DUSHANBE, March 5, 2015, Asia-Plus – Tens of thousands of Tajik labor migrants, who received patents for working in Russia in April-December last year, may work under them this year as well.

The First Russian Vice-Premier Igor Shuvalov stated this at a session of the Tajikistan-Russia commission for trade and economic cooperation that took place in Moscow on March 4.

He, in particular, noted that visa-free foreign nationals, who received patents for working in Russia in April-December last year, may work under them this year as well until the patent term expires.  According to him, relevant amendments will be made to the legislation in the near future.

“During the session, Mr. Shuvalov noted that a visa-free foreign national, who received the patent in May 2014, may work under this patent until May 2015 and there is no need for him/her to get new document.  This is a substantial change because 300,000 Tajik nationals received patents for working in Russia last year, and many of them received the patens during the second half-year of 2014,” Tajik Ambassador to Russia Imomuddin Sattorov was quoted as saying by Russian news website “Russia for All.”

A patent serves as a document confirming the right of a visa-free foreign national to work in Russia on a temporary basis.

By obtaining a patent, a visa-free foreign national is able to choose an employer (in particular, opt to be employed by an individual).  The cost of such a patent depends on the corresponding region''s demand for foreign workforce: this cost is at a maximum in regions with the smallest registered levels of unemployment.

Visa-free foreign nationals is able to obtain a patent for a period from one month until the end of their respective employment or civil law agreement, but for no more than one year from the moment of their entry to the Russian Federation.