Stay and live in NW Russia

Getting a Russian Visa Step-by-Step Guide
Russian Consulates Addresses Worldwide

Changes to Russian immigration legislation

From 15.01.2007 changes to the immigration laws of the Russian Federation came into effect. These changes relate to:
– the regulation of labor activity in the Russian Federation of foreign nationals who arrive in the Russian Federation by a method which does not require the issue of a visa (hereinafter referred to as the «Visa-free foreign employees»);
– the registration at the place of stay of foreign nationals who temporarily stay in the Russian Federation (foreign employees and foreign nationals who entered the Russian Federation with a business purpose, as well as the family members accompanying them and who are hereinafter referred to as the «Temporarily staying persons»).

1. Labor Activity in the Russian Federation for Visa-free Employees.
Since the changes came into effect the employer is NO LONGER required to obtain an Employment Permit (Permission to engage the foreign labor force) to hire a Visa-free foreign employee (cl. 9 art. 131 of the Federal law of the Russian Federation dated 25.07.2002 No. 115-FZ «On the legal status of foreign nationals in the Russian Federation» (in edition dated 15.01.2007and hereinafter referred to as «Law No. 115-FZ»).

Now the Visa-free foreign employee is obliged to process his/her Work Permit (cl. 1-2 art. 131 of the Law No. 115-FZ) independently (or through his/her representative) in the corresponding immigration authority of the Russian Federation (at the present time – in the Department of the Federal Migration Service of Russia in the corresponding region of the Russian Federation). The indicated document enables the Visa-free foreign employee to work within the particular period of time and within the borders of the particular region of the Russian Federation, to be hired by any employer registered (accredited) within this region of the Russian Federation (i.е. in the Work Permit issued to the Visa-free foreign employee the field «Employer» remains blank).

When deciding to hire the Visa-free foreign employee the employer must in prior request from him/her their Work Permit, as well as to make sure that the validity period of this Work Permit has not expired and that it enables the foreign employee to perform labor activity within the borders of the corresponding region.

Nevertheless from the moment the changes came into effect, the employers hiring the Visa-free foreign employees have an additional obligation to notify the territorial immigration authorities as well as the authorities dealing with the issues of public employment regarding the hiring and use for the labor activity of the Visa-free foreign employees within a period of time not exceeding 10 days from the moment when the labor agreement with the Visa-free foreign employee was concluded (cl. 9 art. 131 of the Law No. 115-FZ; cl. 2 of Rules for submission of notification about the hiring and use for the labor activity of the foreign nationals who arrived in the Russian Federation by a method which does not require the issue of a visa (approved by the Decree of Government of the Russian Federation dated 23.12.2006 No. 798)).

Rules for the execution of labor activity in the Russian Federation of the foreign employees from other countries have not changed.
We would also like to point out that, in our opinion, the immigration authority responsible for the processing of Work Permits for Visa-free foreign employees who plan to work in Moscow (The Department of the Federal Migration Service of Russia for Moscow) is not ready to process and to issue the Work Permits in accordance with the amended law; this has caused long queues, misunderstandings and has resulted in significant difficulties related to the filing of documents by Visa-free foreign employees (their representatives) for the above mentioned purposes.

The Department of the Federal Migration Service of Russia for Moscow has had to divide its work load on the acceptance of applications and issue of ready Work Permits for the Visa-free foreign employees between its departments located in different administrative districts of Moscow, as well as to transfer part of its functions regarding the execution and issue of Work Permits for the citizens of Tajikistan to the Federal Migration Service of Russia. The Federal Migration Service of Russia is the authority which until recently has dealt only with the execution and issue of Work Permits for foreign nationals who arrive in the Russian Federation by a method which requires the issue of a visa. However at the present time these actions have not arranged the due order in work of the indicated immigration authority of the Russian Federation.

