The change affects organizations that already employ foreign highly qualified specialists (ВКС) or plan to hire them. The salary criterion is one of the elements of ВКС status, along with the foreign national’s professional experience, skills, or achievements. Therefore, HR and finance functions should include checking the new requirement in the hiring and compensation planning process in advance.
What will change for companies hiring highly qualified specialists (ВКС)
From 1 March 2027, the required level of compensation for foreign highly qualified specialists will increase almost threefold. This follows from a statement by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation (МВД России). The agency did not specify the exact amount of the new threshold in its statement, so a specific amount cannot be fixed in the budget in advance based solely on this clarification.
For an employer, the change means that it will be necessary to check whether each ВКС’s compensation meets the current criterion on the date of registration or continuation of employment. Assessing the issue solely by job title, qualification level, or established level of payments is insufficient: ВКС status is also directly linked to the prescribed level of remuneration.
Why the check concerns more than just new hires
The new threshold is important when planning future vacancies for foreign specialists: the position’s financial model should take into account the requirement that will come into effect on 1 March 2027. This makes it possible to compare the business’s need for a specialist with the expected terms of engagement in advance.
At the same time, it is worth conducting an inventory of current personnel decisions concerning ВКС. The Ministry of Internal Affairs’ statement does not specify transitional rules or any deadlines other than the date of the change. Therefore, the procedure for applying the new criterion to specific situations should be checked against the official regulatory act, rather than inferred from the general wording about an increase in the threshold.
Which features of the ВКС regime remain important
The Ministry of Internal Affairs reminded employers that they do not need a permit to recruit foreign workers when hiring ВКС. This distinguishes the mechanism from cases where such a permit is required and helps establish an HR process without including a non-required document in the list of mandatory steps.
At the same time, the absence of a recruitment permit does not eliminate the need to monitor the conditions determining ВКС status. A work permit for a ВКС (the document authorizing the foreign national to work in Russia) is issued to the foreign national. If a work visa is required, it is issued for the period of validity of that permit, but for no more than three years. These parameters are useful to consider when coordinating the specialist’s start date and the project duration.
Who can use the mechanism for hiring highly qualified specialists (ВКС)
Highly qualified specialists may be invited by Russian commercial organizations, state-accredited educational organizations, and accredited divisions of foreign organizations. Before launching recruitment, the employer should determine whether the organization belongs to one of these categories.
The scale of the practice confirms the relevance of the issue: from January to September 2026, ВКС received approximately 60 thousand work permits. For companies that regularly hire internationally, the higher threshold becomes not a one-off HR task but an internal control parameter: it must be taken into account in offer templates, budget approvals, and checks of engagement terms.
FAQ
When will the salary threshold for highly qualified specialists change?
The required remuneration level for foreign highly qualified specialists will increase from 1 March 2027. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (МВД России), it will nearly triple.
What exact salary will be required for highly qualified specialists after 1 March 2027?
The exact amount of the new threshold is not specified in the Ministry of Internal Affairs announcement. It must be clarified in the official regulatory act, which must also set out the rules for calculation and application.
Is a permit to employ foreign workers required to hire a highly qualified specialist?
No, an employer does not need a permit to employ foreign workers in order to hire a highly qualified specialist. However, the foreign national must be issued a work permit as a highly qualified specialist.
For how long can a work visa for a highly qualified specialist be issued?
If a highly qualified specialist requires a work visa, it is issued for the validity period of the work permit. The maximum visa validity period is three years.
What to check
- Find the official regulatory act establishing the new salary threshold for ВКС.
- Verify in the act the exact amount, calculation rules, and procedure for application from 1 March 2027.
- Prepare a list of current and planned positions for which ВКС status is used.
- Compare the compensation terms for each position with the new criterion after the amount has been confirmed.
- Check that the organization belongs to the category of employers entitled to invite ВКС.
- Take the work permit period into account when planning the work visa: it is issued for the permit’s period of validity, for a maximum of three years.