In order to protect their domestic labor market, many countries – Russia included – set quotas for hiring foreign employees. Companies must therefore obtain an authorization from the state to hire foreign nationals who need a visa to work in Russia.

Contents

To obtain such state authorization, employers must submit a foreign national hiring application before employing any foreign nationals. These state authorizations are issued for a specific year.

Regional bans on attracting foreign citizens on patents in 2023

In 2023, state authorities of the subjects of the Russian Federation have introduced restrictions on attracting foreign citizens to work based on patents.

Voronezh region

Decree of the Governor of the Voronezh region dated 30.12.2022 No. 232-у prohibits employers engaged in the following types of economic activity from attracting foreign workers based on patents:

The type of economic activity code included in the prohibited list according to OKVED (“OK 029-2014 (KDES Ed. 2) Type of economic activity included in the prohibited list
78.2 Activities of temporary employment agencies

 

Irkutsk Region

Governor’s Decree No. 258-ug dated 07.11.2022 prohibits employers engaged in the following types of economic activity, from hiring foreign workers on the basis of patents:

Code of economic activity included in the prohibited list according to OKVED (“OK 029-2014 (KDES Red. 2)”) Economic activity included in the prohibited list
02.1 Forestry and other forestry activities
10 Manufacture of food products
21 Manufacture of pharmaceuticals and materials used in medical purposes
46.13.1 Wholesale trade of forest products agents
46.17 Wholesale trade of food, beverages and tobacco products agents
46.34.2 Wholesale trade of alcoholic beverages, including beer and food-grade ethanol
46.73.1 Wholesale trade of timber and unprocessed forest products
46.73.2 Wholesale trade of sawn timber
47.11 Retail trade predominantly of food products, including beverages, and tobacco products in non-specialized stores
47.29 Retail trade of other food products in specialized stores
49.31.2 Regular passenger land transport in urban and suburban areas, except for railway transport
49.32 Operation of taxi cabs and hired passenger cars with drivers
49.39.1 Regular passenger land transport, except for railway transport, in intercity and international communications, as well as special transport (for own needs).
71.12.3 Geological exploration, geophysical and geochemical work in the field of mineral resources study and reproduction
79.90.2 Provision of excursion tourism services
85 Education
88.91 Provision of day care services for children

 

Kaliningrad Oblast

Decree of the Governor of Kaliningrad Oblast No. 111 of November 15, 2022 prohibits employers engaged in the following types of economic activities from attracting foreign workers based on patents:

OKVED economic activity code included in the prohibited list (“OK 029-2014 (KDES Ed. 2)”) Economic activity type included in the prohibited list
10.71.1 Production of bread and short shelf life bakery products
10.71.2 Production of short shelf life flour confectionery, cakes and pastries
10.71.3 Production of chilled semi-finished bakery products
10.86 Production of baby food and dietary food products
49.31.21 Regular passenger transportation by buses in urban and suburban areas
49.32 Activity of passenger cars and rented passenger cars with drivers
49.39.11 Regular passenger transportation by buses in intercity areas
55.20 Provision of short-stay accommodation services
63.11 Data processing, information provision and related activities
78 Employment placement and personnel selection activities
85.11 Preschool education
85.12 Primary general education
85.13 Basic general education
85.14 Secondary general education

 

Kaluga region

Decree of the Governor of Kaluga region No. 610 dated December 29, 2022 prohibits employers engaged in the economic activities listed below from attracting foreign workers on the basis of patents:

