Permanent Residency

A permanently residing foreign citizen is a person who has obtained a Residence permit in Russia. After obtaining a Temporary residence permit and residing on its basis for no less than a year, a foreign citizen may apply for a residence permit. A residence permit is issued to a foreigner for 5 years and can be extended for another 5 years. A residence permit enables a foreign citizen to work in Russia without a work permit and to travel in and out of Russia without a visa.

A foreign national doesn't need a work permit if he/she:
- is an employee of the diplomatic representations, worker of the consular institutions of foreign states in the Russian Federation
- is an employee hired to assemble and maintain equipment imported into Russia by a foreign company
- is a journalist accredited in the Russian Federation
- is a student studying in Russia and working in his/her spare time
- is a lecturer or teacher invited by an educational organization

In circumstances other than those mentioned above, the Russian Government adopts an annual employment quota limiting the number of foreign nationals coming to work in the Russian Federation.