Working Without a Patent: Who Is Exempt from Obtaining One

Many foreign nationals need a work patent to be legally employed in Russia. However, there are categories of people for whom this document is not required. They can start working immediately without additional paperwork.

Categories of Individuals Who Do Not Need a Patent

Under Russian law, certain categories of foreign nationals are exempt from the requirement to obtain a work patent. The main categories include:

1. Citizens of the EAEU countries — Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. They may work under an employment contract without a patent. The key requirements are timely registration at the place of stay and notification of the Ministry of Internal Affairs by the employer about the employment contract.
2. Foreign nationals with a permanent residence permit (VNJ) or temporary residence permit (RVP). These documents grant the right to work without a patent.
3. Highly Qualified Specialists (HQS). A separate permit system applies to them. Their salary must be at least 750,000 rubles per quarter before taxes.
4. Full-time foreign students. They may work during their free time from studies:
   • at their university or research organization;
   • in companies established by these institutions.
5. Employees of diplomatic missions, consular offices, and international organizations.
6. Journalists accredited in Russia.
7. Employees of foreign companies performing installation, supervision of installation, service and warranty maintenance, as well as post-warranty repair of technical equipment supplied to Russia.
8. Refugees and persons granted temporary asylum in Russia.
9. Participants of the State Program for the Resettlement of Compatriots to the Russian Federation and their family members.
10. Persons holding a temporary identity document of a stateless person issued in Russia.
11. Specialists employed by accredited IT companies.
12. Medical professionals, educators, and scientists working within an international medical cluster.
13. Educators and scientists invited to work in educational or research organizations.
14. Creative professionals, scientists, and educators arriving on a guest or business visa (up to 30 calendar days).
15. Creative professionals, scientists, and educators invited by state cultural and arts institutions to participate in events (up to 30 calendar days).
16. Employees of representative offices of foreign organizations.

In some cases, a patent may also not be required for citizens of Ukraine and Moldova.

There are other situations where working without a patent is allowed. For example, if a foreign national works as a nanny, caregiver, or performs other household duties for a private individual, a patent is often not required. However, notification rules must still be followed. This applies only to personal services, not employment by companies.

Special Cases for Certain Countries

To work without a patent, citizens of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova must take into account specific conditions.

Ukraine

Categories of Ukrainian citizens who may work without a patent:

1. Holders of a permanent residence permit (VNJ).
2. Holders of a temporary residence permit (RVP).
3. Refugees and persons granted temporary asylum. Employment for them follows a simplified procedure under rules applicable to Russian citizens. Refugee or temporary asylum status grants the right to work, and the certificate issued to a refugee serves as both a work authorization and an identity document.
4. Persons located in the LPR, DPR, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions. Until December 31, 2025, they may work without a patent or work permit provided they obtain a “Green Card.” This requires fingerprinting, photographing, and a medical examination.
5. Highly Qualified Specialists. Simplified employment procedures apply to them, including the possibility of working without a patent.

Changes affecting Ukrainian citizens as of March 20, 2025:

• The Presidential Decree of August 27, 2022, which allowed Ukrainian citizens to work without a patent after completing certain procedures, has expired.
• Citizens who do not have legal grounds for staying or working in Russia must legalize their status or leave the country by September 10, 2025.

To legalize their status, individuals must undergo fingerprint registration, photographing, a medical examination, and submit an application to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Consequences of working without proper documents:

• For the employee: risk of deportation and inclusion in the register of controlled persons after September 10, 2025.
• For the employer: fines of up to 1,000,000 rubles or administrative suspension of activities for up to 90 days.

Republic of Moldova

Until October 1, 2026, citizens of Moldova who arrive in Russia between October 1, 2025, and January 1, 2026, may work without obtaining a patent.

These benefits do not apply to individuals with an outstanding criminal record or those who have committed crimes on the territory of Russia.

Additional conditions include:

1. Mandatory fingerprint registration.
2. A medical examination to confirm the absence or presence of drug or psychotropic substance use without a doctor’s prescription, infectious diseases posing a danger to others, and HIV infection.

How to Confirm Your Status

To work without a patent, a foreign national must confirm their status with appropriate documents. For example:

• Citizens of EAEU countries must present a passport and other documents required for employment;
• Holders of permanent or temporary residence permits must present the relevant permits;
• Students must provide documents confirming enrollment in a Russian educational institution;
• Participants in the State Resettlement Program must present the standard-issued certificate.

Working without the required documents can result in fines and other negative consequences for both the employee and the employer. Therefore, it is important to know which category you belong to and which documents are necessary for legal employment in Russia.

Conclusion

In summary, certain foreign nationals are allowed to work in Russia without a patent. The key is to understand your rights and obligations and to have the necessary documents confirming your right to work.

Source

• Federal Law No. 115-FZ of July 25, 2002 “On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation”
• Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 520 of July 25, 2025 “On the Specifics of the Legal Status of Citizens of the Republic of Moldova in the Russian Federation”