On 10.07.2023, the Federal Law No. 316-FZ “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation” (hereinafter referred to as Federal Law No. 316-FZ), about which we informed earlier, was signed and published.

We remind you that, starting from 01.03.2024, the provision of the specified Federal Law No. 316-FZ comes into force, which changes the wage (remuneration) rate for highly qualified specialists (hereinafter referred to as HQS).

In particular, starting from 01.03.2024, the wages (remuneration) of an HQS must be at least 750 000 RUB per quarter. Previously, the minimum wage (remuneration) for an HQS in general was 167 000 RUB per month.

Taking into account the above, in the first quarter of 2024, the total wages (remuneration) of an HQS must be in conformity with the amount specified in the legislation, that is, at least 750 000 RUB per quarter.

Please note that the above position corresponds to the position of the Directorate of External Labour Migration of the Main Directorate for Migration Issues of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation stated by the department when contacted in writing.

In case of violation of the established amount of payments, the company shall be deprived of the right to attract foreign citizens to work in the Russian Federation as HQS for two years (subclause 1 of clause 26 and clause 26.1 of the art. 13.2 of the Federal Law No. 115-FZ dated 25.07.2002 “On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation”, hereinafter referred to as Federal Law No. 115-FZ).

We remind you that in accordance with the clause 13 of the article 13.2 of the Federal Law No. 115-FZ, employers and customers of work (services) are obliged to notify the federal executive body in the field of internal affairs or its authorized territorial body for the fulfilment of obligations to pay wages (remuneration) to the HQS on a quarterly basis, no later than the last working day of the month following the reporting quarter.

Failure to notify or violation of the established procedure and (or) form of notification by the employer or customer of work (services) involving highly qualified specialists entails administrative liability established by the part 5 of the article 18.15 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, namely:

• imposition of an administrative fine on officials in the amount of 35 000 – 70 000 RUB; for legal entities – from 400 000 to 1 million RUB.

We will be happy to answer your questions!

We would like to remind you that starting fr om December 29, 2021 (with the Federal Law № 274-FZ fr om 01.07.2021 coming into force) the new migration legal requirements, which require foreign citizens to undergo dactylography and photographing as well as a mandatory medical examination. This requirement concerns:
• those arriving in Russia for the purpose of carrying out labor activities and
• foreign citizens arriving to the Russian Federation for other purposes for a period exceeding 90 calendar days.
For your convenience, we have compiled for you the addresses of clinics/stations in Moscow wh ere you can apply to get the necessary procedures.

Dactyloscopy and photography

Duration of procedures:
Within 30 calendar days from the date of entry into the Russian Federation or when applying for a patent or a work permit.

Where you can get it done:
1. At the Multifunctional Migration Center in Sakharovo on the day of the receipt of the work permit.
Address: Moscow, Troitskiy AO, Voronovskoe settlement, Varshavskoe highway, 64th km, bld. 1/47.
Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday from 08.00 to 20.00.
!! Here you can also undergo necessary medical examinations.
2. In the State Budgetary Institution “Migration Center” only for foreign citizens who came to Russia to perform labor activities.
Opening hours: from Monday to Friday from 09.00 to 18.00
!! Here you can also submit documents about the medical examination.

What documents are required:
To undergo dactyloscopy and photography, a foreign citizen must present the following documents:
• passport and a notarized translation of the passport;
• certificate of absence of disease caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV infection);
• documents confirming medical examination.

Period of validity:
Dactyloscopic registration and photographing are taken once; the documents are valid indefinitely. In case of loss of documents confirming the passing of fingerprinting and photographing, duplicates of these documents can be obtained.

Medical examinations

Time requirements for medical examinations:
• for foreign citizens arriving in Russia for labor purposes – within 30 calendar days from the date of entry into the Russian Federation. At the same time the foreign citizen is obliged to present these documents to migration authorities within thirty days from the date of entry;
• for other foreign citizens – within 90 calendar days from the date of entry into the Russian Federation.

What documents are required:
• passport and notarized translation of the passport;
• migration card;
• registration at the place of residence.

Where you can get it done (in Moscow):

1. CENTRAL DEPARTMENT FOR SPECIALIZED MEDICAL CARE
Address: Leninsky Prospekt, 17, room 56.
Phone: 8 499 558-58-28, 8 495-952-34-22.
Opening hours: from 09.30 to 13.00 on working days according to the order of the person in the line.
Range of necessary medical examinations: except fluorography.

2. Kutuzovsky clinic
Address: 41 Kutuzovsky Prospekt.
Phone: 8 499-249-25-55, 8 499 558 58 28.
Opening hours: working days from 09.00 to 15.00.
Range of necessary medical examinations: except fluorography.

