All foreign nationals wanting to work in Russia must have a work permit. The Russian Federal Migration Service issues work permits, which you need before applying for a work visa.
Foreign citizens have the right to work in Russia legally by issuing a work permit or a patent. Failure to comply with the law leads to large fines for the company, and a foreign worker can be deported. A work permit for foreign citizens is a document that confirms the right to work in Russia.
Standard work permit application process
In order to legally work for a company in Russia, expats must obtain both an entry visa and a work permit. If both procedures are undertaken simultaneously, the entire process can take roughly three months.
You cannot enter Russia on a visa other than a Russian work visa (e.g., business visa or tourist visa) and start working. You will need to exit the country and re-enter on a Russian work visa.
It is possible to find work in Russia if you don't speak the language as there are English-speaking and foreign-speaking jobs. However, these tend to be lower-level jobs.
Work visa is required in case you wish to enter Russian Federation for employment. Work visa can be valid for up to 3 months and can be issued for single entry only. Also work visa can be issued for multiple entries and can be valid for up to 3 years (for highly qualified specialists only).
Generally, Russia is a safe country for expats. However, both the US Department of State and the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office advise against travel to the North Caucasus region or to the Crimea, due to ongoing political unrest in these areas.
Work visa is required in case you wish to enter Russian Federation for employment. Work visa can be valid for up to 90 days and can be issued for single or double entry.
The minimum wages have been revised in Russia with effect from 01 January 2023. The federal minimum wage has changed from RUB15,279.00 to RUB16,242.00 per month.
How much is average wage for high skilled employees in Russia? Average wages for high skilled employees in Russia increased to 48300 RUB/Month (687.276 USD/Month). The maximum level was 48300 RUB/Month and minimum was 33300 RUB/Month. Data published Yearly by Wageindicator Foundation.
The average nominal salary in Russia was measured at approximately 57.2 thousand Russian rubles per month in 2021, marking an increase of 5.9 thousand Russian rubles compared to the previous year.
The validity of the visa is 30 days to enter Russia from the date of approval. Foreign tourists who wish to visit Russia for longer tourist stays, or travel to regions not available with an E-visa, must apply for a tourist visa at the nearest embassy or consulate of Russia.
The first step for applicants would be to obtain a temporary residency permit and then they relocate to Russia permanently after a year. Russian language proficiency is a requirement. After a certain period of residency, citizenship may be granted.
Foreign citizens wanting to live in Russia are required to apply for a Russian residence permit. The Russian authorities issue two types of residence permits for foreign citizens: temporary residence permits and permanent residence permits.
Tourist visas may allow single, double or multiple entries to the Russian Federation. The below conditions should be respected: The maximum period of stay in the Russian Federation with a single or double entry tourist visa is up to 90 days.
One of the quickest and easiest visas to obtain for Russia is the eVisa. An eVisa is an electronic visa that can be applied for online in minutes and only takes 4 days to process. Russia eVisas allow eligible foreign travelers to visit specific Russian regions for short stays.
A valid visa is necessary to depart Russia. Travelers who overstay their visa's validity, even for one day, will be prevented from leaving until their sponsor intervenes and requests a visa extension on their behalf.
- CON: Weather
As Russia is such a large country, the weather varies dramatically. No matter where in the country they live though, expats must prepare themselves and adapt their lifestyles for long, cold winters, and shorter spring, summer and autumn seasons. Winters can be harsh.
The salary range of employees working in Russia is, by default, in the range of 25,847.00 RUB (low salaries, employees' actual wages may be even lower) to 115,961.00 RUB (high salaries, actual salaries can be even higher). This is the total monthly salary including bonuses.
The average cost of living in Russia for families can be anywhere from 30,000 rubles to 35,000 rubles per month, excluding utilities. While Moscow and Saint Petersburg are relatively expensive to live in, Novosibirsk is one of the cities in Russia with low cost of living.