp — details in the application (Details of the payment of State Duty).
6. Decision of founders to appoint the general director, confirmed by a company seal*;
7. Decree on the appointment of the general director, confirmed by a company seal*;
8. Power of Attorney for a representative person— in an attachment (JC Power of Attorney) — 2 copies.
9. Copy of a document (Power of attorney) confirming the right of the signatory, with a legalised and stamped copy which is signed by the Head of the organisation**.
10. A Request to issue an assessment report on the expediency to employ foreign nationals — 2 copies;
11. Charter of the company, confirmed by a company seal.

* If the permit is intended for the general director;

** If the documents are signed by the person who is not the General director of the organization (or by a Chairman of the management board of the bank).

1. Photograph (colour, matte finish, size 30×40 mm) — 1 copy
2. A medical confirmation, in the established format, confirming the absence of communicable diseases: infecitons (AIDS, tuberculosis, Syphilis, Hansen’s Disease), chlamydia, chancroid) and survey reports of a narcotics specialist. The confirmation must be valid for 3 months and is attached to the packet of documents for submission.
3. An Application for the Setting Up of a personalised Work Permit at the UVM of the State Ministry of Domestic Affairs of Russia in Moscow — in an attachment (Application for Work Permit) — 2 copies.
4. A copy of a document of professional education, qualifications obtain by the foreign applicant in their home country, or a document confirming the equivalence of such a document with a Russian diploma (attestation) of professional education — with an APOSTILLE and a notarised translation.
5. The original of a Payment Confirmation for the payment of State Duty (3500 roubles per foreign employee) with the original stamp of the bank (Details of State Duty payment)
6. A Letter of Guarantee (which must bear the company seal, and signature of the Head of the Representative Office, and of its Chief Accountant) as an attachment (Letter of Guarantee of the Representative Office) — in two copies.
7. An individual confirmation of the issue of a Work Permit — in an attachment (Personal Confirmation) — in 1 copy
8. The passport* of the foreign applicant — a copy, translated into Russian and legalised by a Notary — 1 copy.

   * the validity period of the passport must be no less than 2 years from the moment of the issue of the Work Permit. The passport must contain at least two blank pages.

9. If the foreign applicant already has an INN number — the original of the Confirmation of the INN Registration + a copy, or a notarised copy of the Confirmation of Issue of an INN Number.
   1. An IR form — in cases where the foreign applicant does not have an INN number (IR Form)
   2. An IG form — in cases where the foreign applicant does not have an INN at the present moment (IG Form)
10. A certificate confirming the foreign applicant’s knowledge of the Russian language, knowledge of Russian history, and of the principles of Russian legislation
11. A Voluntary Medical Insurance Policy document.
12. The original of the Employment Contract + a copy.
    The Employment Contract must state the medical and social insurance details, the amount of salary according to staffing details, the working schedule details and time off agreements, documented for the location of the workplace (or provision of services), and noted that the employer provides the employee with voluntary medical insurance coverage. It is similarly required that there be a place to record details in the contract. The contract must be signed by the General director and stamped with the Company Seal.
13. A Power Of Attorney for a representative person, signed by the Head of the company — 2 copies.