Ukraine’s citizens will need a permit to work in Russia starting from January 1, 2015

Starting from January 1, 2015, citizens of Ukraine who arrive in Russia to earn their living will be required to receive a work permit according to the standard procedure, Konstantin Romodanovsky, head of the Federal Migration Service (FMS), said today, on December 29.

Romodanovsky recalled that a foreign citizen is allowed to stay in Russia for up to 90 days without accreditation in a 6-month period. The citizens of Ukraine are no longer an exception. 

“In 2014, we displayed rather liberal approach to the citizens of Ukraine. In 2015, we will, probably, apply the general rules to the citizens of Ukraine,” Romodanovsky said. He explained that the requirement does not apply to the persons who “left the territory of Ukraine forcedly and cannot return for reasons beyond control.” “We will be assisting the given category of people in every possible way,” said the head of the FMS.

When asked whether Russia may make visa requirements to Ukraine’s citizens, the official said “Russia’s leadership does not seek to toughen the requirements to the citizens of the fraternal country. Neither has it taken a critical stance towards those people who are experiencing hardships due to the domestic conflict.”

Romodanovsky also recalled that starting from the coming year, citizens of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States will be allowed in the territory of Russia with foreign passports only. The decision has been postponed only for Kygyzstan, as the country is now negotiating for accession to the Eurasian Economic Union. As for Ukraine, its issue is left up in the air so far.

Earlier, in spring 2014, Andrey Parubiy, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, announced a decision to launch a procedure of Ukraine’s withdrawal from the CIS and make visa requirements to the citizens of Russia. Later, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Kyev should not make any hasty decisions in this regard.