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Russia, the largest country in the world, occupies one-tenth of all the land on Earth. It spans 11 time zones across two continents (Europe and Asia) and has coasts on three oceans (the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic).
The Russian landscape varies from desert to frozen coastline, tall mountains to giant marshes. Much of Russia is made up of rolling, treeless plains called steppes. Siberia, which occupies three-quarters of Russia, is dominated by sprawling pine forests called taigas.
Russia has about 100,000 rivers, including some of the longest and most powerful in the world. It also has many lakes, including Europe’s two largest: Ladoga and Onega. Lake Baikal in Siberia contains more water than any other lake on Earth.
Becoming a Russian citizen is a final stage of the immigration process. Many people who think of moving to Russia aim at obtaining Russian citizenship which is preceded by obtaining Russian residence permit (green card). After becoming a Russian citizen you will enjoy all social benefits and other privileges provided by the Russian Federation.
• Russia does not and will not bow down to the global hegemon
• Russia is ready to defend its moral values and geopolitical interests
• Russia’s constitution prohibits the extradition of citizens to stand trial abroad
• Stability and growth. Russia is successfully demonstrating its ability to withstand economic sanctions
• Largely self-sufficient industries include: aerospace, nuclear, defense, pharmaceutical, agriculture, automotive, heavy equipment, etc.
• 6th largest domestic market. Relatively high GDP at purchasing power parity
• The military–industrial complex belongs to the state, not to a few powerful private companies with questionable intentions
• The primary goal of Russian healthcare institutions is helping citizens, not enriching themselves
• University education is a constitutional right, not a privilege
The process of applying for Russian citizenship is similar to the application for a residence permit. An applicant has to confirm his/her knowledge of Russian language (the exam for citizenship is more difficult than the exam for a residence permit), get necessary medical certificates and prepare a package of documents.
Usually Russian citizenship is granted to applicants who have resided in Russia for at least five years. However, some categories of applicants are eligible to apply under simplified procedure which implies fewer documents and quicker processing. In some cases the requirement to reside in Russia for five years may be decreased to three years and even one year.
Frankly speaking, there is no universal strategy on immigrating to Russia. Russian immigration policies differ depending on various criteria (citizenship, command of Russian language, qualifications, etc.). When it comes to immigration to Russia (as to any other country), each case is individual and may require either more or less time and efforts.
Moscow and St. Petersburg are Russia’s main economic centers offering the best job opportunities. The overall unemployment rate in Russia was measured at 6.3% in July 2020. This is an increase of around 30% since the start of the year, although this is largely down to the effects of COVID-19.
Moscow has the highest employment rate in Russia and its labor force makes up around a quarter of Russia’s total GDP.
The service sector accounts for over half of all jobs in Russia, with retail, tourism, health, and education among the most important service segments. Mining, manufacturing, and construction are the biggest industrial sectors.
You can find many English-speaking jobs with large multinational companies in the big Russian cities. Some of the biggest international employers in Russia include:
The biggest Russian employers include:
Depending on your background, finding vacancies for jobs in Russia might not be easy. Options for English-speakers include teaching English (other native language teaching jobs such as French or German are also available), working for a multinational company in sectors such as energy, finance or construction, or translation if you are bilingual. English teachers should look at BKC International and English First.
Sectors in Moscow where there is higher demand include:
In St. Petersburg, there is a shortage of:
The term professional refers to anyone who earns their living from performing an activity that requires a certain level of education, skill, or training. There is typically a required standard of competency, knowledge, or education that must be demonstrated (often in the form of an exam or credential), as well as adhering to codes of conduct and ethical standards.
Unskilled labor refers to workers who possess no particular skills and likely have no formal education. This type of work usually involves simple duties that don’t require judgment. In some cases, unskilled labor requires physical strength and exertion. Unfortunately, unskilled labor jobs are dwindling due to technological advancements leaving fewer and fewer jobs for these types of workers. A few examples of these types of jobs still around include grocery clerks, maids, fast food workers, janitors, and parking lot attendants. Due to the increased demand for skills, workers in these industries are going to need to advance their skill set.
