Many citizens of Uzbekistan come to Russia for work and eventually start thinking about taking on an additional job. For example, they may work at a manufacturing facility during the day and want to work at a warehouse or as a courier for another company in the evening.
But is a foreign citizen allowed to work for two employers at the same time? And do they need to obtain a second work patent?
Let’s look at the rules that apply in Russia in 2026.
Can You Work for Two Employers?
Yes, you can. Russian law does not prohibit foreign citizens working under a patent from having two employers at the same time.
The second job may be arranged as secondary employment. This means that a person performs additional paid work outside the hours of their main job.
However, the employment relationship with each employer must be officially documented.
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Do You Need a Second Patent?
No. You do not need a separate patent for each employer. However, you must comply with the conditions of your existing patent.
First, check the region where the patent is valid. As a general rule, a patent allows you to work only in the region of the Russian Federation where it was issued. However, Moscow and the Moscow Region have a special agreement that allows a person to work under one patent in both regions, provided that the applicable requirements are met.
Second, pay attention to the profession stated in the patent. If a profession is specified, both jobs must correspond to the permitted type of work.
For example, if your patent states that your profession is “cook,” you cannot use it to work as a loader unless the relevant information is officially changed.
Does the MIA Need to Be Notified About the Second Job?
Yes. A second employment contract must also be processed in accordance with the established rules.
Each employer must independently notify the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) that a contract has been concluded with a foreign employee. This must be done within three working days.
Therefore, a notification submitted by the first employer does not exempt the second employer from this obligation.
The foreign worker does not need to submit a notification about each new contract on behalf of the employer.
At the same time, the foreign citizen still has a separate obligation to notify the MIA of their employment activity within two months from the date the patent was initially issued.
Can You Work Unlimited Hours?
No. If the second job is arranged as secondary employment, the requirements of the Russian Labor Code must be followed.
As a general rule, secondary employment must not exceed four hours per day. On days when the employee is not working at their main job, they may work a full day at the second job. However, there are also limits on the total number of working hours during the relevant accounting period.
Before taking a second job, make sure that:
- your patent is valid and all required payments have been made on time;
- both jobs are located within the territory where your patent is valid;
- the profession matches the information stated in the patent, if a profession is specified;
- the second employer officially signs a contract with you and notifies the MIA.