2. Registration of Temporarily staying persons at the place of stay in the Russian Federation.
The Federal law of the Russian Federation dated 18.07.2006 No. 109-FZ «On the immigration record of foreign nationals and stateless persons in the Russian Federation» (hereinafter referred to as «Law No. 109-FZ») as of 15.01.2007 has established the following new registration rules at the place of stay for the Temporarily staying persons.
The Temporarily staying person, pursuant to common rule, is obliged to be registered / de-registered at their place of stay within 3 business days of arrival on the territory of the Russian Federation (subclause 2 clause 2 art. 20 of the Law No. 109-FZ) as described below (art. 22-23 of the Law No. 109-FZ).

The Temporarily staying person (having arrived in the Russian Federation and within 3 business days of arrival to the place of stay):

1. provides the host party a document identifying his/her identity and acknowledged by the Russian Federation as such (passport), as well as the Russian «Migration Card» (copies of documents should be made since the withdrawal of original documents by the host party is not allowed – cl. 5 art. 22 of the Law No. 109-FZ);
2. the host party sends notification of his/her arrival to the place of stay (hereinafter referred to as the «Notification») to the corresponding immigration authority of the Russian Federation. The Temporarily staying person receives the detachable part of the Notification (with the remarks of the host party and of the corresponding immigration authority);
3. before their departure from the place of stay the Temporarily staying person must return to the host party, the detachable part of the Notification (showing the departure date from the Russian Federation), which he/she had earlier received from the host party.

Law No. 109-FZ has also introduced the definition of the «host party», i.e.: «a citizen of the Russian Federation, permanently residing in the Russian Federation foreign national or stateless person, legal entity, branch or representative office of the legal entity, federal body of the state power, state power authority of subject of the Russian Federation, local authority, diplomatic representation or consulate authority of a foreign state in the Russian Federation, international company or its representative office in the Russian Federation or representative office of a foreign state associated with an international company located in the Russian Federation, where the foreign national or stateless person actually resides (stays) or in which the foreign national or stateless person works».

The Host party:

1. sends the Notification to the corresponding immigration authority and receives the corresponding remarks of the immigration authority on the Notification, which acts as proof that the host party and the Temporarily staying person have complied with the legislation;
2. transfers the detachable part of Notification to the Temporarily staying person;
3. before their departure from the place of stay the Temporarily staying person must receive the detachable part of the Notification (with indication of the departure date from the Russian Federation),
4. sends the detachable part of the Notification to the corresponding immigration authority not later than 2 days from the day the Temporarily staying person departs from the place of stay. These actions show that the host party has complied with the legislation.

In essence the above mentioned Notification substitutes the «Consent of landlord (owner of the residential premise) to registration of foreign national», which until 15.01.2007 was used for the registration of Temporarily staying persons in the Russian Federation.

We would also like to draw your special attention to the following essential issues:
If the Temporarily staying person stays at a hotel the responsibility for his/her immigration registration rests with the administration of this hotel.

The re-registering of the Temporarily staying persons at the place of stay needs to be performed at each change of the place of stay (at each new entry into the Russian Federation or any new point of the place of stay). According to the preliminary information obtained by our Company in the Department of the Federal Migration Service of Russia for Moscow this procedure of the re-registering at the place of stay may not be necessary if the period of absence of the Temporarily staying person in the earlier declared place of stay is not for more than 3 business days.

Since Law No. 109-FZ came into effect the place of stay will no longer be marked in the passports and Russian «Migration Cards» of the Temporarily staying persons.

Law No. 109-FZ declares that as of 15.01.2007 there exists the possibility to receive the confirmation of the federal post authority of the Russian Federation on the detachable part of the Notification and which when done will be considered as confirmation that the host party and the Temporarily staying person performed the actions necessary for registering at the place of stay (point а subclause 2 cl. 2 art. 22 of the Law No. 109-FZ). However, for unknown reasons at the present time this provision of the Law is not being fulfilled and it is unclear when this situation will be resolved.

