Documents for employment of foreign citizens in 2025
Documents required from a foreign citizen when hiring
In 2025, the procedure for the employment of foreign citizens remains relevant.
When applying for a job, a foreign citizen must provide the following documents:
1. An identity document (passport or analogue).
2. Certificate on labour activity or employment record, except for situations of initial conclusion of a labour contract.
3. A document of registration in the individual social registration system, including in electronic form.
4. Document on education, work experience or special knowledge – if specialized skills are required.
5. Certificate on the presence/absence of a criminal record or criminal history (for certain positions)
7. Contract on compulsory medical insurance (for temporarily staying highly qualified specialists).
8. Work permit or patent.
9. Temporary residence permit (including for study purposes) or residence permit – for temporarily or permanently residing foreign citizens.
Documents confirming the identity of a foreign citizen
In the Russian Federation such documents include a passport or any other document stipulated by federal legislation or recognised under international agreements of the Russian Federation as a foreigner’s identity document.
Also, the following documents confirm the identity of foreign citizens in the Russian Federation:
1) Temporary residence permit;
2) Temporary identity card of a stateless person in the Russian Federation;
3) Residence permit.
Incorrect indication of an employee’s surname, first name and patronymic in an employment contract may be considered a violation in the execution of documents, therefore it is important to indicate his/her name correctly (as it appears in his/her official documents – visa, work permit, temporary residence permit or residence permit).
Which employment record or certificate on labour activity a foreign citizen should present
Employers are obliged to keep employment record in certain cases for those employees who work for them for more than five days and to compile data on their labour activity, including foreign employees.
An employer may not make entries in a foreign employment record.
If a foreign citizen kept a employment record at his/her previous place of work in Russia and did not refuse to keep it, but cannot provide this document at the time of employment due to its loss, damage or other reasons, the foreign citizen has the right to submit a request for a new employment record. It is not required to be issued without such a request.
It is also not necessary to obtain employment record if a foreign citizen is employed in Russia for the first time under a labour contract.
If a foreign citizen has already worked in Russia under a labour contract, he/she can provide information about his/her work activity, which was given to him/her by the employer upon dismissal or which he/she obtained independently.
What document confirms the registration of a foreign citizen in the individual social registration system?
When applying for a job, foreign citizens who have the status of an insured person must provide a document that confirms their registration in the individual social registration system.
If a foreign citizen who is employed for the first time does not have an individual personal account, the employer must submit the necessary data to the territorial division of the Social Fund of Russia to open one.
Compulsory social insurance applies to the following citizens:
1) foreign citizens residing in the territory of the Russian Federation on a permanent or temporary basis, except for certain categories of employees;
2) foreign citizens staying in Russia on a temporary basis. Exceptions apply, for example, to highly qualified specialists.
With regard to these categories of foreign nationals, the employer is obliged to charge insurance contributions in accordance with the established tariffs and the procedure provided for by the current legislation.