Changes for foreign employees

The main changes affected the following points:

1. The minimum wage level for highly qualified specialists (HQS) has changed
We#nbsp;remind that a#nbsp;highly qualified specialist (HQS) is#nbsp;an#nbsp;employee who receives a#nbsp;salary not lower than that established by#nbsp;law for recognition of#nbsp;a#nbsp;HQS, meets certain criteria and works under a#nbsp;work permit for a#nbsp;HQS. Today, the minimum wage is#nbsp;167,000 rubles for 1 month for most foreigners.

According to#nbsp;the changes from March 1, 2024, the minimum wage will be#nbsp;750,000 per quarter.

2. Residence permit of#nbsp;an#nbsp;HQS employee
Changes in#nbsp;legislation will allow an#nbsp;HQS employee to#nbsp;obtain a#nbsp;residence permit without an#nbsp;expiration date. Such a#nbsp;residence permit can be#nbsp;issued only after the employee has worked for 2 years on#nbsp;a#nbsp;residence permit issued based on#nbsp;his work permit as#nbsp;an#nbsp;HQS.

Such residence permits will be#nbsp;issued 180 days after the publication of#nbsp;the law, that is, from January 2024.

3. Deadlines for obtaining a#nbsp;work permit
From July 10, a#nbsp;foreign HQS is#nbsp;required to#nbsp;collect his work permit within 30 days from the date of#nbsp;the decision to#nbsp;issue#nbsp;it. Otherwise, it#nbsp;will be#nbsp;destroyed and the decision annulled. The period can be#nbsp;extended for good reason at#nbsp;the request of#nbsp;the employer.

According to#nbsp;the previous rules, the period within which a#nbsp;foreign HQS had to#nbsp;apply to#nbsp;the Ministry of#nbsp;Internal Affairs to#nbsp;obtain a#nbsp;work permit was not regulated by#nbsp;law.

The same period, 30 calendar days, is#nbsp;also established upon receipt (issuance) of#nbsp;a#nbsp;work permit upon its renewal;

The new law also establishes the deadlines during which a#nbsp;foreign HQS who has not received a#nbsp;work permit within 30 days, as#nbsp;well as#nbsp;members of#nbsp;his family, are required to#nbsp;leave the territory of#nbsp;Russia. A#nbsp;highly qualified specialist and members of#nbsp;his family who have no#nbsp;other legal grounds for staying (residence) in#nbsp;the Russian Federation are required to#nbsp;leave the Russian Federation within 15 calendar days from the date of#nbsp;expiration of#nbsp;the period for obtaining a#nbsp;work permit. Visas issued to#nbsp;a#nbsp;highly qualified specialist and members of#nbsp;his family after the expiration of#nbsp;the specified 15 calendar days are considered invalid.

4. Paperwork
During the initial registration of#nbsp;an#nbsp;employee#nbsp;— a#nbsp;HQS, as#nbsp;well as#nbsp;when renewing a#nbsp;work permit for a#nbsp;HQS, now it#nbsp;is#nbsp;possible to#nbsp;provide not the original employment contract, but a#nbsp;copy certified by#nbsp;the employer. Also, when submitting documents for the extension of#nbsp;a#nbsp;work permit for a#nbsp;HQS, the employer is#nbsp;no#nbsp;longer required to#nbsp;provide registration of#nbsp;the HQS.