Blog · 2024-06-22

Relocation news digest - June 22, 2024

Russia: the cost of a foreign passport is going up

From 1 July 2024, the fee for a new-format international passport will rise to 6,000 roubles, up from the current 5,000. For children under 14, the fee will increase to 3,000 roubles, from 2,500.

Kuwait: changes to the work permit system

The main changes are:

Work permits no longer distinguish between local and foreign workers.
The state fee for issuing a work permit to a foreign worker is now 325 KWD, up from 175 KWD.
Foreign workers who change employer within three years of receiving a work permit must now pay a fee of 300 KWD.

United States: double taxation treaty with Russia suspended

The relevant treaty provisions will remain suspended, according to the decree, "until the foreign states remedy the violations they have committed" against Russia's lawful economic and other interests and the rights of its citizens and legal entities, or until the documents themselves cease to have effect.

Greece: eased rules for obtaining the EU Blue Card

From 5 June 2024, foreign nationals entering Greece under a visa-free regime or on a category C visa may apply for an EU Blue Card. Previously, only holders of a D visa were eligible to apply.

Thailand: government inspections of employers extending long-term visas

The immigration bureau attached to the One Start One Stop Investment Center (OSSC) has begun conducting immigration visits to employers that have applied to extend long-term visas.

During an immigration visit, the following must be present: the visa holder, an HR officer or another company representative able to provide information or documents about the company and the employment, and the representative who assisted with obtaining the visa.

Employers that fail to comply may face the cancellation of their foreign employees' visas or restrictions on their ability to sponsor visas for future hires.

Russia: the Federal Tax Service to determine tax residency automatically

The Federal Tax Service has announced plans to build, by 2025, an automated system for determining the tax and currency residency status of individuals in Russia, based on data about foreign passports and border crossings.

Under current law, individuals are recognised as Russian tax residents if they are physically present in the country for at least 183 calendar days over any 12 consecutive months, regardless of citizenship or residence permit.

China: some banks have begun accepting payments from Russia

Since mid-May, several smaller regional Chinese banks have started accepting yuan payments from Russia. Among them is a major institution - Bank of China.

Latvia: all Russian citizens required to pass a Latvian language exam

All Russians living in Latvia will be required to pass a Latvian language exam in order to renew their residence permits. Parliament adopted these amendments to the immigration law on 20 June.

The changes affect those who received their residence permits before 2003. According to the interior ministry, some 5,000 Russian citizens will have to sit the language exam. People over the age of 75 are exempt.

Russia: problems withdrawing yuan from the Moscow Exchange

The brokerage firm Sinara has told its clients that it is introducing a number of currency restrictions because of ongoing problems with withdrawing Chinese yuan from the Moscow Exchange.

Netherlands: eased rules for obtaining and using the EU Blue Card

From 12 June 2024, the Netherlands has officially brought into force more lenient legislation on EU Blue Cards.

The main changes include:

Applicants qualify for a Blue Card if they have five years of professional experience in the relevant field, even without a corresponding degree.
EU Blue Cards are now valid for five years, up from the previous four.
The minimum mandatory salary threshold for the EU Blue Card has been lowered.

Canada: post-graduation work permits at ports of entry suspended

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that foreign nationals can no longer apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) at a Canadian port of entry. According to IRCC, the measure is intended to reduce the number of students who leave Canada and re-enter within 24 hours to obtain immigration services - a same-day PGWP - at the border, a practice commonly known as "flagpoling."

Instead, foreign nationals will have to apply for the PGWP online from within Canada before their study permit expires, which is the standard procedure.

United Kingdom: updated employment law guidance published

On 21 June 2024, the UK Home Office released updated guidance for employers on right-to-work (RTW) checks. It includes:

Clarification that employers do not need to re-check an employee's RTW if the employee holds a residence permit expiring on 31 December 2024.
Confirmation that employers are not required to carry out additional RTW checks for employees whose pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme has been automatically extended from two to five years, provided the employee remains in work.
A reminder about follow-up RTW checks for asylum seekers holding an application registration card.

FAQ

How much does a Russian international passport cost?

The fee for a biometric passport was raised to 6,000 roubles for adults and 3,000 for children under 14. State fees are indexed periodically, so check the current tariff on the Gosuslugi portal before applying. The old-style passport is cheaper but valid for five years instead of ten.

Is the US-Russia tax treaty still in force?

Key provisions of tax treaties with a number of countries, the United States included, were suspended by decree. The treaty is not formally terminated, but its reduced rates no longer apply, which in practice means full withholding at source and a real risk of being taxed twice. The picture keeps shifting and individual provisions can be restored or clarified, so run any specific transaction past a tax adviser.

What is the EU Blue Card and how do I get one?

The Blue Card is an EU work and residence permit for qualified professionals with a degree or proven experience and a job contract paying above a set salary threshold. It comes with easier family reunification and a shorter route to permanent residence. Member states have been easing the application process: Greece, for example, now lets people who entered visa-free or on a category C visa apply, not only holders of a national D visa.

Can I change employer in Kuwait?

Yes, but changing employer within the first years after a work permit is issued carries a separate fee, and permit fees themselves have gone up sharply. Kuwait also removed the distinction between local and foreign workers in the permits. Gulf tariffs change often and are normally paid by the employer, so put that in the contract before you move.

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