You will learn:
1. Who issues business and work visas?
2. How to obtain an invitation for a business or work visa?
3. How to obtain a business or work visa?
4. What is an electronic visa (E-Visa)?
Business and work visas are issued by Russian consulates based on an invitation received by the foreign citizen from a company. In order to obtain a work visa, in addition to the invitation, the foreigner must have a work permit.
ISSUANCE OF INVITATION TO A FOREIGN CITIZEN
An invitation is issued by the migration department of the police (migration service), with the inviting party being indicated as the Company in the invitation. As mentioned earlier, for obtaining a business visa, another legal entity engaged by the Company to organize business migration within its projects may be indicated as the inviting party.
IMPORTANT: Considering the significant risks and nuances of regulating business migration, it is beneficial for Companies, especially for large projects, to engage a reliable partner - a provider of migration services. The partner engaged by the Company takes on all the obligations and responsibilities of the inviting party in relation to the invited foreign citizen. The direct risks associated with migration flows and violations of migration laws in Russia are transferred from the Company to such a partner. Such a partner can ensure all the work related to organizing migration flows for the Company and interaction with the migration service. This interaction with the engaged partner allows for more reliable legal protection and overall project effectiveness for the Company.
However, there are collisions in Russian legislation on this issue. Provisions of migration laws regarding the inviting party can be interpreted ambiguously. Often, migration service employees consider it impossible to appoint another legal entity as the inviting party for Company projects. Such a position asserts that only the Company can be the inviting party and must be indicated in both the invitation and the business visa issued to the foreigner.
In practice, this issue has to be resolved individually with immigration officials each time. All project details are crucial in making a decision on this matter. In particular, the immigration service pays close attention to large projects that involve a significant number of foreign nationals entering Russia.
It is essential for the Company's partner to be capable of professionally resolving such issues without any risks to the Company.
To issue an invitation to a foreign national, the Company must submit the appropriate request (application) to the migration service, along with the necessary documents. Prior to submitting such a request, the Company is also obliged to register with this police department.
The invitation can be issued on a special paper form or in electronic format. If the invitation is issued on paper, it must be sent to the foreign national in the country where they will obtain their visa. The foreign national must present this form at the Russian Consulate in that country when applying for a visa. The consulate and the country where the visa will be obtained are specified in the invitation itself.
If an invitation is issued in electronic form, the migration service independently sends it via email to the Russian consulate in the country where the visa will be obtained. The consulate is specified in the Company's application when the invitation is being processed. A copy of such an invitation is sent to the email address provided by the Company. The foreign citizen only needs to present this invitation in printed form when applying for a visa at the Russian consulate.
An invitation for a business visa with the purpose of entry "commercial" or "business" can also be issued on the Company's regular form. Such an invitation should be sent to the foreign citizen in the country where they will obtain the visa. The foreigner must then present the invitation at the Russian consulate in that country when applying for a visa.
However, as practice shows, obtaining a visa based on an invitation on the Company's form is possible only for a small number of requested visas (usually up to 10 people). Otherwise, consular officials may refuse to issue visas. In this situation, the consulate may require obtaining invitations from the migration service in order to conduct a comprehensive check of a large number of incoming foreigners. Accordingly, an invitation on the Company's form is suitable for a small number of business visits, provided that the consulate makes a positive decision to issue a visa based on such an invitation.
The deadline for processing an invitation by law is 20 business days. At the discretion of the leadership of the migration service, this period may be reduced. To shorten the term, it is necessary to substantiate in writing the need for expedited issuance of the invitation, however, the migration service does not always agree to expedite the issuance due to considering the justification insufficient or due to their workload. Usually, personal communication with the leadership of the migration service is required to expedite the issuance of the invitation, involving a professional partner of the Company who is capable of skillfully resolving the issue of expedited processing.
When issuing an invitation to a foreigner, the Company undertakes to provide them with medical assistance, necessary financial means, and accommodation in Russia. Providing false information to the Company about the purpose of the foreigner's visit to Russia (for example, indicating "business" or "commercial" as the purpose when in fact the foreigner is coming to work for the Company) will result in a fine of 45,000-50,000 rubles for officials and 400,000-500,000 rubles for the Company.