Code of economic activity included in the prohibited list according to OKVED
(“OK 029-2014 (KDES Ed. 2)		 Economic activity included in the prohibited list
47 Retail trade, except for the trade of motor vehicles and motorcycles
47.1 Retail trade in non-specialized stores
47.2 Retail trade of food, beverages and tobacco products in specialized stores
47.3 Retail trade of motor fuel in specialized stores
47.4 Retail trade of information and communication equipment in specialized stores
47.5 Retail trade of other household goods in specialized stores
47.6 Retail trade of cultural and entertainment goods in specialized stores
47.7 Retail trade of other goods in specialized stores
47.8 Retail trade in non-stationary trading facilities and markets
47.9 Retail trade outside stores, tents, markets
49.3 Other land passenger transport activities
49.31 Land passenger transport activity: passenger transportation in urban and suburban areas
49.32 Activity of passenger cars and rental cars with a driver
49.39 Other land passenger transport activities not included in other groups
56 Activity of providing food and beverages
56.1 Activity of restaurants and food delivery services
56.2 Activity of catering enterprises for servicing festive events and other types of catering organization
56.3 Serving beverages
78.10 Recruitment agency services

 

Kamchatka Krai

Resolution of the Governor of Kamchatka Krai No. 99 of 23.09.2022 prohibits employers engaged in the following types of economic activity from attracting foreign workers on the basis of patents:

Code of economic activity included in the prohibited list according to OKVED (“OK 029-2014 (KDES Ed. 2)) Type of economic activity included in the prohibited list
01.70 Hunting, trapping and shooting of wild animals, including the provision of services in these areas, except for the attraction of foreign workers as an auxiliary worker
10.51 Production of milk (excluding raw) and dairy products, except for the attraction of foreign workers for professions: equipment washer, production room cleaner, office room cleaner, territory cleaner
10.86 Production of baby food and dietary food products, except for the attraction of foreign workers for professions: equipment washer, production room cleaner, office room cleaner, territory cleaner
11.05 Beer production
11.07 Production of non-alcoholic beverages; production of packaged drinking water, including mineral water, except for the attraction of foreign workers for professions: equipment washer, production room cleaner, office room cleaner, territory cleaner
35 Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply
36 Water collection, purification and distribution
38.11 Collection of non-hazardous waste
56 Activity of providing food and beverage services, excluding attracting labor migrants for the professions of: kitchen worker, dish washer, cook, auxiliary worker, industrial premises cleaner, office premises cleaner, territory cleaner
78 Employment placement and recruitment activities
79 Activities of travel agencies and other organizations providing services in the field of tourism, excluding attracting labor migrants for the professions of: kitchen worker, dish washer, cook, auxiliary worker, industrial premises cleaner, office premises cleaner, territory cleaner
80 Security and investigation activities
85 Education, excluding attracting labor migrants for the professions of: industrial premises cleaner, office premises cleaner, territory cleaner
87 Residential care activities, with provision of residence, excluding attracting labor migrants for the professions of: industrial premises cleaner, office premises cleaner, territory cleaner
91.01 Activities of libraries and archives, excluding attracting labor migrants for the professions of: industrial premises cleaner, office premises cleaner, territory cleaner

 

Krasnodar Krai

Decree of the Governor of Krasnodar Krai No. 1005 of December 28, 2022 prohibits employers engaged in the following types of economic activities from hiring foreign workers on the basis of patents:

