Found a better-paying job but are afraid to quit because of your work patent? Ending your employment contract does not automatically mean that your patent will immediately become invalid.
In this article, we explain what you need to keep in mind when changing employers so that you can continue working legally in Russia.
What Happens to Your Patent After You Quit?
A work patent is not tied to one specific employer. This means that after leaving your job, you do not need to obtain a new patent simply because you are changing companies.
However, there is one key condition: your patent must remain valid.
To keep it valid, you must make the fixed advance personal income tax payment on time. The patent is considered extended for the period covered by the payment. If you fail to pay on time, the patent will expire.
Do You Need to Notify the MIA About Your Dismissal Yourself?
The employer or customer contracting the work must notify the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) about the termination of an employment or civil-law contract. They have no more than three working days from the date the contract ends to do so.
Therefore, the foreign worker does not need to submit this notification instead of the employer.
Can You Take Any New Job?
Not always. When changing employers, it is important to check the region where your patent is valid and the profession specified in it.
A patent is valid only in the region of the Russian Federation where it was issued. For example, you cannot obtain a patent for one region and then use it to work in another.
In addition, the patent may specify a profession or type of work activity. If such information is included, you cannot work in a different profession.
Before accepting a new job, make sure that both the job itself and its location comply with the terms of your patent.
If they do not, you will need to make the required changes or obtain a patent for another region in accordance with the established procedure.
What Happens After You Start a New Job?
Once you sign a contract with a new employer, the new employer must notify the MIA that the contract has been concluded. This must be done within three working days.
What Should You Check Before Quitting?
To avoid problems when changing employers, check the validity period of your patent and the date of your next payment in advance. Keep your payment receipts and make sure that, after receiving your patent, you submitted the required notification of employment activity on time.
After starting your new job, sign an official contract and check with your employer that the employment notification has been submitted to the MIA.
The main thing to remember is that quitting your job and the expiration of your patent are not the same thing. You can change employers and continue working under a valid patent as long as you comply with all applicable requirements.
