General information on highly qualified specialist status

• To obtain highly qualified specialist status a foreign citizen’s income shall amount to at least 2 million rubles per year (167000 rubles per month or an equivalent of this sum in any  foreign currency)
   

• The requirements may be changed or may not be applied (“Skolkovo”) in cases when a foreign citizen is invited for scientific-research or teaching activity or for an activity within exclusive economic zone 

• Work permit is valid for the term of labour contract, but for no more than 3 years. The same term is applied to working visa (for the citizens who enter country on a visa basis) 

• The Migration Service shall prepare a work permit within 14 working days. Citizens who enter country on a visa basis shall acquire an “invitation for entering Russia” besides a work permit. This invitation is used as a ground for acquiring a working visa

• Work permit for a foreign national highly qualified specialist can be renewed unlimited number of times for a term of one’s labour contract, but for no more than three years for each renewal 

• HQS is entitled to acquire permanent residence in the Russian Federation on the grounds of an issued work permit