Applying for a work visa is the stage that foreign citizens who work in our country go through.

Obtaining a work visa is only possible for foreign citizens who arrived with a visa or visa-free on the basis of intergovernmental agreements.

At present, only citizens of the EAEU (Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan), as well as citizens of Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan can work without obtaining a work visa.

Carrying out labour activities without a work visa, even with  a valid work permit, is a flagrant violation of the current legislation.

How long is a work visa valid?
Work visa is issued for the duration of the work permit. Depending on the type of work permit for a period of one to three years.

Is it possible to extend a work visa without leaving the Russian Federation?
Yes, this is possible if you received a work permit for a new period 20 working days before the end of your current work permit.
HQS visas can be extended by the new employer, if the employer changes. Regular work visas can only be extended by the current employer. I.e. if a foreign citizen has changed employer and the new employer is not ready to issue him/her a work permit as a HQS, he/she will have to go to his/her country of citizenship to obtain a new work visa.

Can family members of a foreign employee obtain a visa of an accompanying family member?
HQS family members (his or her spouse, children and their spouses, parents, grandparents and grandchildren) can apply for an accompanying family member visa for up to 3 years.
Family members of a foreign employee (spouse, children) working under a regular work permit may obtain visas for up to 1 year only if the foreign citizen is working in a speciality from the list approved by the Government of the Russian Federation/

What are the steps in applying for a work visa?

  1. The employing company submits documents for a work permit to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
  2. The company submits documents for issuing an invitation for a work visa of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The invitation is forwarded to the appropriate consulate of the Russian Federation abroad.
  3. A foreign employee applies to the Russian consulate in the country of his/her permanent residence for a work visa.

How long does it take to obtain a work visa?
Depending on the type of work permit, it takes between one and three months to obtain an invitation for a work visa.