Ministry of Labor Proposes Streamlined Residency for Engineers as Foreign Profession List is Cut Down

The Russian government’s portal regulation.gov.ru has published a draft order from the Ministry of Labor of the Russian Federation concerning the approval of a list of professions (specialties, positions) for foreign nationals and stateless persons—qualified specialists who can obtain a residence permit in Russia without needing temporary residence approval.

According to the document, the new list comprises 31 specialties, which is nearly seven times fewer than the current list of professions for foreign nationals, which includes 203 positions (such as medical workers, educators, agricultural workers, geology and subsurface exploration specialists, software developers, construction workers, and specialists in the installation and repair of electrical equipment).

The updated list from the Ministry of Labor is divided into two sections: «Workers in Industry and Production» and «Workers in Science.» There are only two types of scientific positions: data analysts (in astrophysics and genetics) and quantum engineer-programmers (in quantum physics; focusing on methods for error reduction or correction).

On March 15, 2023, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation announced that the employment process and residence permit acquisition for foreign specialists in information technology and their families have been simplified. Now, foreign IT specialists working for an accredited Russian IT company, as well as their family members (including spouses, children—adopted or otherwise—children-in-law, parents—biological or adoptive—parents-in-law, grandparents, and grandchildren) can obtain a residence permit in Russia under a simplified procedure with no duration restrictions. Additionally, foreign IT specialists are now allowed to enter into an employment or civil contract with Russian IT companies without needing a work permit or patent.