Peculiarities of registering at the place of stay in the Russian Federation in relation to Temporarily staying persons – foreign employees (and their family members) of Representative / Branch offices of foreign companies (invited to the Russian Federation on behalf and through intermediary of the accrediting authorities)

The main accrediting authorities for Representative and Branch offices of foreign companies (The State Registration Chamber at the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation and The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation), despite being responsible for the provision of support to the foreign legal entities accredited with them, including the visa support for the foreign employees (and their family members) of the foreign legal entities accredited by the chambers and even act as parties inviting foreign nationals to the Russian Federation, currently refuse to render assistance in the arrangement of notification of the corresponding immigration authority of the Russian Federation about the place of stay of the indicated foreign nationals by proposing to certify the Notification form of the Temporarily staying person arrival to the place of stay in the Russian Federation by signature of the authorized representative of the Representative / Branch office of the foreign legal entity and to affix the seal of the Representative / Branch office on the Notification. The chambers would rather that the obligation to register / de-register foreign nationals at the place of the temporary stay is placed by the law on the host party rather than on the inviting party.

source: http://www.vfbs.ru/mynews.htm

Rights and obligations of foreign citizens in the Russian Federation
Legal Status of foreign citizens in Russia first of all is determined by the Constitution of the Russian Federation 1993 (point 3 article 62). It says that foreign citizens and stateless persons enjoy rights and bear responsibilities on a par with the citizens of the Russian Federation, unless otherwise provided by Federal Laws or International Agreements of the Russian Federation. This provision means that any restrictions or additional requirements regarding legal status of foreigners could not be established by legislative acts of the legislative or executive bodies of the regions (states) of the Russian Federation. Only adopting a Federal Law may worsen legal status of foreigners. Here are the general principles of the legal status of the foreign citizen in the Russian Federation:

1. Foreign citizens are equal without reference to their origin, social and material status, race and nationality, sex, education, language, religion, occupation, etc.

2. Russian Federation may establish restrictions and additional requirements to the citizens of the countries, which established correspondent restrictions and additional requirements to the citizens of Russia.

3. Enjoyment of rights by the foreigner must not impair damage to the interests of the society, government, citizens of Russia and other persons.

4. Foreign citizens must observe the legislation of the Russian Federation. Freedom of movement Foreign citizens enjoy the right of freedom of movement within the boundaries of the Russian Federation for personal and business purposes on the ground of the documents, issued to them in accordance with the Federal Law «On the legal status of foreign citizens in the Russian Federation», with the exception of territories, organizations and objects, for an entry to which a special permit is required in accordance with the federal laws.

Below is the list of territories organizations and objects, for an entry to which a special permit is required (Instruction of the Government # 754 dated 11.10.2002):

1. Areas of the closed administrative-territories of the Russia Federation.
2. Areas restricted to visit for foreign citizens
3. Territories, where the state of emergency or the state of martial law have been forced in.
4. Territories where special conditions or regime of residence have been forced in as a result of danger of development of contagion or mass non-contagion and intoxication of people.
5. Territories of closed cantonments.
6. Areas where contra terrorism operations are being conducted.
7. Environmental distress areas.
8. Borderland zones.
9. Objects and organizations of Armed Forces of Russian Federation.
10. Objects where public authorities and other authorities and organizations are located in and which work with national secret information.

Other territories, organizations and objects where Russian nationals must obtain the special permit for visiting them.

Foreign citizen has no right to:

1. Be employed in the state or the municipal service.

2. Be a member of the crew of a ship, sailing under the State Flag of the Russian Federation.

3. Be a member of the crew of a military air vessel of the Russian Federation or of another vessel, operated for non-commercial purposes, as well as of a flying aircraft of the state or the experimental aviation.

4. Be the commander of a civil aircraft.

5. Be enrolled for a job to the objects and the organizations, whose activity is involved in providing for the security of the Russian Federation:

a) objects and organizations of the Military Forces of the Russian Federation.
b) institutions that are responsible for the government secret information c) organizations that work with radioactive and nuclear products

6. To engage in another activity and to occupy other posts, the federal law restricts an access to which of foreign citizens.

Russian Visas

Diplomatic;
Official;
Transit;
Temporary residence visas
Ordinary.
Ordinary visas are of the following types:
Private;
Business;
Tourist, including group;
Study;
Work;
Humanitarian;
Asylum.