3. Clinic named after V.G. Korolenko
Address: 3, Kosinskaya str.
Phone: 8 495-770 -09-83.
Opening hours: working days from 09.00 to 15.00.
Range of necessary medical examinations: There is no information about the possibility of fluorography.

4. Proletarsky clinic
Address: 22 Melnikova St.
Phone: 8 495-674-36-24, 8-499-558-58-28.
Opening hours: working days from 09.00 to 15.00.
Range of necessary medical examinations: except for phthisiatrician.

5. Ostankinsky clinic
Address: 103, Prospekt Mira St.
Phone: 8-495-682-30-91, 8-495-682-30-80.
Opening hours: working days from 09.00 to 15.00.
Range of necessary medical examinations: There is no information about the possibility of fluorography.

6. Sakharovo Multifunctional Migration Center – Branch “Multifunctional Medical Center of Labor Migration”
Address: Moscow, Troitskiy AO, Voronovskoe settlement, Varshavskoe highway, 64th km, bld. 1/47.
Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday from 08.00 to 20.00.
Full range of necessary medical examinations, including fluorography: yes.

7. State Budgetary Institution “Moscow City Scientific and Practical Center for Fighting Tuberculosis of the Department of Health of the City of Moscow”.
Address: 18, Dokukin St.
Phone: 8-499-187-78-72, 8-499-187-90-77.
Opening hours: 8.00-20.00, Saturday from 9.00-16.00.

Full range of necessary medical examinations, including fluorography: Yes.
Please note that the approximate time to take the tests takes 3 hours. Term of preparation of the medical report after examination and tests takes up to 7 working days.

Wh ere to submit the results of the medical examination
The results of the medical examination must be submitted in person to the migration authorities, considering the deadlines established by law.

You can submit the results of the medical examination:

1. At the Multifunctional Migration Center in Sakharovo on the day of the receipt of the work permit.
Address: Moscow, Troitskiy AO, Voronovskoe settlement, Varshavskoe highway, 64th km, bld. 1/47.
Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday from 08.00 to 20.00.

2. In the State Budgetary Institution “Migration Center” only for foreign citizens who came to Russia to perform labor activities.
Opening hours: from Monday to Friday from 09.00 to 18.00
!! Here you can also undergo dactyloscopy and photography.

First-hand comment from our foreign colleague.

I came to Russia at the beginning of January and, therefore, had to undergo a medical examination and fingerprinting.
I had a medical check-up in the medical center at 18 Dokukin St., because you can take all the analyses there and there is no need to go to other institutions. The line (without an appointment, the principle of a live line) was already quite long at 10 o’clock in the morning, so it is advisable to come early. The staff is friendly and helpful, but if you do not speak Russian, it is worth bringing an interpreter.
I ended up spending 4 hours in the clinic, including 3 hours in line, the tests themselves were done within an hour.
I received the results in 7 working days in the same building.
For fingerprinting I decided to go to the migration center in Sakharovo. I arrived by public transportation at 8 am and was directed to Gate 1 (for work permit holders). It took me 1.5 hours to get a voucher, then another 2 hours before I could get fingerprinted and photographed. It takes 4-6 business days to get confirmation that all the documents have been submitted.
Including the drive there and back, the whole procedure took me 10 hours. The staff is friendly and diligent, but the process on site is very unclear.

Summary of the procedure

Let’s summarize the order and steps of the above procedures:
1. Have your tests done at one (or several, in case one of the specialists/examination options is not available at the chosen center) of the medical centers listed above.
2. Receive test results from the appropriate medical center after 7 business days.
3. Get fingerprinted and photographed.
4. After all the procedures you will get a fingerprint card with. The information will be sent for registration to the information center of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Moscow.

Please note that the information in the overview is relevant as of the date of this posting. The procedure is being clarified, and information may change. We recommend you to clarify the information before you visit a clinic or an authority.

We would like to pay your attention to the fact that the changes specified in the Federal Law No. 274-FZ of July 01, 2021 “On the introduction of amendments to the Federal Law “On the legal status of foreign citizens in the Russian Federation” and the Federal law “On state fingerprint registration in the Russian Federation” shall become effective from December 29, 2021.

According to the Federal Law No. 274-FZ of July 01, 2021 foreign citizens who have arrived in the Russian Federation for working purposes (including highly qualified specialists) shall be subject to mandatory medical examination for substance abuse, infectious diseases that constitute a danger to the public, as well as HIV infection, to state fingerprint registration and photography within 30 calendar days from the date of arrival in the Russian Federation or from the date of receipt of work permission documents.

Besides, foreign citizens who have arrived in the Russian Federation for purposes other than work for a period exceeding 90 calendar days shall be subject to the abovementioned mandatory medical examination, mandatory state fingerprint registration and photography within 90 calendar days from the date of arrival in the Russian Federation.