Code of economic activity included in the prohibited list according to OKVED
(“OK 029-2014 (KDES Ed. 2))		 Economic activity included in the prohibited list
05 Coal mining
06 Crude oil and natural gas extraction
07 Metal ore mining
08 Extraction of other minerals and materials
09 Provision of services in the field of mineral extraction
10.1 Processing and preserving of meat and meat food products
10.2 Processing and preserving of fish, crustaceans and mollusks
10.4 Production of vegetable and animal oils and fats
10.5 Production of dairy products
10.6 Production of grain mill products, starches, and starch products
10.7 Production of bakery and farinaceous products
10.82 Production of cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery
10.83 Production of tea and coffee
10.84 Production of spices and seasonings
10.85 Production of prepared meals and dishes
10.86 Production of baby food and dietetic food
10.9 Manufacture of prepared animal feeds
11 Beverage manufacturing
12 Manufacture of tobacco products
36 Water collection, treatment and distribution
37 Collection and treatment of wastewater
38 Collection, treatment and disposal of waste; processing of secondary raw materials
39 Provision of services in the field of elimination of pollution and other services related to waste disposal
45 Wholesale and retail trade in motor vehicles and motorcycles and their repair
46 Wholesale trade, except for wholesale trade in motor vehicles and motorcycles
47 Retail trade, except for retail trade in motor vehicles and motorcycles
49 Land and pipeline transport activities
50 Water transport activities
51 Air and space transport activities
52 Warehousing and support activities for transportation
53 Postal and courier activities
56 Food and beverage service activities
64 Financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding services
65 Insurance, reinsurance, pension funding and non-governmental pension provision activities, except compulsory social security activities
66 Activities auxiliary to financial services and insurance activities
68 Buying and selling of own real estate
85 Education
86.1 Hospital activities
86.2 Medical and dental practice activities
86.90.1 Activities of sanitary and epidemiological services organizations
86.90.2 Activities of forensic medicine and forensic science organizations
86.90.3 Activities of massage parlors
86.90.9 Other human health activities not elsewhere classified
87 Residential care activities for elderly and disabled persons
88 Provision of social services without providing accommodation
92 Activities related to the organization and conduct of gambling and betting, organization and conduct of lotteries
93 Activities in the field of sports, recreation, and entertainment
95 Repair of computers, personal and household goods
96 Provision of other personal services

 

Perm Krai

Decree of the Governor of Perm Krai No. 2 dated 16.01.2023 prohibits employers engaged in the following types of economic activities from hiring foreign workers based on patents:

Code of economic activity included in the prohibited list according to OKVED (“OK 029-2014 (KDES Ed. 2) Type of economic activity included in the prohibited list
06.10 Extraction of crude petroleum and natural (associated) gas
19.2 Manufacture of refined petroleum products.
47.1 Retail trade in non-specialized stores.
47.25 Retail trade of beverages in specialized stores
47.26 Retail trade of tobacco products in specialized stores
49.20.1 Transportation of dangerous goods
49.31 Passenger land transport activity: transportation of passengers in urban and suburban areas
49.32 Activities of taxis and rental of cars with drivers
49.39.11 Regular passenger transportation by intercity buses

 

Primorsky Krai

Decree of the Governor of Primorsky Krai No. 56-pg dated 20.06.2022 prohibits employers engaged in the following types of economic activities from attracting foreign workers on the basis of patents:

Code of economic activity included in the prohibited list according to OKVED
(“OK 029-2014 (KDES Ed. 2)”)		 Type of economic activity included in the prohibited list
49.31.2 Regular passenger transport by other land transport in urban and suburban areas
49.31.21 Regular passenger transport by bus in urban and suburban areas
49.31.22 Regular passenger transport by trolleybus in urban and suburban areas
49.31.23 Regular passenger transport by tram in urban and suburban areas
49.32 Activity of taxi and rented cars with driver
49.39.31 Passenger transportation by rented buses with driver.
49.39.33 Passenger transportation by bus in urban and suburban areas by orders, excluding transportation by rented buses with drivers and on tourist or excursion routes

 

Republic of Altai

Decree of the Head of the Republic of Altai, Chairman of the Government of the Republic of Altai No. 356-u of December 30, 2022 prohibits employers engaged in the following types of economic activity from attracting foreign workers on the basis of patents:

Code of the type of economic activity included in the prohibited list according to OKVED
(“OK 029-2014 (KDES Ed. 2))		 Type of economic activity included in the prohibited list
01 Crop production and animal husbandry, hunting and related service activities in these areas
02.2 Forestry and logging
02.3 Gathering of wild growing non-wood products, other non-timber forest resources, and medicinal plants
02.40.2 Logging services
47.25.1 Retail sale of alcoholic beverages, including beer, in specialized stores
47.26 Retail sale of tobacco products in specialized stores
47.73 Retail sale of pharmaceutical and medical goods in specialized stores (pharmacies)
47.8 Retail sale via stalls and markets of any kind
47.99 Retail trade not in stores, stalls or markets
49.3 Other passenger land transport activities
49.4 Freight transport by road and removal services
50 Water transport activities
51.10 Passenger air transport
85.11 Pre-primary education