Semi-Skilled labor does not require advanced training or specialized skills, but it does require more skills than an unskilled labor job. People who perform semi-skilled labor usually have more than a high-school diploma, but less than a college degree. The types of skills necessary for this are not complex but usually include the ability to monitor and perform repetitive tasks. These types of skills are more likely to be transferable and useful in other jobs. A few examples of these types of jobs include truck drivers, retail salespersons, bartenders, flight attendants, taxi drivers, waiters, and security guards.
Skilled labor refers to workers who have specialized training or skills. These laborers are capable of exercising judgment and have knowledge of the particular trade or industry they work. People who perform skilled labor will most likely have a college degree. A few examples of these types of jobs include law enforcement officers, financial technicians, nurses, sales representative, and electricians. The demand for skilled labor jobs continues to grow as the need for specialized skills becomes more and more necessary. Individuals who possess an even higher degree of skills, such as doctors, would be put into a separate category of professionals.
See below for an extensive list of construction-related job titles and occupations. Use this list to help power your job search.
The minimum wage in Russia is reviewed every six months, although it doesn’t necessarily always increase. It was raised to R12,130 a month in January 2020.
The average monthly Russian salary is just over R52,000 as of June 2020. However, wages are slightly higher in Moscow with many residents earning over R75,000 a month.
Read more in our guide to minimum wages in Russia.
Russian companies tend to be hierarchical and bureaucratic, with a plethora of rules and regulations in place that can be explained by the country’s communist past. Because of this, business negotiations can take a long time to sort out. However, as the Russian economy has gradually opened up since the early nineties, this has started to change.
Traditional standards and values still persist within many workplaces and social networks can be important when it comes to career progression. Russians are fond of mixing business with pleasure, with long business lunches and even weekend invitations to stay with business partners a common feature.
Employment law in Russia is enshrined in the 2002 Russian Labor Code. Employment contracts should be in writing. The Russian Labor Code states that there are three main types of contract:
The common working week in Russia is 40 hours and employees should work a maximum of 50 hours a week. Full-time workers are entitled to a minimum of 28 days’ annual leave. In addition to this, there are also a number of public holidays in Russia
Notice periods for termination of a contract in Russia vary according to reasons for termination. They range from no notice at all to two months (in cases such as redundancies or company liquidation). Employees usually have to give at least two weeks’ notice if they wish to quit.
Foreigners coming to Russia for work face many challenges. Obtaining the necessary visa and paperwork is often complicated and lengthy, requiring advanced preparation from you and your employees. With quotas set in place, your employees could go through the entire process only to get denied if quotas were already met. Plus, a work visa is the most complex and expensive visa type.
Your employees need both a Russian work permit and a visa to stay compliant. The two visa options include:
Your employees also have Russia work permit options. Anyone from non-Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries can apply for the standard work permit, valid for the length of the employment contract. It requires securing a temporary residence permit first. Skilled professionals with a salary over RUB 1 million can apply for the work permit for highly qualified professionals, which gets processed faster, is valid for three years, and allows family members to obtain Russian visas.
Keep in mind that citizens of CIS countries do not need a visa to enter the country. They can apply for a work patent with the local Russian Directorate of Migratory Affairs (GUVM) office in their region within 30 days of entering. The work patent gives people 60 days to find employment and is valid for 12 months with the option to renew once. However, applicants cannot obtain a work patent unless they pass an exam showing that they know the Russian language, history, and legislation.
As an employer, you’re required to obtain all work permits on behalf of employees. When you apply at the GUVM, you’ll need to submit the following documents for employees:
As soon as your employees get their work permit, they’ll receive an invitation for a work visa from the GUVM. In addition to filling out a work visa application, employees will also need to provide:
We provide all types of jobs based on your qualification and skill. Contact us for more information and VISA apply
