Entry rules for skilled foreigners made simpler

President Dmitry Medvedev has signed a law that makes it easier for foreign highly-qualified specialists and members of their families to come to Russia.

After the bill comes into force, professionals from abroad will be granted residential permits for the period of their work in the country.In addition, foreign labor quotas will not be applied to such specialists and their family members, including children, spouses, parents, grandparents and grandchildren. Foreign specialists will also no longer have to register at migration offices, the Kremlin website reports.At the same time, the law bans the invitation of highly-skilled foreigners for religious activities. Earlier, Medvedev said that simpler immigration procedures are especially necessary for the Skolkovo center. Dubbed the Russian Silicon Valley, the center is being built not far from Moscow. The head of the Federal Migration Service, Konstantin Romodanovsky said that about 20,000 foreign professionals and researchers arrive in the country every year, as cited by RIA Novosti. But that is still not enough, as 46,000 are needed for the country’s ambitious modernization plans.