New obligations set for companies inviting foreign nationals to Russia

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? A new law imposes obligations on employers and individuals who invite foreign nationals to Russia to make sure that the foreign nationals comply with the terms of their visa and the purpose of their entry and exit the country when required.

What does the change mean? The law also sets penalties for failing to meet these new obligations. Individuals may be fined 2,000 to 4,000 rubles (about US$30 to US$60), company officials may be fined 45,000 to 50,000 rubles and entities may be fined 400,000 to 500,000 rubles.

• Implementation time frame: Immediate. The law took effect Wednesday.
• Visas/permits affected: All visas, including work and business visas.
• Business impact: The law affects employers inviting foreign nationals to Russia for business visits or work.
• Next steps: Although the law requires the government to issue guidelines setting out the steps that companies must take, those guidelines have not been issued yet. 

Analysis & Comments: Employers should be aware of their new obligations and review their procedures. In particular, the inviting company should obtain written acknowledgment from foreign nationals when they arrive in Russia that they are required to comply with the stated purpose of entry and leave before their visa expires.

Source: Deloitte LLP. Deloitte LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC303675 and its registered office at 1 New Street Square, London EC4A 3HQ, United Kingdom.