Can International Students Work While Studying in Russia? Are Students Enrolled in Preparatory Programmes Also Eligible to Work?

Can an International Student Work While Studying in Russia? Do Students Enrolled in Preparatory Programmes Have the Same Right?

Yes, but the applicable conditions differ.

As a general rule, a temporarily staying foreign national requires a patent or work permit to be employed in Russia. However, the law provides specific exemptions for foreign nationals pursuing education.

An international student may work for any employer without a patent or work permit if they are enrolled full-time in a secondary vocational education programme, Bachelor’s degree programme, Specialist degree programme, Master’s degree programme, residency programme, assistantship-internship programme, or postgraduate programme specified in subparagraph 7.1 of paragraph 4 of Article 13 of Federal Law No. 115-FZ. Employment is permitted only during periods free from studies. The employer must notify the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the conclusion or termination of the employment contract within three working days. If the student’s studies are terminated early, the employment contract must also be terminated.

A student enrolled in a preparatory faculty is considered a student; however, a preparatory programme falls under additional general education programmes and is not included in the list specified in subparagraph 7.1 of paragraph 4 of Article 13 of Federal Law No. 115-FZ. Therefore, students enrolled in preparatory programmes are not automatically entitled to work for any external employer without a patent or work permit.

Without these documents, a preparatory programme student may work during holidays and outside study hours at their own university (or at organizations directly specified by law in connection with the university). Employment by an external employer generally requires a patent for a visa-free foreign national or a work permit for a visa-required foreign national.

These documents are not required where the foreign national has an independent legal basis for working without them, for example, citizenship of an EAEU member state, a Temporary Residence Permit (TRP), a Temporary Residence Permit for Educational Purposes , or a Permanent Residence Permit (residence permit).