For foreign IT-specialists

Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs informs foreign IT-specialists and their families

For foreign nationals who are specialists in information technology[1], the procedure for employment and obtaining a residence permit in the Russian Federation has been simplified.

Thus, foreign IT specialists have the right to sign an employment contract or a civil law contract for works (services) with organizations engaged in activities in information technology, which have received in the manner described by the Government of the Russian Federation, a document of state accreditation of the organization carrying out activities in information technology (except for organizations with resident status of a technology-innovative special economic zone)[2], without any work permit or any work patent.

Employers (accredited IT companies) recruit these specialists without obtaining permission to hire and engage employees. An organization’s state accreditation is confirmed by an entry in the register of accredited IT companies, with information about the register being publicly available in the section “Accreditation of IT companies” at the following link: https://digital.gov.ru/ru/activity/govservices/1/.

A foreign IT specialist working for an accredited IT company, as well as their family members (including spouse, children (including adopted children), spouses of children, parents (including adoptive parents), spouses of parents, grandparents, grandchildren) are entitled to obtain a residence permit in the Russian Federation with no expiration date under a simplified procedure.

To obtain a residence permit, an IT specialist as well as family members should apply to the migration department of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs’ territorial agency at their chosen place of permanent residence. The application review for a residence permit in the Russian Federation takes 3 months.

In addition to the basic documents required to apply for a residence permit in the Russian Federation[3], a foreign IT specialist should additionally submit:

-  an employment contract or a civil law contract for work (services) signed with an accredited IT company in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation;

- a document of education and (or) qualification confirming education and (or) qualifications in IT;

-  documents confirming kinship – if family members of a foreign IT specialist also apply for a residence permit.

Detailed information on the list of documents required to apply for a residence permit in the Russian Federation can be found on the official website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation (www.mvd.ru) in the section “State Services – Main Directorate for Migration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia – Issuance of residence permits”.

[1] Following – “IT specialists”.

[2] Following – “accredited IT companies”.

[3] Item 432 of the Administrative Regulations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation on rendering the state service on granting foreign citizens and persons without citizenship a residence permit, replacement of a residence permit for foreign citizens and persons without citizenship in the Russian Federation, approved by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia from June 11, 2020 No.417 (Appendix No.1).