Necessity of Personal Registration

Note: This is a short summary especially designed for business travelers and employers of foreign nationals. If you are seeking a more detailed information on Russian visa rules and legislation, please, refer to Russian Visa Registration section. Foreign citizens, who have entered the Russian Federation, are obliged to register within three working days as from the day of their arrival in the Russian Federation. If foreign citizen has changed the place of his/her stay in the Russian Federation, he/she has to register within three working days as from the day of arrival at the new place of stay. Registration of children under 18 will be conducted at the same time as the registration of their parents. The territorial subdivision of the federal executive body, controlling the matters of internal affairs, (PVU GUVD of Moscow) shall carry out the registration of foreign citizens, who have entered Russian Federation. If foreign citizen has lost the documents on the basis of which he/she entered Russia he/she won’t be registered and has to leave Russian Federation not later then 10 days after he/she obtained (upon his/her written request) the document proving that he/she has lost his documents.

According to the Article 18.10 of the Administrative code of the Russian Federation breach by the foreign citizen of the above stated order of registration impairs fine in the amount from 500 to 1000 rubles (15-30 dollars). The repeated breach of the order of registration may result to deportation.

Temporary Residence Permit for Russia

Note: This is a short summary especially designed for business travelers and employers of foreign nationals. If you are seeking a more detailed information on Russian visa rules and legislation, please, refer to the Russian Visa section. Temporary residence is a document proving the right of a foreign to reside in Russia before obtaining of Residence permit. Temporary residence permit is issued for 3 years. Temporary residence permit should be issued within 6 months from the date of applying. Temporary residence permit can be issued to a foreign citizen within a quota established by federal government. Disregarding quota Temporary residence permit can be issued to the following people:

1. To the person that was born in USSR and was a citizen of USSR or to the person that was born in the Russian Federation.

2. To the person declared disabled, who has a son or a daughter – citizens of Russia.

3. To the person who has at least one disabled parent – citizen of Russia.

4. To the person married to a citizen of Russia, who resides in Russia.

5. To the person investing in Russia.

Procedure of obtaining Temporary residence permit is the following:

1. Foreign citizen applies for a visa of a temporary residing person (4 month single entry visa).
2. Foreign citizen applies for a Temporary residence permit.
3. After obtaining Temporary residence permit visa of a temporary residing person is prolonged.
4. If a foreign citizen wants to exit Russia he/she should apply for an exit/entrance visa.

Rights and obligations of Temporary residing foreign citizen:

1. Temporary residing foreign citizen can not change at his wish place of residence within the territory of the region where he/she obtained Temporary residence permit, or to reside outside the region where he/she obtained Temporary residence permit.

2. Temporary residing foreign citizen can not work outside the region where he/she obtained Temporary residence permit.

Russia Residence Permit

After obtaining Temporary residence permit and residing on its basis no less than for a year foreign citizen may apply for a Residence permit. Residence permit is issued to a foreigner for 5 years and can be prolonged for another 5 years. Residence permit enables foreign citizen to travel to and out of Russia without visa.

WEB LINKS

www.rusenergy.com
Energy:information, anlyses, forecasts

www.neftegaz.ru/english/
News and information within oil & gas industry

www.transneft.ru
News and publications within Transneft company (oil industry)

www.rosugol.ru/eng/
Russian coal: information, news, analysis

www.vch.ru
Reviews of Official Russian Customs News and Economic News

www.russianbusinesssite.com
Business portal

www.gateway2russia.com
Business information about Russia

www.business-in-russia.com
Small business in Russia

www.nw.smesupport.net/eng/articles/
SME Support Portal

www.fin-rus.com
Sector analysis, news and events

www.rustocks.com
Press releases, reports, russian company guide

www.internationalist.com
Useful information on Russia, links

www.doingbusiness.org
Doing business in Russia

www.rvf.ru/engl
The site for Russian Venture Forum-a meeting place of investment market professionals