 

Republic of Mari El

Decree of the Head of the Republic of Mari El No. 184 of 28.10.2022 prohibits employers engaged in the following types of economic activity from hiring foreign workers based on patents:

Code of the type of economic activity included in the prohibited list according to OKVED (“OK 029-2014 (KDES Ed. 2) Type of economic activity included in the prohibited list
47.25.1 Retail trade of alcoholic beverages, including beer, in specialized stores
47.73 Retail sale of medicinal products in specialized stores (pharmacies)
47.8 Retail trade in non-stationary retail facilities and markets
47.9 Retail trade outside of stores, tents, markets
49.3 Other land passenger transport activity
56.10.24 Activity of market stalls and trading booths for food preparation

 

Sakhalin Region

Governor’s Decree No. 71 of 02.12.2022 prohibits employers engaged in the following types of economic activities from attracting foreign workers based on patents:

Code of economic activity included in the prohibited list by OKVED
(“OK 029-2014 (KDES Ed. 2))		 Type of economic activity included in the prohibited list
10.71.1 Manufacture of bread and bakery products of short-term storage
10.71.2 Manufacture of flour confectionery products, cakes, and pastries of short-term storage
47.2 Retail trade in food, beverages and tobacco products in specialized stores
80.10 Activities of private security services, including private
49.31.21 Regular passenger transportation by buses in urban and suburban areas
49.32 Activities of passenger cars and rented cars with drivers
49.39.11 Regular passenger transportation by buses in intercity areas
52.21.24 Parking activities for vehicles
49.20.1 Transportation of dangerous goods
56.1 Restaurant activities and food delivery services
36 Collection, purification, and distribution of water
37 Collection and processing of wastewater
85.11 Preschool education
85.12 Elementary general education
78.10 Activities of employment placement agencies
78.20 Activities of temporary employment placement agencies
73.11 Advertising agency activities

 

Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug

Resolution of the Governor of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug – Yugra No. 189 of December 23, 2022 prohibits employers engaged in the following types of economic activity from hiring foreign workers based on patents:

Code of the type of economic activity included in the prohibited list according to OKVED (“OK 029-2014 (KDES Ed. 2) Type of economic activity included in the prohibited list
10.86 Manufacturing of baby food and dietary food products
47.25.1 Retail sale of alcoholic beverages, including beer, in specialized stores
47.26 Retail sale of tobacco products in specialized stores
49.31 Passenger land transport activity: passenger transport in urban and suburban areas
49.32 Activity of passenger cars and leased cars with a driver
49.39 Other passenger land transport activity not included in other groupings
56 Food and beverage service activities
85 Education

Quotas for recruitment of foreign nationals for 2022

October 16, 2021 Government Decree N 1706 dated October 7, 2021 became effective on October 16, 2021

Changes in 2022:

  • Krasnodar Territory – the share of foreign workers that can be employed in the construction sector has been reduced from 80% to 60% of the total number of employees;
  • Astrakhan Oblast – no quotas for vegetable production activities (OKVED 01.13.1).

The other quotas remain the same as those in force in 2021, namely:

  1. 80% of the total number of employees

(does not apply to the Republic of Buryatia, Republic of Dagestan, Krasnodar Territory, Amur Oblast and Moscow):
– construction industry (OKVED section F):
Krasnodar Territory – 60%
Republic of Dagestan – 50%

