Who is a highly qualified specialist (HQS)?
Any employee who has knowledge and skills that are required by the employer can be a highly qualified specialist. Operating officers (directors, heads of departments, managers) as well as technical staff (engineers, qualified workers of rare specializations, etc.) normally obtain a highly qualified specialist status. By Federal law No. 115 ‘On the legal state of foreign citizens’ employers are allowed to consider employees’ qualifications and acknowledge them as highly-qualified independently.
HQS salary
To employ a highly qualified foreign specialist, the employer must be prepared to pay him/her the minimum salary of 250 000 rubles per month.
Attention! If a HQS has taken a sick leave, unpaid vacation, or has not been paid or has not been paid in full, the employer still has to pay him/her the quarterly salary in the amount that equals the HQS income for three months. It is allowed to pay the salary less than in the established amount if the specialist has started work later than at the beginning of the month.
Who can employ HQS?
- Russian commercial organizations
- Nationally accredited Russian scientific organizations, professional education organizations and higher education institutes (except for spiritual education organizations), and medical organizations
- Branches and representative offices of foreign companies in Russia
- Non-commercial sport organizations employing athletes as HQS
Advantages and disadvantages of HQS work permit
| Advantages of HQS work permit |
Disadvantages of HQS work permit |
- Fast processing and issuance of a work permit (14 business days)
- Employer does not have to obtain a permit to engage and use foreign workers (‘quota’), which is necessary for all foreign workers except HQS
- HQS do not have to take Russian language exams, medical examinations or provide medical certificates to obtain a work permit (on the absence of infections, HIV; psychiatrist’s opinion)
- Uniform tax procedure. HQS income tax rate is 13%
- HQS can bring their families to Russia. HQS family members can study and work (if they have a work permit) in Russia
- HQS are eligible for easy procedure to obtain a residence permit for themselves and their close relatives
- Longer period of validity of a work permit and work visa, that is, up to 3 years, compared to the standard ones (1 year)
- HQS work permit can be prolonged for up to 3 years multiple times
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- High salary (from 250 000 rubles per month)
- Employer is obliged to notify the migration authorities on HQS salary payments on the quarterly basis
- Difficulties obtaining a work permit for citizens of migration risk countries
- Employer has to pay salary in full, even when the worker takes a sick leave or unpaid vacation
- HQS has to appear in person to receive a work permit at the migration authority (no attorneys allowed)
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HQS work permit procedure
Agreeing upon the HQS labor contract terms and conditions, signing the contract (at that time HQS can stay in Russia on the basis of a business visa or sign the contract remotely)
Preparing documents, applying for a work permit and notifying the migration authorities about the labor contract (the migration authorities must be notified within 3 business days upon signing the contract; otherwise the employer may be fined RUB 1 mln.)
Applying for a work visa (processing period of a work visa invitation is 14 business days; invitation and work permit are processed and issued simultaneously)
HQS obtains a work visa in a Russian consulate in the country of his/her citizenship
HQS arrives in Russia on the basis of a work visa
HQS receives a work permit within 14 business days (HQS must stay in Russia on the basis of a business or work visa and receive the work permit in person. A work permit is normally received upon receipt of the work visa and entrance to Russia)
HQS starts to work in Russia
Price for HQS work permit procurement services
The price of our services is relevant and fair. We tell you the final price that is set out in the contract. The price is available in PDF format for your convenience.
Click on the link.
Enter your name and email in the pop-up form. We will send the price list to the email you have specified.
Our company will help you:
- We will free you of bureaucratic procedures
- We will check the documents and notify you on missing or incorrectly drawn ones; we will warn you about possible risks
- We will help with translations, medical insurance policies
- We will prepare, print, submit and receive the documents. Your only task will be to sign them
We are experienced in work permit procurement.
Get the work permits for your expatriate HQS without any trouble!
