New rules of foreign citizens’ labor activities

The Federal Law “On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation” was amended to determine the specifics of staying and exercising labor activities in the Russian Federation for certain categories of foreign workers.

Specifically, permit to engage and use foreign workers and work permit are not required for individuals, who are employed by foreign legal entities’ offices accredited on the territory of the Russian Federation in accordance with the established procedure, provided that these entities are registered in the Russian Federation in accordance with the established legislative procedure, within the number, agreed upon with the authorized accreditor during the accreditation of the aforementioned offices, under reciprocity principle in accordance with international treaties of the Russian Federation.

Besides, new particularities of exercising labor activities are adopted for highly skilled specialists (foreign citizens with work experience, skills or achievements in a particular field, if the conditions of their employment provide for the salary (fee) amounting to no less than 2 million rubles in a period no more than 1 year; the amount can be decreased by the Government of the Russian Federation). These individuals are not subject to the quotas condition. The work permit is issued to the highly skilled specialists for a period up to 3 years (the period can be prolonged repeatedly) on the basis of the employer’s petition. The employer, accordingly, does not have to get the permit to engage and use foreign workers. The aforementioned petition shall be considered within 14 working days. Highly skilled specialists and their family members can also get a residence permit.

The said amendments come into effect on the 1st of July, 2010.

Ref.:
Federal law №86-FZ issued on 19.05.2010 “On amending the Federal Law “On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation” and individual legislative acts of the Russian Federation.