Jobs, Jobs, Jobs in Russia
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I've gathered a legal immigration adviser and I also gathered a friend who's actually already in the Russian workforce. I'm trying to make as complete as possible by giving you a professional's point of view who's dealing with immigration and also someone who's already in the Russian workforce so that they can give you their experience. But we're also going to give you examples outside in the real world in a small Siberian town so that you can see that these things that these men are talking about actually exist in the outside world.
Now, please do remember that coming to Russia to work is like moving to any other country, right? You have to follow the rules, you have to have the right paperwork, and since I'm guessing that English is your native language—English or Spanish or German is your native language—you obviously will have to learn some type of Russian for some jobs, okay? I don't want you to think that you can just come here and have the best job just because you qualify. You need to go through the process, follow the rules, and have the right paperwork.
So let's get into the interview with the immigration advisor. Timur, can you please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about what you do before we actually get into the questions?
Timur:
Hi then, thanks for inviting me. Yes, my name is Timur Bang Gurov. I am an immigration lawyer. I have my law firm in Moscow from 2003, specializing mainly in the immigration field. Also, as of June 2024, I work as a deputy director in the regional immigration agency in N Noat. This is the capital of the Narat region in the Russian Federation, where the governor and the local government have been the first region to openly say they would like to welcome Westerners to move to our region. So, as of June this year, I'm deputy director in NR's immigration agency.
Can you tell us a little bit about what exactly a foreigner should bring if he's going to come under the decree to have better opportunities in Russia?
Timur:
Yes, hi everyone. Well, with regards to diplomas, the Russian government has introduced a list of universities from different countries, like the UK, Australia, United States, Germany—quite a long list. If you graduate from a university that is on this list, your diploma doesn't need to be specially attested in Russia. The process is called nostrification.
But in my opinion, from our practice, the diploma is not always required. If you come as a manager, I don't think that a particular diploma will be required by the employer. Basically, the employer would be looking more at your experience professionally. If you come as a doctor, that's when it's really required. Certain types of professions require you to provide such a diploma. The list of universities is on the internet; I can send you the link.
Again, in my opinion, most jobs will not require you to bring a diploma, so employers would be more than happy to employ you just based on your experience.
It's no secret that with this decree, Russia is pulling people with all sorts of professions. The biggest, most important question people ask me is: what kind of jobs can I get in Russia?
Timur:
As you probably know, Russia needs about 5 million people, according to different calculations, because the economy is developing and we need different types of people with different experiences—blue collar, white collar—pretty much everyone. Construction and industry are booming.
For qualified jobs, I would highlight several important ones: specialists, engineers, hands-on jobs with knowledge of software, etc. Managers are generally not needed unless they are very high level because Russian companies have developed their own management standards.
In May 2023, the Russian government approved a doctrine to achieve technological sovereignty. This document outlines 30 industries, including AI and biotechnology, that are important for Russia’s future.
But even with the decree dropping the Russian language requirement, it is still a barrier. If a foreign national does not know at least basic conversational Russian, it might be hard for purely Russian companies to offer a job.
Timur:
People want to know if they can, under temporary residency, start their own businesses or live an entrepreneurial life here in Russia. Actually, you don't even need temporary residency to start an LLC; a foreign national can start a company based on a tourist visa and be a shareholder. To work as a general director in your own company, you would need a work PR. Temporary residency allows you to be a shareholder and also work as a general director without a work permit.
With regards to proprietorship (individual entrepreneur), you can conduct business as an individual without registering a separate legal entity at the temporary residency stage. Before that, even with a work visa, you couldn't register as an individual entrepreneur.
Thank you so much for stopping by and giving your knowledge, Timur. Where can people find you?
Timur:
You can find us here in N Noar, and we’d be happy to assist you. You can Google “Oka Agency N Noar.” In Moscow, I have my immigration website, movingrussia.ru.
Summary:
Russia is trying to gather 5 million people for its workforce and aims for technological sovereignty. This opens opportunities for IT, AI, computer specialists, and more. Blue collar and white collar jobs are booming, especially in construction. You can start your own business under temporary residency.
Next, I introduced my friend, already in the Russian workforce:
Danil from Yurg:
I'm 35. At age 12, my mother and I moved to England (2002). I returned to Russia in 2012–2013. I’ve worked in retail, warehouses, and factories for about 5–5.5 years.
Can foreigners handle these jobs?
Danil: It depends on coworkers; some support new arrivals. Most of the time, people are supportive and provide guidance.
Construction jobs have boomed recently. People with little Russian manage jobs because some Russians speak basic English, and over time, foreigners learn Russian.
Encouragement:
Go for it. Experience teaches you. Learn Russian; it shows effort and earns respect. Be part of the community—you can’t just move to a country and stay disconnected.
Jobs in High Demand in Russia (2024):
- IT specialists
- Programmers, testers
- Game developers
- System administrators
- Web developers
- Data scientists
- Graphic designers
- Landscapers
- Medical & pharmaceutical specialists (surgeons, dentists, cosmetologists, pharmacists, psychotherapists, psychologists)
- Oil & gas specialists (petroleum engineers, geologists, drillers)
- Teachers
Construction is booming even in small towns. Heavy equipment operators, surveyors, manual labor, technical jobs—all are in demand. Skilled immigrants from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and other countries are common.
Even smaller jobs like garbage collection require skills (e.g., driving trucks). If you know your trade, you can find work in Russia.
Key Takeaways:
- Russia is actively recruiting workers across multiple industries.
- You can start your own company or work for it under temporary residency.
- Learn Russian—it will help with integration and opportunities.
- Opportunities exist in both cities and small towns.
- Experience and willingness to work are often more important than diplomas.
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