Job Discussion Forums

[Banjoman]

I am planning to move to Moscow soon. I am looking for work as an English teacher, and wonder if anyone knows the ins & outs of getting a work visa for Russia:

It seems that one can no longer work in Russia as an English teacher legally on a business visa; a work visa is required?

Is the work visa directly connected to the employer, so when the contract ends, the work visa is no longer valid? And is it necessary to secure employment before obtaining a work visa?

If I take a position in a school which does not offer visa support can I travel to Russia on a tourist visa and change it to a work visa once there? If so, how difficult is this? Or is it better to get the work visa before going?

I have read that it takes 3-4 months to get a work visa for Russia (if applying from USA). Is this true? Is there any way to expedite the process? I'd like to be in Moscow sometime in October, so I'm not arriving in the dead of Russian winter.

I'd appreciate any insight from the more experienced teachers on this site.

[ancient_dweller]

i made applications to schools and they asked to see me. small problem when i am a few thousand miles away.

so, i just came over and am looking for work that way. it is not quick. i've managed to get something here and there.

thing is, i could have taken jobs with schools they call 'mcschools' on this forum, they give you sod all money, but they will make your stay comfortable - accom and so on. it is a big risk for them, so the wages are low. they have never met you, so they justify their crappy wages.

i did not want to take them, their is a lot better out there. if you have a CELTA and have got some charisma, you'll get a job, just be prepared to hunt for a few weeks.

bear in mind that most schools recruit for the start of the academic year in september. i have been told schools have filled their spaces for teaching.

so mcschool = easiest route, and you'll get by even if you can's say 'drasvoote'

come on your own = not that difficult, but you'll need some basic russian. and a thick skin, seems everyone licks their lips here $$$ at the prospect of a foreigner who doesn't understand something!

[Sashadroogie]

The visa situation is quite difficult and unclear to boot. You need a Russian company to invite you and provide documentation to apply for a work visa. I don't know how long this takes as it varies for a multiplicity of reasons known only to visa agencies.

Business visas never entitled one to work in Russia, and now the authorities are clamping down on that. I wouldn't count on being able to convert any visa in-country either. Sometimes you can, sometimes you can't.

Dates on visas do not always correspond to the school's paper contract, but that doesn't matter too much. The visa is valid regardless of dates on your contract (a contract that has no value legally in most cases anyway).

I would not recommend anyone coming over on spec at the moment. Too risky and too costly. Ancient Dweller, what is your visa status, if you don't mind me asking? How long have you been in Russia? What are you going to do about the 90 day in and 90 out rule? Even some of the teachers in the McSchools have to spend up to 10 days in Kiev, at their own expense, because of visa issues.

[jpvanderwerf2001]

Ditto Sasha.

So, to sum up:

Business visa: One can not "officially" teach on a business visa. However, if you choose to do so, you can stay 90 days in Russia and then must leave for 90 days.
If you get a 90-day business visa, you can leave and re-apply for another 90-day business visa (as I understand it). Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Work permit: This is something your employer gets for you.

Tourist visa: Again, you cannot legally work on a tourist visa. Even if you do, it will only be for 90 days (depending on the country you're coming from).

In short, the best--and most legal, way to work in Russia is to have a work permit. If you interview for teaching jobs here, be sure to ask whether or not they can help you attain a work permit. If they say they can "help" you with a business visa, be prepared to leave after 90 days.

This is the current situation as I understand it. If you do decide to just come on over to Russia to "try your luck", be sure you've got the cash to get you by and enough money for a ticket out.

As Sasha wrote, I just don't know that it's worth it to come unless you're assured a work permit.

