How a Migrant Can Check an Employer in Moscow

A promise of a high salary does not necessarily mean that the job is safe. Before starting work, a foreigner should check the company, the terms of the contract, the work address, and the validity of the patent. Such checks do not guarantee the absence of problems, but they help to notice a fake company, hidden deductions, and illegal employment in time.

Do not hand over the original passport to an intermediary and do not pay for “guaranteed employment” before checking the documents. A reliable employer will calmly provide their full name, TIN, address, position, schedule, and payment procedure.

What to Request Before the Interview

Ask to send:

• the full name of the organization or the name of the individual entrepreneur;
• TIN or OGRN;
• the actual work address;
• job title;
• schedule and duration of shifts;
• salary amount before tax deductions;
• payment dates;
• list of possible deductions;
• draft of the employment or civil law contract;
• name and position of the person who will sign the contract.

If the recruiter hides the legal entity and promises to name the company only after payment, there is nothing to check. Do not send money or documents.

Step 1. Check the Existence of the Company

Find the organization by TIN in the FNS service “Transparent Business” or obtain an extract from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities (EGRUL). Verify:

1. Company status: it must be active.
2. Full name and TIN.
3. Legal address.
4. Name of the director.
5. Main types of activities.
6. Registration date.
7. Marks about the unreliability of information.
8. Information about liquidation or reorganization.

A young company is not necessarily fraudulent, and a mismatch in the type of activity does not always prove a violation. These are reasons to ask additional questions, especially if the director and address changed simultaneously or if the information is deemed unreliable.

The person offering the job may be a contractor or a recruitment agency. Clarify which organization will be a party to the contract and who will actually be paying the salary.

Step 2. Check Court Cases and Debts

By name and TIN, you can check arbitration cases, enforcement proceedings, and bankruptcy announcements. Pay attention not to the fact of the dispute itself, but to the nature and recurrence of problems.

Warning signals:

• many lawsuits for unpaid services;
• bankruptcy or intention to file for bankruptcy;
• regular changes of legal entities under the same brand;
• enforcement proceedings for large amounts;
• disputes with employees over salary;
• an offer to sign a contract with another company without explanation.

A large active organization may have court cases. One dispute does not prove unreliability, so compare its amount, date, result, and the scale of the business.

Step 3. Compare the Vacancy with the Contract

Do not agree to start work based solely on correspondence. The contract must match the key conditions promised in the advertisement and at the interview.

Check:

The phrase “up to 150,000 rubles” does not mean a fixed salary. Ask to break down the guaranteed part, bonus, overtime pay, and deductions. Save the advertisement and correspondence until signing.

Step 4. Check the Patent and Work Territory

As a general rule, the region of the patent must correspond to the actual place of work. However, since September 1, 2025, a special agreement applies to Moscow and the Moscow region: if its conditions are met, a patent issued in one of these two regions allows work in the other.

This does not negate the need to check the document and notify the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD). The employer must confirm that the agreement is still in effect, the patent is valid, the profession is suitable, and the notification of the contract will be sent to the territorial MVD authority at the place of work within the established time frame. An oral promise from the recruiter is not enough.

Also, check whether the profession specified in the patent, the actual work, and the contract match. Details are collected in the instruction foreign patent: work region and profession . For other pairs of regions, the presence of such an exception cannot be assumed automatically.

Step 5. Clarify Registration with the MVD

After concluding or terminating a contract with a foreigner, the employer is obliged to send a notification to the MVD within the established time frame. Ask to confirm who is responsible for sending it and how you will receive a copy or information about its acceptance.

If the notification has not been submitted, follow the instructions the employer did not notify the MVD about the contract . Do not rely on the phrase “the accountant will take care of everything later” if the deadline is approaching.

Step 6. Check the Address and Workplace

Before handing over documents, visit the workplace or conduct a video call with a company representative. Compare the address with the contract and vacancy.

Caution is needed if:

• the interview is only conducted via messenger;
• there is no office or object at the address;
• you are asked to come to another city without a contract;
• you are offered to live and work in a closed facility;
• communication with other employees is prohibited;
• you are promised to get your passport back after the first shift;
• you are forced to sign blank sheets.

The employer may make a copy of documents for registration, but should not keep your passport. If the document has already been taken, see the procedure in the article the employer does not return the passport or patent .

Step 7. Talk to Current Employees

Ask for the contact details of two employees who work in the same position. Clarify:

• whether the actual schedule matches the contract;
• if there are delays in salary;
• how much money comes after deductions;
• whether overtime is paid;
• whether the promised housing is provided;
• whether documents are returned immediately after copying;
• what legal entity is specified in their contracts.

Reviews on the internet are only useful as an additional signal. They may be ordered, relate to another branch, or a previous owner.

Red Flags in the Vacancy

Refuse to hand over money and stop the check if you are offered:

• to buy an invitation, patent, or registration without personal processing;
• to sign a contract after several free shifts;
• to indicate a lower salary in the contract than promised;
• to receive all salary in cash without a payslip;
• to work under someone else’s patent or documents;
• to hand over your passport “for safekeeping”;
• to pay a fine to the employer for dismissal;
• to open a bank card and hand it over to the manager;
• to register a company or individual entrepreneur in your name;
• to invite other workers for a mandatory fee.

The presence of one unusual condition requires explanation. A combination of several signs is grounds to refuse the vacancy.

Safe Employment Sequence

1. Obtain the company’s details and job description.
2. Check the FNS, court cases, and enforcement proceedings.
3. Verify the address and talk to employees.
4. Obtain a draft contract before the first shift.
5. Check the patent, region, and profession.
6. Sign the filled contract and take your copy.
7. Do not hand over original documents.
8. Save information about the MVD notification.
9. Monitor the first payment and payslip.

If conditions change after starting, document the schedule, tasks, transfers, and correspondence. These materials will be useful in disputes over salary or actual labor relations.

Checklist Before Agreeing

Answer “yes” to each question:

• Do I know the TIN and full name of the employer?
• Is the company active and not in liquidation?
• Have I seen the workplace?
• Are the position, address, schedule, and salary specified in the contract?
• Will I keep a signed copy?
• Is my patent suitable for the region and work?
• Did the employer explain the MVD notification?
• Are all deductions listed in advance?
• Does the original passport remain with me?
• Am I not being asked to pay for the promise of the vacancy?

If the answer is negative, do not rush to start the shift. First, request the missing information.

What to Prepare for Checking the Vacancy

Save the advertisement, correspondence, TIN, draft contract, object address, schedule, promised salary, and list of deductions. Close unnecessary personal data on copies and never send passwords, SMS codes, and bank card details.

We publish practical analyses of vacancies, employers, and documents in Telegram VisitRF . Checking helps reduce risk but does not guarantee employment or salary payment.