  1. 70% of the total number of employees:
    – real estate management for a fee or on a contractual basis (OKVED 68.32)
    – building and site maintenance (OKVED 81)
  2. 50% of the total number of employees:
    – vegetable production (OKVED 01.13.1);
    – forestry and logging (OKVED 02);
    – woodworking and production of wood and cork products except furniture, manufacture of straw items and materials for basketwork (OKVED 16);
    – wholesale trade in wood raw materials and unprocessed timber (OKVED 46.73.1)
    – wholesale trade in sawn timber (OKVED 46.73.2)
  3. 25% of the total number of employees:
    – other sports activities (OKVED 93.19)
  4. 24% of the total number of employees:
    – other land passenger transport (OKVED 49.3)
    – road freight transport (OKVED 49.41)
  5. 15% of the total number of employees:
    – retail sale of alcoholic beverages, including beer, in specialized stores (OKVED 47.25.1)
    – retail sale of tobacco products in specialized stores (OKVED 47.26)
  6. 0% of the total number of employees:
    – retail sale of medicines in specialized stores (    аптеках) (OKVED 47.73)
    – retail trade in non-stationary trade facilities and markets (OKVED 47.8)
    – other retail trade outside shops, stalls, markets (OKVED 47.99)

The number of foreign workers must be approved before the beginning of the year.

Fines

  • Company officers – from RUB 45,000 to RUB 50,000
  • Legal entities – from RUB 800,000 to RUB 1 million or suspension of activities from 14 to 90 days.

October 19, 2021 Letter from the Ministry of Labor dated October 19, 2021 explains how the provisions of Government Decree N 1706 dated October 7, 2021 N 1706 should be applied:

  • Quota restrictions do not apply to:
    1. foreign nationals temporarily or permanently residing in the Russian Federation (with a temporary residence permit or residence permit) who are citizens of a member state of the Eurasian Economic Union, i.e. citizens from Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan (Article 97(2) Eurasian Economic Union Treaty)
    2. highly qualified specialists and their family members (Article 13.2(2) Federal Law N 115-FZ).
  • If an employer indicated upon registration a type of activity (OKVED) specified in Decree N 1706, including as a secondary type of activity, then Decree N 1706 will apply to the employee.
  • When an employer finds out that the statutory maximum number of foreign employees has been exceeded, the employee must terminate the relevant employment contracts under Article 327.6(1(9)) of the Russian Labor Code. Such termination must be completed by January 1, 2022.

How employers can apply

Automated Information System for Migration Quotas

A website including a Migration Quotas Information System has been set up to submit quota applications. First, employers need to register on the website following the instructions provided here. Once registered, employers can perform the following actions:

  • Fill out a foreign national hiring application for the upcoming year;
  • Fill out an application to adjust the quota for the current year by increasing or decreasing the number of foreign nationals;
  • Make changes to current quota requests for the upcoming year and adjust quotas if they have not been sent;
  • Withdraw application if it has not been considered and included in the quota proposal;
  • View application statuses;
  • Change contact information.

Deadlines and place for foreign national hiring applications

There is an authorized body in charge of application review in each region, and they set their own deadlines for application submission. Their address can be found at http://www.migrakvota.gov.ru/ by selecting the relevant region after which the webpage shows the organization name and contact information.

Using the information found on the webpage, the relevant authorized body can then be contacted to find out the deadlines. We noted that it is possible to find out the deadlines on the website for some – but not all – regions unfortunately.

For example, the deadlines for application submission in 2018 in Moscow are indicated on this webpage. But for employers based in St. Petersburg, we managed to find some information only on the website of the Labor and Employment Committee which is responsible for quotas in this city.

Documents required

  1. Completed application on printed form from Migration Quotas Information System (2 copies) certified by organization seal;
  2. Power of attorney on behalf of the organization head on the organization letterhead certified by organization seal (when applications are submitted by an attorney-in-fact);
  3. Copy of certificate of registration of Russian organization with local tax authorities in the Russian Federation (INN);
  4. Copy of extract from the State Register of Legal Entities no older than 1 month;
  5. Guarantee letter confirming the provision of accommodation to foreign employee during employment;
  6. Guarantee letter confirming the provision of voluntary medical insurance for medical care to foreign employee;
  7. Copy of lease contract or other documents confirming the employer’s actual address;
  8. Letter describing the organization’s activity and grounds for hiring foreign nationals for the professions specified in the application (qualifications, positions), information on the place of employment of foreign nationals (name of construction site, restaurant, company, etc.) and specifying the reasons for the impossibility of hiring Russian citizens to fill the workplaces for which foreign nationals are hired.