State fingerprint registration and photography of foreign citizens will need to be completed once.

The medical examination must be repeated multiple times depending on period of validity of medical certificates. It is necessary to mention that in accordance with the clause 20 of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation Order No. 1079нof November 19, 2021 that enters into force from March 01, 2022, medical certificates issued to foreign citizens will be in force within 3 months from their issuance. The Law specifies the procedure for repeated medical examination and submission deadline of its results to the territorial authority of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation within 30 calendar days from the date of expiry of medical certificates. The results of the medical examination are to be submitted by a foreign employee in person or through the Russian unified portal of state and municipal services (Gosuslugi).

If a foreign citizen fails to comply with the above-mentioned mandatory procedures, the period of his residence is reduced and he will be obliged to leave the territory of the Russian Federation.

Decree № 5-UM of the Mayor of Moscow suspends from January 27, 2021 the obligation of Moscow employers to transfer at least 30% of employees to remote work.

Decree № 5-UM of the Mayor of Moscow dd. January 27, 2021 (hereinafter – the Decree) suspends from January 27, 2021 the obligation of Moscow employers to transfer at least 30% of employees to remote work. Nevertheless, employers are advised to keep in force the measures taken on transferring employees to remote working mode.

Please note that the requirement for Moscow employers to transfer all employees over the age of 65 to remote work, as well as citizens with diseases, the list of which is determined by the Department of Health of Moscow, except for citizens whose presence in the workplace is critical, remains in force.

Also, the requirement to submit data on changes in the number of employees transferred to remote mode in electronic form using a personal account on the official website of the Mayor and Government of Moscow in accordance with clause 2.4.3. of the Decree remains in force.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation has prepared a draft of amendments to Federal Law № 125-FZ dd. 24.07.1998 and Federal Law № 255-FZ dd. 29.12.2006, which will come into force from January 1, 2021 in terms of payment of benefits for temporary disability, maternity and childhood.

 “Direct payments” is a project implemented by the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation since 2011. During this time, 77 regions of the Russian Federation have already joined it. The remaining 8 largest regions (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar and Perm, Moscow, Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk regions, the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District) will move to direct payments from January 1, 2021.

Thus, the system of “direct payments” will be effective throughout the Russian Federation from January 2021.

The point of the amendments is that from 1 January 2021 all benefits (with few exceptions) will be paid directly to employees by the Social Insurance Fund (FSS).

Besides, employers will transfer insurance payments to FSS (including contributions for accidents at work and occupational diseases) in full, i.e. without reducing the amount of benefits paid to employees.

Direct payments of employee benefits from the Social Insurance Fund, which are considered in the draft, include:

Temporary disability benefits for the first 3 days of an employee’s illness will be assigned and paid, as before, only by the employer.

With subsequent reimbursement from the Social Insurance Fund, the employer will assign, and pay to working citizens the following types of benefits (the mechanism remains the same):

The mechanism of direct payments is as follows:

1. The employee must submit to the employer:

• a certificate of the amount of earnings (if he/she worked for other (other) employers during the calculation period);

• confirming documents (certificate of disability for work, certificate of registration at a medical institution in the early stages of pregnancy, certificate of birth of a child, etc.);

• application, wh ere details for the transfer of the allowance are specified.

Please be awared, that allowance will be paid by FSS only to the card of payment system MIR.

Important! The term for submission of the sick leave and other documents confirming the occurrence of an insured event is 6 months after the sick leave is closed.

2.The employer within 5 calendar days sends a package of documents to the FSS.
3. The FSS within 10 calendar days checks the documents provided by the employer and makes a decision on the assignment or refusal to pay the allowance.
4. If the decision is positive, the allowance is transferred to the employee’s current account or sent by mail.
5. If the documents are insufficient or incorrect, the FSS sends a notification to the employer. Within 5 calendar days the insured is obliged to replace them, or provide the missing documents.

The way of sending data to the FSS depends on the average number of employees:

The amount and methodology of benefit calculation remain the same.

 Monthly child care allowance awarded in 2019-2020 and continuing into 2021 are paid as follows:

• The employer pays the December 2020 allowance to the employee in the regular order;

• To process an allowance payment from 2021 directly from the FSS:

·         the employee must submit to the employer an application for the allowance directly from the regional branch of the FSS in the standard form and the necessary documents;

·         the employer within 5 calendar days is obliged to transfer the data (inventory, application and documents from the employee or register) to the FSS.

The monthly child care allowance will be transferred from the 1st to the 15th of the month following the month for which the allowance is paid. The allowance for care of the child till 1,5 years at transition to direct payments from FSS, is not subject to recalculation, the sum of the allowance appointed till 01.01.2021, does not change.

We will be happy to answer your questions!