Work permit applicant required to know Russian

Starting January 1, 2015, Federal Law No.74-FZ “On amendments to Federal Law ‘On legal status of foreign citizens in the Russian Federation’” (the “Law”) enters into effect.

The Law amends the procedure for issuing a work permit to foreign citizens by establishing additional requirements for foreign citizens intending to work in Russia.

In particular, the Law establishes the following:

1.  A foreign citizen from a country whose nationals do not require a Russian visa, when applying for a work permit will be required to submit to the respective subdivision of the Russian Federal Migration Service (the “FMS”) a document confirming his/her knowledge of the Russian language, history and civics.

A foreign citizen from a country whose nationals do require a Russian visa, when arriving in Russia for purposes of being employed, needs to submit to the FMS a document confirming his/her knowledge of the Russian language, history and civics within 30 days after receiving a work permit. In the event of failure to submit such document confirming knowledge of the Russian language, history and civics to the FMS within the established timeframe, the permit that has been issued to the foreign citizen will be cancelled.  

2.  Either a USSR or Russian diploma of education or a special certificate which will be issued by education institutions authorized by the Russian Ministry of Education and Science starting from September 1, 2014 can serve as a document confirming such knowledge (the “Certificate”).

In order to obtain a Certificate, a foreign citizen will need to pass exams in the Russian language, history and civics. Examination tasks were to be developed by September 1, 2014 by the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia.

3.  Foreign citizens with a valid work permit as of January 1, 2015 will be required to submit to the FMS a respective diploma or Certificate, along with an application for extending their previously issued work permits.

The Law requirements do not apply to highly-qualified specialists, employees of foreign mass media and foreign citizens studying in Russian institutions of higher education.

See Federal Law No.74-FZ “On amendments to Federal Law ‘On legal status of foreign citizens in the Russian Federation’” dated April 20, 2014.

Additional notes

Should any questions arise in connection with the above or if you need any additional materials, please contact Anastasia Fomicheva or Anna Chaykina, St. Petersburg Office of Capital Legal Services.

This Information letter keeps the clients of Capital Legal Services and other interested parties abreast of information that may, to any extent, affect their activity or cater to their particular interests. The opinions and commentaries expressed in this information letter shall not be deemed as legal opinions and do not cancel the need to obtain legal advice or legal opinion on separate issues.

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