On July 8, 2026, a federal law was adopted introducing sweeping amendments to Federal Law No. 115-FZ "On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation." The document clarifies the procedure for foreign citizens to confirm income, the rules for maintaining temporary residence permits and permanent residence permits, and substantially changes the conditions for attracting highly qualified specialists.
The most significant changes for most categories of foreign citizens will take effect on January 1, 2027. Provisions concerning highly qualified specialists (HQS) will begin to apply fr om March 1, 2027.
New HQS requirements: salary threshold to increase
The main change for employers attracting HQS is an increase in the minimum wage required for a foreign citizen to be recognized as a highly qualified specialist.
From March 1, 2027, an HQS will be a foreign citizen whose terms of engagement provide for a salary or remuneration of:
● at least 358,500 rubles per month – for certain categories of HQS, including researchers, teaching staff, medical, pedagogical and scientific workers, as well as specialists attracted by certain categories of employers;
● at least 717,000 rubles per month – for other highly qualified specialists.
In addition, the law provides for annual indexation of salary criteria for HQS. The indexation coefficient will be determined based on the growth rate of the average monthly accrued wages of employees in organizations for the previous year.
Thus, employers need to assess in advance existing employment contracts with HQS and planned appointments for 2027 to ensure that the remuneration level meets the new requirements.
Additional grounds for cancellation of permits
The law also tightens control over the actual income of foreign workers. Tax authorities will transfer to the Ministry of Internal Affairs information on the amounts of income of foreign citizens, including on the basis of calculations for insurance premiums and data on the income of self-employed foreign citizens.
For foreign citizens working on the basis of a work permit, new grounds are introduced for refusal to issue or cancellation of a previously issued permit. A work permit may be refused or cancelled if:
• there is no information on the amount of income received by the foreign citizen;
• the amount of income is less than the subsistence minimum multiplied by the regional coefficient on average for each month of the period for which the relevant information is submitted.
An exception is provided for cases wh ere a work permit is issued to a foreign citizen for the first time.
Income confirmation for temporary and permanent residence permits
The law clarifies the list of documents by which a foreign citizen can confirm income when submitting an annual notification of confirmation of residence under a temporary residence permit or permanent residence permit.
Income can be confirmed by one or more documents provided for by law, including:
• a certificate fr om the employer on the amount of income received;
• a tax return;
• documents confirming income from deposits, dividends, securities and other sources;
• documents confirming certain social benefits.
At the same time, in a number of cases, information on income may be requested by the Ministry of Internal Affairs from tax authorities through interagency exchange.
The final version of the law clarifies the grounds for cancellation of temporary and permanent residence permits. Earlier versions under discussion emphasized the failure to carry out labor activity for 10 months. This period has been removed from the adopted law.
Now the key factor will not be the fact of continuous employment itself, but the availability of sufficient confirmed income. It must be calculated based on the foreign citizen and each member of his or her family who is dependent on him or her in Russia.
If a foreign citizen has terminated an employment relationship but within three months finds employment with a new employer, the temporary or permanent residence permit will not be cancelled on grounds of insufficient income, provided that the income for the period of actual employment meets the established requirements.
A separate concession is provided for foreign citizens who received a permanent residence permit on the basis of a diploma with honors: such a permit will not be cancelled if the foreign national finds employment within six months of its issuance and the income for the period of work complies with the law.
When the changes take effect
90 days after publication:
• information exchange on foreign citizens' income between the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Federal Tax Service, the Social Fund and authorized organizations is launched.
October 1, 2026:
• The Federal Tax Service begins transferring to the Ministry of Internal Affairs data on foreign citizens' income, including self-employed individuals.
• The Ministry of Internal Affairs gains a mechanism for verifying income.
January 1, 2027:
The main set of changes takes effect from this date:
• A minimum income level for foreign citizens for themselves and their dependents is introduced.
• Rules for extending periods of stay on a patent are clarified.
• New grounds are introduced for refusal/cancellation of a patent, temporary residence permit, permanent residence permit and work permit due to absence or insufficiency of income.
• Rules for annual confirmation of residence under temporary and permanent residence permits are changed.
• Foreign citizens holding temporary/permanent residence permits working for individuals for personal needs must notify the Ministry of Internal Affairs of their employment.
March 1, 2027
• New salary thresholds for HQS are introduced.
• Rules for reducing the period of stay in the absence of confirmed income/employment relationships take effect.
• When the period of stay is reduced, departure from Russia is required within 3 days after the decision takes effect.
