The Franco-Russian agreement, signed on 27 November 2009, which entered into force on 1 March 2011, aims to facilitate the professional mobility of nationals of both countries. The first meeting of the joint working group set up to monitor the implementation of the agreement was held in Moscow, on 14 November, prior to the intergovernmental seminar and the meeting between Francois Fillon and Vladimir Putin on 18 November.
The meeting brought together French representatives from the Ministry of Interior and the French Office of Immigration and Integration (OFIIFrench Office of Immigration and Integration) and Russian representatives of the Federal Migration Service and Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Health and Economy..
The agreement is aimed at the following categories:
Company managers, highly qualified workers, employees on assignment, employees of representative offices or branches, young professionals and beneficiaries of "working holiday" visas.
Its main provisions are:
- absence of employment situation opposition in the examination of a work permit application
- geographical scope of the work permit allows for professional activity to be carried out in metropolitan France and the overseas départements
- possibility of having the medical examination in France or Russia, at the beneficiary’s choice
- workers in these categories, along with their partners, benefit from a long-stay visa which is valid as a residence permit, as well as the application of the "accompanying family" system
- issuing of a 3-year residence permit upon expiry of their VLS TS.
The agreement also highlights the need for applicants to be residing in Russia at the date on which the employer presents a request for the introduction of a foreign employee.
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