VISA APPLICATION
To apply for a visa, the foreign citizen must contact the Russian consulate located in the country where they will obtain the visa. The consulate issues a visa based on the parameters specified in the invitation to enter Russia provided to the foreigner. The foreign citizen or their representative must provide the following documents to the consulate:
- Passport
- Completed visa application form (available for download from the consulate's website)
- Invitation
- One photograph measuring 3.5 x 4.5 cm
- Documents showing payment of the consular fee
- Documents required depending on the type of visa (for example, a certificate (original and copy) showing the absence of HIV infection is required for work visas).
When submitting documents to the consulate, a receipt is issued indicating the date when the visa will be ready for pickup. This receipt must be presented when collecting the visa.
The decision on visa issuance is made within 16 days.
Please note that if you submit your visa application through visa centers, the processing time may be longer. Visa centers are not part of the consulate and the visa processing time is counted from the day the consulate receives the documents from the visa center. If you need to obtain the visa quickly, you should apply directly to the consulate.
The visa processing time also depends on the chosen tariff for consular services. Usually, the processing time can be shortened to one working day, but the consular fee will be significantly higher.
In case of visa denial, the consular fee and invitation letter are not refunded and the reasons are usually not explained. However, the most common reasons for visa denial are:
- errors or false information in the documents;
- previous violations of Russian laws during previous visits to Russia;
- outstanding criminal convictions;
- to protect Russia's defense capabilities or public health.
BUSINESS ELECTRONIC VISA (E-VISA)
Russia offers the opportunity to obtain a single-entry business visa in electronic form, valid for up to 30 days.
To apply for an electronic visa, you must fill out an application on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia no earlier than 20 days and no later than 4 days before the planned date of entry into Russia.
No consular fee is required for obtaining an electronic visa, and no invitation or other documents confirming the purpose of the trip are necessary. The processing time for an electronic visa is up to 4 days.
This visa is issued for visiting only one of these regions of Russia: (i) Far Eastern Federal District, (ii) Kaliningrad Oblast, or (iii) the city of St. Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast. An electronic visa issued for visiting one of the listed regions is not valid for visiting other regions of Russia.
The electronic visa is valid for entry and exit from Russia only through certain checkpoints in the visiting region. The allowed period of stay in Russia with such a visa is up to 8 days (including the day of arrival and the day of departure).
Foreigners arriving on electronic visas are required to have valid medical insurance that covers their entire trip in Russia.
Electronic visas are suitable for short-term, one-time business trips to Russia.
After receiving a visa from the consulate or in electronic form, a foreign citizen is entitled to enter Russia from the date specified in the visa as the start of its validity period. Further details are provided regarding the features of obtaining each type of visa.
To obtain a business visa, an invitation to enter Russia must be processed and sent to the foreign citizen in the manner described above. The visa can then be obtained at the consulate.
Insurance necessary to obtain a business visa can be obtained by contacting an insurance company. The cost of such insurance depends on the person's age, insurance program, insurance coverage amount, and the reputation of the insurance company.
Resume:
1. Business and work visas are issued by Russian consulates based on an invitation received from a Company by a foreign citizen.
2. To obtain an invitation to enter Russia, the inviting Company or its partner must register with the immigration service and submit an application for an invitation with a package of documents. For an invitation for a work visa for a foreign worker, a work permit must already be issued.
The migration service sends the electronic invitation by email to the appropriate Russian consulate and to the Company's email address. If the invitation is received on paper, the Company must pass it on to the foreign citizen in the country where the visa will be obtained.
The processing time for such an invitation is up to 20 working days.
For business visas with the purpose of "commercial" and "business" travel, the Company can issue an invitation in a simple written form, on its letterhead. Such an invitation must be given to the foreign citizen for submission to the consulate to obtain a business visa. As practice shows, obtaining a visa based on such an invitation is possible only for a small number of requested visas.
3. To apply for a visa, the foreigner must contact the Russian consulate or visa center in the country where the visa will be obtained with an application, invitation, and relevant package of documents, and pay the consular fee. Usually, for some types of visas, consulates provide expedited processing services for an increased consular fee.
The consulate issues a visa with the parameters specified in the invitation to enter Russia.
4. Russia provides the opportunity to obtain a single-entry business visa in electronic form. The validity period of such a visa is up to 30 days.
To obtain such a visa, it is necessary to fill out an application on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia no earlier than 20 days and no later than 4 days before the intended date of entry into Russia.
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