Important: the bill text includes a separate transitional mechanism. Foreign citizens who were issued a work permit in HQS status before March 1, 2027, have the right to obtain a patent or work permit in a different status without leaving Russia. For visa-holding foreign nationals who received such a permit, upon the employer's petition, an ordinary multiple-entry work visa is issued for the entire duration of the work permit.
Below you can review a detailed breakdown of possible scenarios for employers whose specialists do not meet the new salary requirements.
Timing, cost and features of transitioning to alternative migration statuses
For employers who, for objective reasons, cannot provide a monthly salary level of a highly qualified specialist of 717,000 rubles or more, Russian legislation provides a number of alternative mechanisms for employing foreign citizens. The optimal choice depends on the candidate's country of origin, qualifications, and the employer's readiness for time and financial costs.
Below is systematized information for each of the available legalization methods.
-
Options for citizens from visa-required countries
| No. | Legalization method | Processing time | Service cost (at Confidence Group) | Tax obligations | Key nuances and features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quota for attracting foreign labor + Work permit (standard procedure) | At least 3–4 months. Timing specifics: Quota application submission for Moscow for 2027: October 26–28, 2026. If quota is allocated, the order is expected at the end of 2026. The permit to attract and the work permit can be obtained by March 2027. | From 150,000 rubles (per employee) | Personal income tax — 13% + insurance contributions to funds | 1. A work permit may be issued for a non-quota position, but in this case the foreign citizen is required to pass an exam in Russian language, Russian history and fundamentals of Russian legislation. In addition, changes to the list of non-quota positions are expected soon due to the transfer of authority to compile such lists to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. 2. The work permit is tied to the region — employment in other constituent entities of the Russian Federation is not permitted. 3. No possibility of obtaining accompanying family members (spouse, children) for residence in the Russian Federation. 4. For HQS, re-issuance of a work visa without leaving the Russian Federation is possible. |
| 2 | Obtaining a temporary residence permit on the basis of Presidential Decree No. 702 (for citizens of certain countries) | Approximately 4 months (possible delays in procedure). | From 150,000 rubles (per employee) | Personal income tax — 13% + insurance contributions to funds | 1. Applies exclusively to citizens of countries included in the list under Decree No. 702. 2. The temporary residence permit is issued for a period of 3 years. 3. Employment is permitted only in the region wh ere the temporary residence permit was issued. |
| 3 | Obtaining a temporary or permanent residence permit on the basis of Presidential Decree No. 883 (for immigrants) | Timelines are uncertain and significantly protracted (the procedure may take a long time). | Fr om 150,000 rubles (per employee) | Personal income tax — 13% + insurance contributions to funds | 1. Main categories of applicants: • persons with achievements in scientific and technological development, manufacturing, sports, creative industries, cultural and humanitarian fields, or in education; • persons who have contributed to the development of society, the economy, and ensuring the defense capability and security of the Russian Federation; • persons possessing particularly in-demand professions, qualifications or skills. 2. For a permanent residence permit, confirmation of Russian language proficiency (passing an exam) is required. |
| 4 | Obtaining a temporary residence permit under quota (within the annually approved quota) | Approximately 4 months (subject to quota allocation for the applicant). | From 150,000 rubles (per employee) | Personal income tax — 13% + insurance contributions to funds | 1. The likelihood of quota allocation is low due to the limited number of places. 2. Employment is permitted exclusively in the region wh ere the temporary residence permit was issued. |
2. Options for citizens fr om visa-free countries
| No. | Legalization method | Processing time | Service cost (at Confidence Group) | Tax obligations | Key nuances and features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patent (applied for in person by the foreign citizen) | 10 business days from the date of application to the MMC. | - | Mandatory monthly payment of personal income tax at a fixed rate for oneself, as well as for accompanying family members | Employment is permitted only in the region wh ere the patent was obtained. |
| 2 | Temporary or permanent residence permit under Presidential Decree No. 883 (for immigrants) | Timelines are uncertain and protracted (similar to visa-required countries). | Fr om 150,000 rubles (per employee) | Personal income tax — 13% + insurance contributions to funds | 1. Nuances are fully identical to those described above for visa-required countries (categories of applicants, language requirements for permanent residence permit). 2. Applies to citizens of visa-free states who meet the criteria of Decree No. 883. |
| 3 | Obtaining a temporary residence permit under quota | Approximately 2 months (subject to quota allocation for the applicant). | From 150,000 rubles (per employee) | Personal income tax — 13% + insurance contributions to funds | 1. The likelihood of quota allocation is low due to the limited number of places. 2. Employment is permitted exclusively in the region wh ere the temporary residence permit was issued. |
It is important to note that the law comes into force within a very short timeframe, with its individual provisions taking effect on different dates, which requires employers to take a balanced approach to planning expenses and organizing future operations.
