☰ SERVICES
+7 (495) 935-83-85 Chat WhatsApp
☰ MENU

How to employ a foreign citizen: a step-by-step guide

Employing foreign citizens is a long and complicated procedure, which consists of several stages, requires many documents, and may be different depending on the details. Read our step-by-step guide for employing a foreign citizen to get an idea of the process.

Contact Travelmart specialists if you don’t want to waste time on bureaucratic procedures, to avoid errors and prevent refusals. We know this business well, and will happily take over the entire process.

Categories of foreign workers

A foreign citizen can work as a highly qualified specialist, as well as get an above quota or quota position. Each requires a different procedure.

  1. Highly qualified specialists receive wages of more than 2 million rubles a year, which is starting at 167 thousand rubles a month. They can hold any position.
  2. Above quota employess receive less than 2 million rubles a year and can occupy one of the positions from the list of professions, which changes annually.
  3. Quota employees receive less than 2 million rubles a year, and their positions are not included in the list of above quota professions. To employ them, the company must receive a quota.

How to employ highly qualified specialists

Highly qualified specialists’ employment process is simplified:

  1. Submit documents for a work permit to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as well as the notice of signing an employment contract.
  2. Receive confirmation that the Ministry of Internal Affairs received the documents.
  3. Apply for a business invitation without waiting for the work permit to be issued.
  4. Receive a work invitation and use it to get a work visa at the Russian Consulate abroad.
  5. Pick up the work permit in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, accompanied by our representative.

Read more about the employment of highly qualified specialists in the section. «How to formally employ an HQS». All the steps above are included in the main package of services for employing highly qualified specialists with Travelmart .

The cost of a work permit for highly qualified specialists:
Basic services Time Cost
Work permit for citizens from the countries with low risk of immigration 14 business days 25000a/human
for citizens from the countries with high immigration risk 14 business days 35000a/human

* Stamp duty for a work permit of 4200a is paid separately.

* The price includes the notification of employment and support HQs for personal work permit.

Accreditation of the company in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and a work invitation 14 business days 20000a/human
Visa extension without leaving Russia 20 business days 20000a/human
Additional services Time Cost
Invitations for accompanying family members 3 weeks 17500a/human
Salary notice 2-3 days 4500a/human
Notice of early termination of an employment contract 2-3 days 4500a/human
Obtaining a TIN Certificate 6 business days 6000a/human
Notarized translation of the passport front page 2-3 business days 1200a/human
VHI policy 2-3 business days 1 year 4000a/human

2 years 8000a/human

3 years 12000a/human

Travelmart provides services only to legal entities registered in Moscow or the Moscow region.

Apply for a work permit and work invitation

How to employ quota and above quota specialists

The procedure for employment of foreign citizens for quota and above quota positions is the same, except for the first stage:

1. For quota positions: apply for a quota in the Department of Labour and Employment. Wait for their decision.

The cost of submitting information to the Department of Labour and Employment:
Service Time Cost
Stage 1. Application at the employment center 30 days 10000a – Moscow
13000a - Moscow region

For above quota positions: register a vacancy at a local employment centre. Wait till the application is processed.

The cost of applying to the Employment Centre:
Service Time Cost
Stage 1. Application at the employment center 30 days 10000a – Moscow
13000a - Moscow region

2. Submit the documents to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for obtaining a permit to employ foreign labour. We will receive the issued permit by proxy.

The cost of obtaining a permit to employ foreign labour:
Service Time Cost
Stage 2. Getting a permission to attract foreign labor * 30 days 9000a/human

* Дополнительно оплачивается госпошлина на получение РПИРС 12000a

3. Submit documents to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for a work permit. If a foreign worker arrives from a country with a high risk of immigration, the company's general director must be interviewed by the Ministry of the Internal Affairs. Our representative will accompany you at the interview.

The cost of a work permit (plastic):
Service Time Cost
Stage 3. Work permit (plastic) ** 14 business days 9500a/human

** The state duty for the work permit is extra 4200a

4. Submit the documents for accreditation of the company to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The cost of accreditation of the company in the Ministry of Internal Affairs:
Service Time Cost
Accreditation of companies in the Ministry of Internal Affairs 1-2 working days 17500a

5. With the confirmation that the documents for receiving a work permit were submitted, apply for a working invitation. Get a 3 month work visa at the Consulate of the Russian Federation abroad.

The cost of an invitation to a single work visa:
Service Time Cost
Stage 5. Single-entry Work Visa Invitation *** 12 business days 12500a/human

6. Obtain a work permit and issue a renewal of a work visa for a period of the work permit.

The cost of transforming the visa to a multiple-entry work visa:
Service Time Cost
Stage 6. Extending a visa into a multiple-entry work visa **** 20 business days 9500a/human
Notice of a conclusion or early termination of the employment contract 2-3 business days 4500a/human

7. Submit a notice of employment within 3 days after the permit is issued and the employment contract is signed.

The cost of the notice of employment contract:
Service Time Cost
Notice of the conclusion or early termination of the employment contract 2-3 days 3500a/human
Notice of highly qualified specialists wages 2-3 days 3500a/human

Read more about the quota and above quota employment in the sections «Above quota employment» и «Quota employment».

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?

Call us at +7 (495) 935-83-85 , write a letter to or leave your request and our specialists will call you soon.

Request a call specialist