Working In Russia: Opportunities For International Students

International students in Russia can work, but there are some rules and regulations to be aware of. Students must be at least 18 years old and have a valid permit issued by the General Administration for Migration Issues of the Russian Interior Ministry. Students from member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan) do not need a work permit. Students can work during the holidays or undertake internships or traineeships without a permit. If working during term-time, students can only work during their free time, and they must have a statement from their university confirming their student status. There are various job opportunities available to international students in Russia, including part-time jobs on campus, tutoring and language teaching, and freelance work.

Work permit requirements

International students in Russia are allowed to work, but there are rules and regulations to be aware of. If you are working during your holidays, during free time at the university where you study, or undertaking an internship or traineeship, you do not need a work permit. Students from member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan) also do not need a work permit.

However, if you want to work outside these conditions, you will need to apply for a work permit. The process can be bureaucratic, so it's important to start early and make sure you have all the required documents. Here are the requirements for obtaining a work permit in Russia as an international student:

• You must be of age (18 years old).
• You must independently get a work permit from the Directorate-General for Immigration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation or the local branch of the Federal Migration Service (FMS).
• You will need to submit a work permit application. Two copies are best. You can find a template on the Ministry of Internal Affairs website.
• You must provide a document confirming your identity as a foreign citizen. This can be a passport or a notarized copy.
• You will need a certificate of full-time study given by your educational organization.
• You must provide a labour contract or civil-law contract on the fulfillment of employment, formed and concluded according to Russian legislation.
• When applying for a job, you must present your passport or other identification document and its copy with translation to your employer.
• You will need a work book, which can be started by the university if this is your first job.
• You must provide an insurance certificate of compulsory pension insurance SNILS, which can also be done by the university.
• You will need a TIN, registration, and migration card.
• You must provide an agreement or policy of voluntary medical insurance valid in Russia.
• You will need to provide a document on your qualifications or the availability of special knowledge if applying for a job that requires this.
• You must provide a certificate of no criminal record.

Student visa rules

International students can work in Russia, but they need to be aware of the rules and regulations. Russian law allows international students studying full-time in state-accredited programs at Russian universities to work without a special work permit. However, they can only work during their free time, outside of class hours. Students from member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan) do not need a work permit at all.

To work outside these conditions, a work permit is required. This includes working more hours, working off-campus, or working in a different city. The process of obtaining a work permit can be bureaucratic, so it is advisable to start early and ensure all the required documents are in order. These documents include the student visa, passport, and a statement from the university confirming student status.

To obtain a student visa for Russia, the first step is to secure admission to a Russian educational institute. Once enrolled, an invitation letter will be issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or its Regional Office. If the Regional Office is not in the same region as the university, the invitation letter must be issued by the educational institute. The invitation must be on official letterhead, signed by the rector, and certified by the Office for International Affairs of the local administration or the local office of the Ministry of Interior.

The next step is to apply for the visa at a Russian embassy or consulate. The application form can be filled out online and must be printed and signed. Along with the application form, a recent colour photograph is required. The visa is typically issued as a single-entry visa, initially granted for three months to one year, and can be extended based on the duration of the course. It can also be converted into a multiple-entry visa after three months.

Job opportunities

International students in Russia can work, but there are rules and regulations to be aware of. If you are employed by the university where you are studying, you do not need a work permit or a student visa. However, you must provide the following documents:

• Passport or other identification document and its copy with translation
• Work book (if this is your first job, the university will start it for you)
• Insurance certificate of compulsory pension insurance SNILS
• TIN, registration, and migration card
• Agreement (policy) of voluntary medical insurance valid in the territory of the Russian Federation
• Document on education and/or qualifications or the availability of special knowledge (when applying for a job requiring special training)
• Certificate of no criminal record

If you want to work outside these conditions, you will need to apply for a work permit from the Directorate-General for Immigration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. You must be 18 years old and provide the following documents:

• Work permit application
• Passport or other identification document
• Certificate of Study for the foreign citizen for full-time education
• Labour contract or civil-law contract

There are various job opportunities available to international students in Russia. Here are some options:

• Part-time jobs on campus: Universities often have openings for students in the library, cafeteria, or administrative offices. These jobs are convenient as they are on campus and usually have flexible hours.
• Tutoring and language teaching: There is high demand for language tutors in Russia, especially in major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg. If you are a native foreign language speaker, you can find work as a language tutor.
• Freelancing: The gig economy is thriving in Russia. If you have skills in graphic design, writing, programming, or digital marketing, you can find freelance gigs online. Platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and FL.ru are popular for finding local freelance jobs.
• Retail and hospitality: Many international students find jobs in retail or hospitality, such as working in a clothing store or cafe. These jobs are relatively easy to get and provide an opportunity to practice your Russian language skills. However, they may require a work permit depending on the hours and terms of employment.

Internships

International students in Russia can work and undertake internships. According to Russian law, international students enrolled full-time in state-accredited programmes at Russian universities are permitted to work without a special work permit, but only outside their class hours.

For internships, foreign students do not need to obtain a work permit, except in cases provided for in paragraph 15 of the Regulation on the practice of students mastering the main professional educational programme.

There are various job and internship opportunities available to international students in Russia. Many international companies in Russia offer internships, particularly in cities like Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

Universities often have part-time job openings for students on campus, such as in the library, cafeteria, or administrative offices. These jobs are convenient as they are on campus and usually have flexible hours.

International students can also find internships through their university's career services centre, which acts as a link between students and employers, offering support at all stages of their careers. They can also approach specific labs or departments they are interested in to inquire about open positions or internship opportunities.

Additionally, international students can explore popular Russian job portals like HH.ru, 75.ru, profi.ru, and superjob.ru to find internships. Networking is also key in Russia, so attending university events, job fairs, and industry conferences can help connect with potential employers.

For those with strong networking skills, it is possible to find daily work through referrals from local friends. Some international students have also worked as models or DJs, although this may take time to establish a name for oneself.

It is important to note that certain restrictions apply to specific positions, such as accountancy, municipal or state civil service, and roles connected to Russian national security. These positions may require a residence permit or permit for temporary residency.

When applying for internships, international students must present specific documents to the employer, including their passport, work book, insurance certificate, and more.

Necessary documents

International students in Russia can work, but there are rules and regulations to be aware of. If you are working during the holidays, undertaking an internship or traineeship, working in your free time at your university, or are a student from a member state of the Eurasian Economic Union (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan), you won't need a work permit.

However, if you want to work outside these conditions, you will need to apply for a work permit. This can be a bureaucratic process, so it's important to start early and ensure you have all the required documents.

To receive a work permit, a foreign student studying in Russia should present the following documents:

• A completed Work Permit Application form. Two copies are recommended. This can be found on the Ministry of Internal Affairs website.
• A document confirming the identity of the foreign citizen. This can be a passport or a notarized copy.
• A Certificate of Study for the foreign citizen for full-time education, given by their educational organization.
• A labour contract or civil-law contract for employment, formed and concluded according to Russian legislation.
• A student visa.
• A statement from your university confirming your student status.
• A work book (if this is your first job, the university will start this for you).
• An insurance certificate of compulsory pension insurance SNILS (this can be done by the university).
• TIN, registration, and a migration card.
• An agreement (policy) of voluntary medical insurance valid in Russia.
• A document on education, qualifications, or the availability of special knowledge (if applying for a job requiring special training).
• A certificate of no criminal record.

Frequently asked questions