Consultants at Confidence Group will provide comprehensive support in selecting the most effective method of employee legalization, calculate the financial burden, and help minimize costs through the most comfortable process for obtaining permits. By contacting us, you will receive professional support at all stages of the process.
Frequently asked questions
-
When do the new HQS requirements take effect?
The new provisions concerning highly qualified specialists take effect on March 1, 2027. -
What will be the minimum salary for HQS?
For certain categories of HQS, the minimum salary will be 358,500 rubles per month. For other HQS — 717,000 rubles per month. -
Will the HQS salary threshold be fixed?
No. The law provides for annual indexation of salary criteria for HQS based on the growth of average monthly accrued wages. -
Can a work permit be cancelled due to lack of income information?
Yes. The law provides new grounds for refusal to issue or cancellation of a work permit in the absence of income information or if income does not meet the established requirements. An exception is provided for initial issuance of a work permit. -
Will a temporary or permanent residence permit be cancelled if a foreign national temporarily did not work?
Not necessarily. In the adopted version, the key criterion is the availability of sufficient confirmed income. In addition, a temporary or permanent residence permit will not be cancelled if a foreign national finds employment with a new employer within three months of dismissal and their income for the period of work meets the law's requirements. -
What benefits are provided for foreign citizens who received a permanent residence permit on the basis of a diploma with honors?
A concession is established for graduates of Russian educational institutions who received a permanent residence permit on the basis of a diploma with honors. The permanent residence permit will not be cancelled if the foreign citizen finds employment within six months of its issuance and the income for the period of work meets the law's requirements. This allows young specialists with red diplomas to adapt to the labor market without the risk of losing their status. -
What alternative legalization options are available to employers who cannot pay HQS 717,000 rubles per month?
For employers unable to meet the new salary threshold, the following alternatives are available:
For citizens of visa-required countries:
• obtaining a quota for attracting foreign labor and a work permit under the general procedure (timing – 3–4 months, cost from 150,000 rubles);
• obtaining a temporary residence permit on the basis of Presidential Decree No. 702 (for citizens of certain countries, timing – approximately 4 months);
• obtaining a temporary/permanent residence permit under Decree No. 883 for immigrants (for persons with achievements in science, sports, culture and other fields);
• obtaining a temporary residence permit under quota (timing – approximately 4 months, likelihood of quota allocation is low).
For citizens of visa-free countries:
• obtaining a patent (timing – 10 business days, mandatory monthly personal income tax payment);
• temporary/permanent residence permit under Decree No. 883;
• temporary residence permit under quota (timing – approximately 2 months).
8. Which categories of foreign nationals can qualify for status under Decree No. 883?
The target categories that may be recognized as "of interest to Russia" include the following groups:
• Scientists and researchers — foreign members of the Russian Academy of Sciences, holders of academic degrees, patent holders.
• Highly qualified specialists with at least five years of work experience in priority industries: manufacturing and extractive industries, IT, microelectronics, energy.
• Entrepreneurs — founders of successful small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Investors who meet the criteria for obtaining a permanent residence permit.
• Talented students and graduates of the world's top 100 universities according to recognized rankings.
• Cultural and creative industry figures with outstanding achievements.
• High-level athletes — champions and medalists of the Olympic Games, world and European championships.
•. Persons who have contributed to Russia's defense capability and security.
9. What benefits are provided for employers hiring immigrants?
Decree No. 883 provides employers with substantial concessions:
• Employers and clients of work (services) have the right to attract foreign citizens recognized as being of interest to the Russian Federation without obtaining a permit to attract and use foreign workers.
• The foreign citizen and his or her family members may work without permits during the period of consideration of their application for a temporary or permanent residence permit — until the document is issued or until a decision on refusal is made.
10. What advantages does a foreign national with immigrant status receive when employed?
A foreign citizen recognized as being of interest to the Russian Federation has the right to work without additional permits (without a patent or work permit) subject to the following conditions:
• the territorial body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is considering the foreign national's application for a temporary or permanent residence permit;
• the employer has submitted a notice of conclusion of an employment contract to the Ministry of Internal Affairs within 3 business days;
• the employer is exempt from the obligation to obtain a permit to attract foreign workers.
Photo source: https://www.magnific.com/
For more information, please contact the consultants of the Confidence Group company.
* The texts of the newsletters are intellectual property of Confidence Group, protected by the copyright laws of Russia. The information may not be reproduced in any form whatsoever without linking to this web site or to pages of this website.
