Visas

Documents required for the issuance of a Russian tourist visa:

• Tourist Voucher and Confirmation (issued by a Russian tourist agency registered with the Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consulate Department. The tourist agency should have an assigned reference number for the invitation of tourists from abroad);
• A fully completed Consulate visa application form;
• A photo measuring 3 х 4 centimeters, attached to the visa application form; and
• The actual passport.

The following documents could be additionally requested:

• Health insurance;
• Residence permit or work permit in the country where a foreigner is going to receive the visa;
• HIV test (certificate); and
• Proof of availability of funds.

Documents required for the issuance of Russian business visa:

• Invitation (issued by the Russian Federation Federal Migration Service Department or the Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs – by telex or on letterhead);
• A fully completed Consulate visa application form;
• A photo measuring 3 х 4 centimeters, attached to the visa application form; and
• The actual passport.

The following documents could be additionally requested:

• Health insurance;
• Residence permit or work permit in the country where a foreigner is going to receive the visa;
• HIV test (certificate); and
• Proof of availability of funds.

List of documents to be submitted for registration:

• Application & questionnaire form;
• Extract from the Unified State Registry of Legal Entities (USRLE);
• Passport of the organization’s top manager;
• Contract for lease of non-residential premises occupied by the organization;
• Certificate “On the State Registration of Ownership Right” for non-residential premises occupied by the organization; and
• Letter of guarantee to provide residential premises for a foreign citizen.

List of documents to be submitted for the issuance of a permit for the involvement and use of foreign workers:

• Permit application for the involvement and use of foreign workers;
• Report on the expediency of the involvement and use of foreign workers and a request for issuing this report;
• Labor contract or other documents supporting the preliminary arrangement for employment with a foreign citizen or an international partner that contains the conditions for employment of foreign workers;
• Original receipt confirming payment of the state duty for each foreign employee 3,000 Russian rubles; and
• Power of attorney issued by the organization authorizing an individual to represent its interests with the Russian FMS or its local offices.

Additional documents:

For legal entities

• Copy of the certificate confirming that an entry has been made into the Unified State Registry of Legal Entities (USRLE);
• Copy of the certificate of registration with the tax department at the place of registration.

For foreign legal entities

• Copy of the certificate of legal entity registration;
• Copy of the certificate of registration with the tax department at the place of registration in the Russian Federation;
• Copy of the certificate of establishing a branch office and copy of the certificate of registration for it;
• Copy of the approval required for establishing a branch office and copy of the certificate of accreditation.

For individual entrepreneur

• Copy of the certificate confirming that an entry has been made into the Unified State Registry of IndividualEntrepreneurs (USRIE);
• Copy of the individual entrepreneur’s ID and copy of the document proving place of registration of the individual entrepreneur;
• Copy of the certificate of registration with the tax department at the place of registration.

List of documents to be submitted for the issuance of work permit:

• Application for the issuance of work permit to a foreign citizen;
• One color photo of the foreign citizen, 30×40 mm;
• Copy of the document describing the professional education and qualifications of the foreign worker in a foreign state, or a certificate on the equivalence of such document to the Russian diploma (certificate) for professional education;
• Copy of foreign worker’s ID;
• Copy of the approval for involvement and use of foreign workers;
• Letter of commitment stating that the employer or customer for employment services shall ensure departure of the foreign worker from the Russian Federation at the request of the Russian Federation Federal Migration Service;
• Original payment document proving that the state duty for the issuance of work permit has been paid – 1,000 Russian rubles for each individual employee;
• Health certificates (certificates stating that the foreign citizen has no HIV-infection, or drug addiction, or infectious disease).

An employer company should issue an invitation for a single entry visa into the Russian Federation for 90 days; the state duty – 200 Russian rubles.

A Russian visa can be received by a foreign citizen in the Russian Consulate only in the country of his/her citizenship. To receive a Russian visa in a third country, it is necessary to submit residence permit or work permit issued for that country. Nationals of the Schengen Agreement member-states may receive a visa in any of the Schengen Agreement member-states.

After the foreign employee has arrived in Russia, the single-entry visa can be re-processed and a multi-entry annual visa issued.

After a foreign citizen comes to his/her place of work and signs a labor agreement, the employer company should send notification to the following three bodies:

• Tax inspection – within 10 days;
• Population Employment Center – at the legal address of the Company within a month;
• Federal Migration Service (FMS) Department in Moscow, within a 3-day period.

The migration registration is conducted at the place of residence of foreign citizens in the Russian Federation. The procedure of migration registration/deregistration means that information (notification) is provided to the local body of the Federal Migration Service on arrival/departure of a foreign citizen. It should be completed within three working days after arrival/departure of a foreign citizen in/from the Russian Federation. All the migration registration/deregistration procedures shall be carried out by the Hosting Party, i.e. the employer company.