New Notification Forms for Engaging Foreign Citizens in Labor Activity
On June 2, 2026, Order No. 290 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation dated May 12, 2026 "On Approval of the Form of the Petition of a Foreign Citizen (Stateless Person) for Engagement as a Highly Qualified Specialist and the Procedure for Filling It Out, as Well as the Forms and Procedures for Notifying the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation or Its Territorial Body of the Employment of Foreign Citizens (Stateless Persons) on the Territory of the Russian Federation" (hereinafter – the "Order") was published. The Order approves new notification forms related to the engagement of foreign citizens for employment, which come into force on September 1, 2026, and will remain valid until September 1, 2032.
The Order establishes updated forms for:
- Petitions for the engagement of a highly qualified specialist (HQS);
- Notifications on the conclusion and termination of an employment contract or a civil-law contract;
- Notifications on the fulfillment of obligations to pay remuneration to an HQS.
The updated forms are in many respects similar to the current ones, but a number of changes have been introduced. For instance, the notification on the conclusion of a contract with a foreign citizen must now include the term of its validity. Furthermore, starting from September 1, 2026, notifications on the conclusion or termination of a contract will require a separate consent of the foreign citizen to the processing of personal data – previously such consent was contained within the form itself and was not issued separately. In the notification on the payment of wages to a highly qualified specialist, a field has been added for indicating the specialist's Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), while information about the specialist's profession (specialty, position, type of work activity) under the contract has been excluded from the form.
It is important to remember that violation of the procedure or form for submitting notifications on the hiring or dismissal of a foreign citizen entails substantial fines: for officials – from 35,000 to 50,000 rubles, for organizations – from 400,000 to 800,000 rubles, or suspension of activities for up to 90 days.
Similar penalties are provided for violations in submitting the notification on the payment of wages to an HQS: officials face fines from 35,000 to 70,000 rubles, and legal entities – from 400,000 to 1,000,000 rubles.
New Requirements When Submitting an Application for Admission to Russian Citizenship
On June 2, 2026, Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 379 dated June 1, 2026 "On Amendments to Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 889 dated November 22, 2023 'On Issues of Citizenship of the Russian Federation' and to the Regulations on the Procedure for Considering Issues of Citizenship of the Russian Federation Approved by that Decree" (hereinafter – the "Decree") was published.
According to the text of the Decree, foreign citizens and stateless persons, when submitting an application for admission to Russian citizenship, are required to submit a document confirming the absence (or presence) of a criminal record, which must meet the following requirements:
- It must be issued by the competent authority of a foreign state no earlier than 3 months before the date of submission of the application for admission to citizenship of the Russian Federation;
- In the case of dual or multiple citizenship, the applicant must submit such documents issued in each foreign state of citizenship;
- In the case of a criminal record, the document must contain information on the crimes for which the applicant was convicted.
In addition, the Decree establishes cases in which a document on the presence or absence of a criminal record is not required:
- Persons recognized as refugees or granted political or temporary asylum in the territory of Russia;
- Certain categories of persons determined by the President of the Russian Federation for humanitarian or other purposes;
- Citizens of Ukraine (stateless persons permanently residing in the territory of Ukraine) who submit an application for admission to Russian citizenship before January 1, 2028.
If, in addition to Ukrainian citizenship, the applicant also holds citizenship of another foreign state, they will be required to submit the said document issued by the competent authority of that foreign state.
Increase in State Duties for Foreign Citizens and their Employers
On June 26, 2026, the President of the Russian Federation signed Federal Law No. 189-FZ of June 26, 2026 "On Amendments to Article 19 of the Federal Law 'On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation' and Article 36 of the Federal Law 'On Citizenship of the Russian Federation'" and Federal Law No. 190-FZ of June 26, 2026 "On Amendments to Part Two of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation" (hereinafter – the "Laws"), which increase the amounts of state duties for obtaining citizenship, residence permits, temporary residence permits, and other migration actions.
In accordance with the text of Laws, the state duty will increase with respect to the following actions:
- issuance or extension of a visa for exit and subsequent entry – 2,000 RUB (previously – 1,200 RUB);
- multiple crossings of the state border of the Russian Federation – 6,000 RUB (previously – 1,920 RUB);
- issuance of an invitation to enter the Russian Federation – 8,000 RUB (previously – 960 RUB);
- issuance of a residence permit – 30,000 RUB (previously – 6,000 RUB);
- issuance of a temporary residence permit – 15,000 RUB (previously – 1,920 RUB);
- issuance of a temporary residence permit for the purpose of education – 8,000 RUB (previously – 1,920 RUB);
- issuance of permits for the attraction and use of foreign workers – 15,000 RUB for each foreign worker attracted (previously – 12,000 RUB);
- issuance of a work permit to a foreign citizen or stateless person – 5,000 RUB (previously – 4,200 RUB);
- admission to citizenship of the Russian Federation and renunciation thereof – 50,000 RUB (previously – 4,200 RUB).
In addition, Laws introduces new types of state duties for migrants:
- for replacement of a residence permit – 6,000 RUB;
- for issuance of a temporary residence permit in connection with the loss (damage, theft) or replacement of an identity document – 5,000 RUB;
- for issuance of a temporary residence permit for the purpose of education in connection with the loss (damage, theft) or replacement of an identity document – 5,000 RUB.
Participants of the Compatriot Resettlement Program, as well as certain categories of foreign citizens obtaining citizenship or a residence permit in accordance with presidential decrees, are exempt from payment of state duties.
Furthermore, foreign citizens recognized as representing an interest for the Russian Federation in accordance with Presidential Decree No. 883 of December 2, 2025 "On supporting the resettlement to the Russian Federation of foreign citizens and stateless persons who are of interest to the Russian Federation, and on the specifics of their legal status in the Russian Federation," as well as members of their families, are exempt from payment of the state fee for the issuance of a temporary residence permit and a residence permit.
In addition, the state fee for acceptance into the citizenship of the Russian Federation shall not be charged for stateless persons who were formerly citizens of the USSR or participants of the State Program for the Resettlement of Compatriots, as well as members of their families who have relocated together to the Russian Federation for permanent residence.
Laws also abolish the state duty for establishing the fact of the presence or absence of Russian citizenship and for the registration of a foreign citizen at the place of residence.
Laws come into force on July 1, 2026.