The Moscow Department of the Federal Migration Service (FMS) suspended the acceptance of applications to obtain permission to hire foreign labor.

The 2007 quota set for the number of visas for foreign nationals for Moscow has been exhausted, leading the FMS to suspend the acceptance of new applications. This not only impacts new applications, but also means that those whose current permissions expire in 2007 will lose the right to work in Moscow until they receive new permits in 2008. Unauthorized employment can lead to penalties for employees, employers, company officers - including fines of about US$30,000 and deportation of the foreign employee.

See Change in Work Permit Procedure for Foreign Employees / Изменения в порядке получения разрешений на работу для иностранных работников, Baker & McKenzie, September 2007, for more information.