RUSSIA – Passport Validity Requirement Eased for Highly Qualified Specialists
Effective 19 February 2016, foreign nationals applying for an initial or renewal Highly Qualified Specialist (HQS) work permit to Russia must hold a passport valid for one year, rather than the three years validity currently required.
Background
Compliance with the previous passport validity requirement of three years was difficult as, in some cases, governments do not issue new passports unless the current one has less than one year of validity remaining.
Passport Validity for Work Visa Applications
HQS work permit holders applying for work visa invitation letters for themselves or accompanying family members should note that the required passport validity for this application is one year and six months (18 months).
Action Items
- Ensure that the new passport validity requirements are met by all applicants for initial and renewal Highly Qualified Specialist work permits and the associated work visa invitation letters for themselves and their family members.
This news alert was prepared using information provided by Vista Foreign Business Support.