www.forum.animalrights.ru/eng/
All about Russian forests

www.cyborlink.com
Russian etiquette, business culture

www.communicaid.com
A Russian culture overview

www.sras.org
Business in Russia: organizations, government agencies

www.ruscontact.com
Russian business environment

www.awbr.ru/en/
Women and business in Russia

www.barents2010.net/
Industry environment and transport

www.economicmonitoring.com
Economic monitoring of North-west Russia

www.barentsenergy.org/
Energy in Barents region

www.conseco.ru/eng/abc/labour.html
Labour Code of Russian Federation

www.maps.grida.no/go/
Maps and Graphichs of Barents region

www.beac.st
Barents Euro Artic Council

www.ivr.ru/english/about.shtml
Investment opportunities in Russia

www.runa.info/eng/philosophy/
Assistance in Arkhangelsk

www.ebrd.org
EBRD investing in countries (pages in Russian too) «EBRD – EU cooperation in Russia»

www.ifc.org
International Financing

www.akm.ru/eng/akm/about_akm.htm
AK&M Information Agency

www.an.ru/barents
Assistance and counseling for NorthWest Russia

www.odci.gov/cia/
CIA Factbook on Russia

www.rusimpex.ru/right_e.htm
Russia: Export – import

www.fips.ru/ruptoen/index.htm
Russian Agency for Patents and Trademarks

www.iis.ru/en/index.html
The Institute of the Information Society (IIS)

www.beafnd.org/en/
Bureau of Economic Analysis

www.arussia.com/index.html
Access Russia is a small document search and delivery services agency.

www.vimi.ru/index-e.htm
The Federal Informational and Analytical Center of the Defense Industry,(VIMI)

www.communities.org.ru/index.html
CCNS – Centre of Community Networking and Information Policy Studies –
Independent R & D Center

www.icsti.su/eng/icsti/general.asp
The International Centre for Scientific and Technical Information

www.cbr.ru/eng/main.asp
Bank of Russia

www.sbrf.ru/eng/default.htm
Sberbank

www.outsourcing-russia.com/
RUSSOFT Association is software developing company

www.norsk.h14.ru/
Norwegian-Russian, Russian-Norwegian dictionary.

www.freetranslation.com/free/
Free translation Russian-English-Russian, Norwegian-English-Norwegian

www.freedict.com/onldict/nor.html
Norwegian dictionary

www.multitran.ru/c/
Free on-line dictionary

Norwegian-Russian partnership
www.nrp.ru

University in Murmansk
http://eng.mstu.edu.ru/

The Norwegian – Russian cooperation on environmental issues
http://doksenter.svanhovd.no/engelsk/

Send flowers to Murmansk in Russia
http://www.iflowers.ru/flowers-to-murmansk.htm

Murmansk Tourism portal
http://int.murmantourism.ru/eng/

Arkhangelsk Tourism portal
http://pomorland.info/eng/index.php

Travel guide to Russia
www.geographia.com/russia/

Weather Statistics for Murmansk
www.worldweather.org

Art and culture in Murmansk
www.art.murmanout.ru/en/

Weather Statistics for Arkhangelsk
www.worldweather.org

The guide to Russia
www.waytorussia.net/

English-language information service (expert analysis of Russian politics, economics, society and culture)
www.russiaprofile.org

Immigration Regulations, visiting Russia, working & residing in Russia
www.littlerglobal.com

Text of a Law on legal status of foreigners in Russian Federation (Rus)
http://refugee.memo.ru

Text of a Law on migration calculation of foreigners (Rus)
http://refugee.memo.ru

Russian Crafts-closer acquaintance with Russia
www.russian-crafts.com/

The Russian department store and gourmet food network
www.russianfoods.com/

Russian-Norwegian directory
www.russia.no/

Free on-line dictionary
www.multitran.ru/c/

Norwegian dictionary
www.freedict.com/onldict/nor.html

Free translation Russian-English-Russian, Norwegian-English-Norwegian
www.freetranslation.com/free/

Norwegian-Russian, Russian-Norwegian dictionary
http://norsk.h14.ru/dict/dictru.html

Translation services, courses in Murmansk
http://www.barentsnova.com/service_info/translation/

Mp3 music
http://delit.net

1234 best things Russians ever said
www.yanadjin.narod.ru/1234_best_a.html

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