Information for companies employing foreign citizens

An employer hiring foreign workers must comply with migration and labour law requirements: verify the legality of stay and the right to work, promptly notify the territorial office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the conclusion and termination of employment and civil-law contracts, ensure workers are registered for migration tracking, and observe restrictions on types of activity and the permitted share of foreign workers.

Violation of the established procedure entails administrative liability under Chapter 18 of the RF Administrative Offences Code — for officials as well as legal entities and individual entrepreneurs.

Federal legal framework

No. 115-FZ: On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian FederationThe core law: employment regimes, work patents, work permits, permits for hiring and employing foreign workers, the obligation to notify the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
No. 109-FZ: On Migration Registration of Foreign CitizensRegistration at the place of stay, the host party's obligations, deadlines for reporting a foreign worker's arrival and departure.
Labour Code of the RF, Ch. 50.1: Specifics of regulating foreign workers' labourMandatory terms of the employment contract, grounds for suspension and termination linked to the validity periods of permits and voluntary medical insurance.
Administrative Offences Code of the RF, Ch. 18: Administrative liabilityArticles 18.9, 18.15, 18.16, 18.17, 19.27 — violation of the rules for hiring and employing foreign workers, migration registration, and submission of false information.
Acts of the Government of the RF: Quota and permitted shareThe annual quota for issuing work permits and the permitted share of foreign workers by type of economic activity (retail trade, taxi services, construction, and others).

Liability under the RF Administrative Offences Code

Art. 18.15, paras 1–2
Engaging a foreign citizen in labour activity without a work permit or patent, not in the profession specified therein, or without a permit obtained by the employer to hire and employ foreign workers where such a permit is required.
IndividualsRUB 2,000 – 5,000
OfficialsRUB 25,000 – 50,000
Sole proprietors and legal entitiesRUB 250,000 – 800,000
For a sole proprietor or legal entity, instead of a fine — administrative suspension of activity for 14–90 days.
Art. 18.15, para 3
Failure to notify the territorial office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the conclusion or termination of an employment (civil-law) contract with a foreign worker within the established deadline — 3 working days.
IndividualsRUB 2,000 – 5,000
OfficialsRUB 35,000 – 50,000
Sole proprietors and legal entitiesRUB 400,000 – 800,000
For a sole proprietor or legal entity, instead of a fine — administrative suspension of activity for 14–90 days.
Art. 18.16
Violation of the rules for engaging foreign workers in labour activity at retail facilities (including shopping complexes) and retail markets, including providing a trading spot or premises in violation of the rules.
OfficialsRUB 45,000 – 50,000
Individual entrepreneursRUB 350,000 – 800,000
Legal entitiesRUB 450,000 – 800,000
For a sole proprietor or legal entity, instead of a fine — administrative suspension of activity for 14–90 days.
Art. 18.17
The employer's failure to comply with restrictions on foreign workers performing certain types of activity, set annually by the Government of the RF (the permitted share in retail trade, taxi services, sport, and other sectors).
IndividualsRUB 2,000 – 4,000
OfficialsRUB 45,000 – 50,000
Legal entitiesRUB 800,000 – 1,000,000
For a legal entity, instead of a fine — administrative suspension of activity for 14–90 days.
Art. 18.9, para 4 · Art. 19.27
The host party's failure to fulfil its migration registration obligations (notification of arrival) and knowingly submitting false information when registering.
OfficialsRUB 40,000 – 50,000
Legal entitiesRUB 400,000 – 500,000

Liability arises separately for each foreign worker: if the violation involves two or more people, a fine is imposed for each of them.

Instead of a fine, the court may impose administrative suspension of the organisation's or its division's activity for a period of 14 to 90 days.

The amounts shown are for the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug – Yugra; the increased rates set for Moscow, St. Petersburg, and the Moscow and Leningrad Regions do not apply in the okrug.

Fine for a legal entity: ranges

Art. 18.15, paras 1–2RUB 250,000 – 800,000

Art. 18.15, para 3 — failure to notify the MIARUB 400,000 – 800,000

Art. 18.16 — retail facilities and marketsRUB 450,000 – 800,000

Art. 18.17 — restrictions by type of activityRUB 800,000 – 1,000,000

RUB 0RUB 500,000RUB 1,000,000

The Center holds consultations for district employers and helps clarify current requirements — the schedule is in the 'Activities' section; you can ask a question through the feedback form.