[ancient_dweller]

ok, yes, i agree, getting a work permit is the easiest option. unfortunately the only people prepared to do that would pay me pittance and have me locked in to them for an academic year.

business visas, yes, the 3 month rule is an inconvenience. i am not planning on living here long term. i am here to learn russian and pay my way. i am looking into organising a student visa for myself at some 10,000r a semester uni. so i don't have to return (after my next return). all in all hoping that i will get a work permit so i can work. whilst i have been offered work, i'm holding out on them sorting me permission. i'm not keen on a fine.

i've been in russia a few weeks, although i came here a few months back to do some recon.

also, as i understand it, i can only apply for a russian visa in my own country unless i am a resident in the other country. if that makes sense. for instance, one would have to prove they have been resident in britain for 3 months if they wanted to apply there on a passport other than UK.
is that right?

ye, i agree, have a few $$ with you, you never know when you might need/want to go home. maybe when it is -30 outside i might change my mind!

so ye, 1. hold out for a work permit, if not,
2. get a 3 month business visa/ 1 month tourist and try your luck (those aint getting renewed though) although, not recommended, i did it. and my savings are disintegrating rather rapidly. in general, everything is the same or more expensive than in britain. (except petrol - but i don't have a car so not much use)


best of luck to you anyway...

[Sashadroogie]

Aha. That clears some of it up. So, for US citizens, coming on spec is going to include multiple trips home. Practical for British subjects maybe, but not for the OP.

As far as I know there are semi-legal ways of applying for visas from within Russia. But you'd need to be attached to one of the bigger schools to use that option, and they will squeeze you for the privilege. You might try your luck with Visahouse http://visahouse.com or some other agency. But I wouldn't be too hopeful.

Dunno what passport you entered on, Ancient Dweller, but usually you need to apply from your home country, though not always. US citizens can apply from the Ukraine, but you need Ukrainian registration etc. and the visa takes a week or two to fully process. Again, an agency can expedite this. Cash dwindles fast there too.

But to repeat, I would NOT advise coming over and trying your luck. Few schools are going to give you a decent rate of pay when they know that they have you by the short and curlies re the visa. You might be lucky and get in with a good school - in three months - but I doubt it. Some older hands have been here a lot longer than that and are still looking...

Russia is not a place to experiment in. Best route is to start off with a McSchool, grin and bear the experience, and then move to a better deal. It's cheaper in the long run, despite the low wages, as at least your savings won't be rapidly eroded and you'll have some sort of stability.

Sorry to seem so down about it, but newbies have a tough time here usually. And sorry to contradict you Ancient Dweller, but Russia IS that difficult, even with a thick skin and basic language.

Best of luck to all concerned.

[spiral78]

i can only apply for a russian visa in my own country unless i am a resident in the other country.

That means legal (usually permanent) residency. For example, when I needed a specialist visa for the Netherlands, I was allowed to apply in Prague because I have registered permanent residency in the Czech Rep thru my Czech spouse - I did not have to go to the US.

You can't just hop over to some third country you don't have legal ties to and claim 'residency' for these purposes.

[coledavis]

Guys, I am not sure that this '90 days in, 90 days out' is completely accurate. It's up to 90 days within any given year, so more likely to be 90 days in, 270 days out. Unless you're sure your Russian consulate will offer two '1 year' visas within a single year.
PS - I stand corrected - see subsequent posts.

[jpvanderwerf2001]

Cole, the one-year business visa is actually 180 days in the country in a year, with no more than 90 consecutive days in at a time; also, one must stay out of Russia for 90 consecutive days before re-entering. I know of at least two situations where this was the case.
So, it's really 180 days in, 185 (or 186) out.

[ancient_dweller]

if you get a business visa valid for more than 90 days/3 months. then you will be allowed to spend a maximum of 90 days/3 months in russia with a 180 day/6 month period.

also, about getting a russian visa in a place other than your own country:

to get it in britain you must prove you are resident in britain. the same applies for instance if i want it in estonia, i must prove i am resident in estonia. in britain you'll need to show (as a minimum) 3 months bank statements. but more likely than not, proof of employment, and if you are non-EU then residence permits. the same will probably apply elsewhere.

i read another post on here about latvia. i think they are quick to give out citizenship. then bobs your uncle.

[coledavis]

Thanks for the correction. I was wrong.

[gondwana66]

The visa rules change dramatically and quickly. At first I had to leave every year to renew my work visa then that changed to every two years. Last time I renewed my visa, a couple of years ago, I went to Latvia with an invitation and my visa was completed in two days.
When I first arrived in Russia it was a tourist visa which the school converted to a work visa. Second time I went back I also went on a tourist visa knowing the school would convert it and pay the cost, which they did.

Good luck with it. It's not simple because it's designed for beaurocrats!