All copies of documents are to be certified by the signature of the organization head and organization seal and submitted together with the original documents for verification.

Additional documents for representative offices and branches of foreign companies

Representative offices and branches of foreign companies in the Russian Federation should also provide:

  1. Copies of certificates of branch opening and of branch accreditation issued by the relevant authorized body;
  2. Copies of permit to open representative office and accreditation certificate issued by the relevant authorized body.

All copies of documents should be signed by the organization head and stamped with the organization seal.

The following applications are not accepted for review and registration:

  1. Applications sent by post or fax;
  2. Applications not certified by the signatures of the relevant authorized officers and the organization seal (except for individual entrepreneurs);
  3. Applications prepared without following the guidelines for completing employer applications, applications for increasing/decreasing the required number provided in Appendix 2 to Russian Ministry of Labor and Social Protection Decree No. 27-n dated January 23, 2014.

Deadlines and address for submission of applications 2021

Moscow

Foreign national hiring applications for 2022 or applications for quota adjustment for 2021 are submitted in Moscow to the Labor and Social Protection Department located at the following address: ul. Novaya Basmannaya 10, Block 1, Office 102.

Receipt of applications:

  • Monday-Thursday: 10:00-16:00, break: 13:00-13:45
  • Friday: 10:00-13:00
Deadlines for application submission in 2021
Dates Year for which you need permission Date of application review
February 1-5 2021 (corrections), 2022 March 4, 2021
April 19-23 2021 (corrections), 2022 May 20, 2021
June 28 – July 2 2021 (corrections), 2022 July 29, 2021
September 27-30 2021 (reduction) October 5, 2021
October 25-29 2022 (corrections) November 25, 2021

St. Petersburg

In St. Petersburg, applications may be submitted to the Center of Human Resources located at the following address: Tramvayniy pr. 12, Block 2, Lit. А, Premises 2N (ground floor).

Phone: 8 (812) 753-41-90; 8 981 998-05-15.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions applications have to be submitted by e-mail. For submission employers must send scans of all documents to gauctr@rspb.ru.

Receipt of applications: from 1st to 15th of the month, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 09:00 to 17:00.

Deadlines for application submission in 2021
Dates Year for which you need permission
January 11 – July 15 2022
January 11 – September 15 2021 (corrections of quotas for 2021)
August 1 – October 15 2022 (corrections of quotas for 2022)

Deadlines and address for submission of applications 2019

Moscow

Foreign national hiring applications for 2019 or applications for quota adjustment for 2018 are submitted in Moscow to the Labor and Social Protection Department located at the following address: ul. Novaya Basmannaya 10, Block 1, Office 102.

Receipt of applications:

  • Monday-Thursday: 09:00-16:00, break: 12:45-13:30
  • Friday: 09:00-12:45
Deadlines for application submission
Dates Year for which you need permission Date of application review
April 8-19, 2019 2019, 2020 May 16, 2019
June 13-21, 2019 2019, 2020 July 11, 2019
August 5-23, 2019 2019 September 19, 2019
October 7-25, 2019 2020 14.11.2019

St. Petersburg

In St. Petersburg, applications may be submitted to the Center of Human Resources located at the following address: Tramvayniy pr. 12, Block 2, Lit. А, Premises 2N (ground floor).

Receipt of applications: from 1st to 15th of the month, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 09:00 to 17:00.

Deadlines for application submission
The purpose of application Deadlines
Foreign national hiring applications in 2020 from January 09 to July 15, 2019
Applications for adjustment of quota for 2019 from January 09 to September 15, 2019
Applications for adjustment of quota for 2020 from August 01 to October 15, 2019
Labor contracts Labor law Legal risks Migration Quotas Residence permit Stay permit Visa