Russia: New Permanent Residence Permits for Investors and Information Technology Specialists Introduced

• Description. The permanent residence permit for investors allows eligible individuals to live and work in Russia indefinitely. Individuals and their family members applying for the PRP will have their applications processed within three months and will not be required to apply for a temporary residence permit first.
• Eligibility. In order to apply for the PRP for foreign investors, applicants must qualify through one of the following methods:
  • made investments into what the government considers socially significant projects in Russia (guidance on this has not yet been published) in the past three years equaling at least RUR 15 million (RUR 1 is approximately USD .015);
  • registered a legal entity in Russia. The legal entity must have carried out business activities for at least two years immediately preceding the calendar year in which the individual applies for a PRP;
  • made investments of at least RUB 30 million into a Russian legal entity that has been carrying out entrepreneurial activity in Russia for at least three years in an economic partnership, limited liability company, joint-stock company, farm or business partnership;
  • acquired the right of ownership in Russia of real estate of any type at the construction stage or within two years after commissioning construction and has owned them continuously for one year prior to the application for the PRP, and meet the minimum value amount.

• Description. The permanent residence permit for information technology specialists allows eligible individuals to live and work in Russia indefinitely. Individuals and their family members applying for the PRP will have their applications processed within three months and will not be required to apply for a temporary residence permit first.
• Eligibility requirements. In order to apply for the PRP for information technology specialists, applicants and their employers must meet the following requirements:
  • The applicant must be employed on the basis of a labor or civil agreement;
  • The employer must be accredited as an IT company;
  • The employer must file “job instructions” (document employers are required to have according to labor legislation) with a description of the tasks required to be performed; and
  • submit an official document confirming their education level.

• Streamlined route to permanent residence/citizenship. The new PRP types will allow individuals an additional and faster route towards permanent residence and eventual citizenship in Russia. Previously, IT specialists were eligible for permits that were only intended for short-term work such as the Highly-Qualified Specialist.
• Talent and investment retention. Further, these PRPs will allow Russia and employers within Russia to retain talent and create an incentive for high-net worth individuals to invest in the country long term.

Over the past year, the Russian government has sought to eliminate some restrictions on foreign nationals applying to work in Russia, including introducing a new temporary residence permit for foreign nationals, relaxing medical examination requirements, and reducing other requirements for temporary and permanent residence applicants, particularly for highly-skilled workers.

It is expected that Russia will continue to relax its immigration laws in order to attract talent to bolster and diversify its economy.