What documents do foreign citizens need to work in Russia?

In order to work legally in Russia, foreign citizens require either of these documents: labor patent or work permit. Let's look at how to get the required papers

Who needs what document?

• Citizens of the following countries require neither a labor patent nor work permit: Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Armenia. Since these countries, along with Russia, are member states of the Eurasian Economic Union, their citizens may work on the territory of the Russian Federation without the need to acquire any special document.

• Labor patent. This is required for citizens of countries that operate a visa-free residence regime with Russia, such as Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Abkhazia, and even Macedonia, South Africa, and Argentina.

• Work permit. This is required for foreign citizens who need a visa to reside in Russia, including those who have already acquired a permanent or temporary residence permit.

Both labor patents and work permits must be applied for personally by the intended recipient. You can do this at the MIA branch at the migration center for your region.

Attention! Before being granted the right to work in the Russian Federation, all foreign citizens must undergo mandatory medical examination, fingerprinting and photographing within 30 days of their arrival in Russia. We discussed this procedure in a special article.

How to get a labor patent?

Where it is valid: only in the region where the foreign citizen will be working. You may not secure a patent in one region and then go to work in another.

How long it is valid for: from 1 to 12 months, with a requirement to renew every 12 months.

Application process

Step 1. Make a prior appointment or go directly to the Multifunctional Migration Center. You can get there by car or via public transport. You will only need to take the three documents:

• passport,

• migration card,

• migrant registration notice (temporary registration).

Step 2. The Center staff will help you apply for the remaining documents required before the patent can be issued, and will also assist you in submitting your application for the patent itself.

Step 3. Within 10-15 days, you will receive an SMS with the decision on your patent application. You can track the status of your application in your personal account profile on the Center's website.

Costs: 

• Issuing all documents required for the patent at the Center — ₽15,850.

• Personal Income Tax for the first month of the patent's validity, payable upon receipt of the document — ₽6,600. You can do this online.

Prices are subject to change and can be checked on the Center's website

The most convenient way to make an appointment at the Sakharovo Multifunctional Migration Center to receive your patent and pay for the issuing of the document is via the official Migrant Service app. Tap the button below to download it.