How can a HIGHLY QUALIFIED SPECIALIST move to Russia?

One way to move to Russia is to obtain the status of a ‘Highly Qualified Specialist’ (HQS). This status is granted to foreigners with sought-after professions, who are invited to take up official employment in Russia.

Key feature: The HQS status is granted under a specific contract with a Russian employer. The main law outlining the details of obtaining this status is Federal Law No. 115-FZ. 

In-demand professions & salary

For a foreigner to be recognized as an HQS and get a "fast track" to a residence permit, they must meet certain salary and professional requirements.

Generally, this means 750,000 rubles per quarter before taxes (i.e., 250,000 rubles per month – approx. $3,300). This is the current minimum amount as of time of writing.

However, the law stipulates that, for some specialties, such a salary is not required.

• Researchers, university professors (in accredited programs) and IT specialists at accredited companies must earn at least 83,500 rubles per month (approx. $1,100).
• Medical, educational or research professionals in the international medical cluster must earn at least 1 million rubles per year (approx. $13,325; monthly amount roughly similar to the abovementioned specialties).
• For specialists working on projects in Skolkovo (Moscow Region) or Sirius (Krasnodar Region), no salary requirements have been set.

Order No. 768n of the Ministry of Labor contains a list of in-demand professions for foreigners, which is updated periodically. As of today, the list includes 62 positions: from organizational managers, engineering and technical specialists to cultural and arts workers and many others.

Which organizations can employ foreigners as HQS?

Employers can be:

• Commercial organizations (Russian companies or representative offices of foreign companies);
• Scientific organizations, professional educational organizations, universities;
• Healthcare institutions;
• Sports organizations and others.

However, private individuals, including individual entrepreneurs, cannot hire HQS.

How the relocation process works under this program:

1. Your employer must prepare a package of documents and an application for hiring an HQS. The Ministry of Internal Affairs will review it within 14 business days and send a notification.
2. In your home country, based on these documents, you obtain a regular business visa valid for up to 30 days. Once in Russia, you will receive a work visa, a work permit for Russia and can start preparing documents for a residence permit.
3. If you stay for more than 90 days, you must undergo a medical examination and provide fingerprints within 30 days of your arrival. You must also register for migration records with the Ministry of Internal Affairs (i.e., provide the address where you will be staying).
4. In general, you can then submit documents to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for a permanent residence permit (PRP). Initially, this will be a temporary RP valid only for the duration of the employment contract. However, after living in Russia under a temporary RP for at least two years, you can obtain a permanent RP. The key condition is that your employer must have fully paid taxes and insurance contributions during those two years.
5. Your family can also obtain a Russian permanent residence permit based on your employment contract.
6. If you have a temporary RP and lose your job, you must find a new employer within 30 business days of the termination of your contract. If you don't find one, you will have to leave and try again from abroad or seek another basis for a PRP (for example, via the ‘Talent Visa’). 

You can also present yourself as an HQS by contacting the Russian consulate in your home country. If your resume catches an employer’s attention, you will be able to obtain a Russian business visa for an interview and contract signing.

You can find all the details on what documents are needed for a permanent residence permit here.