Updates: Russia

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RUSSIA

Various developments have been announced.

Restrictions on Visas and Employment of Turkish Workers

In accordance with Presidential Order No. 583, employers in Russia can no longer employ Turkish citizens as of January 1, 2016. This ban does not include those already employed and working in Russia on the basis of labor and civil agreements with Russian employers.

It is probable that employers will not be able to file for extensions of work permits for Turkish citizens working in Russia now after their work permits expire.

It has been reported that the Federal Migration Service office is not accepting applications for technical or business invitation letters for Turkish citizens. Also, a number of Turkish citizens having valid work visas issued before the Presidential Order came into force were denied entry to Russia recently. 

Additionally, as part of a sanctions package that began January 1, 2016, a bilateral agreement between Russia and Turkey on simplification of visa requirements, in effect since May 12, 2010, is suspended. This means that in 2016, Turkish citizens cannot enter Russia without a visa except for diplomats and those who have residence permits.

The Presidential Order introducing these sanctions will apply until further notice.

Definition of Medical Insurance Minimum Requirements

In accordance with § 10, article 13 of FL–115, “On the legal status of foreign citizens in Russia,” foreign citizens performing work activities in Russia must have medical insurance that ensures they can receive first aid and urgent medical care if needed while in Russia. 

On January 31, 2016, Bank of Russia requirements regarding this issue entered into force. In accordance with these requirements, medical insurance documents held by foreign citizens should include the following: 

• Information regarding the insurer. For persons: full name, sex, date of birth, citizenship, residence address, address registration date, passport details, contact details. For individual entrepreneurs: full name, sex, date of birth, citizenship, residence address, address registration date, passport details, contact details, state registration date, details of registration document confirming individual entrepreneur’s entry to unified state register of entrepreneurs. For legal entities: legal form, title, address, contact information, full name and job position of a person entitled to sign medical insurance agreement on insurer’s behalf, and documentation of the basis on which he or she was granted these rights; 
• Information regarding the insured person. This includes the full name, sex, date of birth, type and ID document details, residence address, citizenship and contact information; 
• Information regarding the insurance company. This includes the legal form and full title, license number and date, address, phone, URL of official Internet website, bank details, full name and job position of a person empowered to sign a medical insurance agreement on the company’s behalf, and documentation of the basis on which he or she was granted these rights; 
• Certain information on the medical insurance certificate. This includes the series and number of the certificate, number of visual control device, date of certificate issuance, term and territory where the certificate is valid, insurance fund, and insurer’s signature; and
• Validity term of the medical insurance certificate. This should be determined on the basis of the requested term of the patent or work permit, and the territory where the certificate is valid must include all Russian regions where the assignee plans to work.

Insurance companies must amend their documentation in accordance with the above requirements within 120 days of January 31, 2016. This means that starting May 1, 2016, the Federal Migration Service office will require medical insurance certificates to match the above requirements. 

Fines for Violating theRequirement to File for Work Permit Amendment Due to Passport Change 

Beginning January 1, 2016, all Federal Migration Service offices stopped accepting applications for work permit corrections if the seven-business-day deadline was violated. To file such documents, applicants now must pay an administrative fine of 4–5,000 RUB. 

Salary Payment Rules for Highly Qualified Work Permit Holders

Monthly salary payments for HQS work permit holders should be at least 167,000 RUB gross. Should the HQS work permit holder take sick leave and/or unpaid leave or other type of leave, his or her salary should be at least 501,000 RUB gross for three months (quarter). This is in accordance with article 13.2, Federal Law 25.07.2002, N 115-FL (amended 30.12.2015).  

Foreign National Passport Validity Requirements 

Passport validity for HQS work permit applicants should not be less than three years from the date of work permit application filing at the Federal Migration Service office. This requirement also applies to HQS work permit extension applications. 

Passport validity for standard work permit applicants should not be less than one year from the date of work permit application filing at the Federal Migration Service office. 

Passport validity for work visa invitation letter applicants, including accompanying family members, should not be less than 1.5 years from the date of requested entry into Russia.