Got a Remote Job? How to Live in Russia and Work Remotely

Anything is possible in Russia, as they say, but the more important question is whether it’s plausible. There are some things not worth getting involved in simply because of all the workarounds or loopholes, but working in Russia remotely, fortunately, is not one of them. Yes, it is plausible to work remotely from Russia. Yes, it’s also plausible, especially considering the effects of COVID-19, to get a 100% remote job from a western company with a well-paying salary. Yes, it’s plausible to run your online business from Russia. It’s about time to consider how you can reap the benefits of lower tax rates and yes, do it completely legally with a proper work visa in Russia. If you’re interested in moving to Russia, relocating to Russia or just taking an extended leave to Russia, it’s possible and quite plausible for most people to do so while working remotely. Keep reading to find out how this can be accomplished and how both you and your employer can benefit immensely, in most cases, by you working remotely for them from Russia.

Up until the recent COVID-19 pandemic, 100% remote work had been the exception rather than the rule, or at least it seemed that way. After all, with big tech companies boasting about generous benefits and modern facilities, there hasn’t been a push for working at home, or remote for that matter, until now. Certainly, COVID-19 has had a tremendous effect for the worse on the overwhelming majority of industries, but like it or not, we have all been compelled to work with what we’ve been dealt. That is, remote work, work from home or whatever else you call it can be pulled off. We’ve witnessed it first-hand now. You can work remotely from another country like Russia with less effort now than ever before. You can work remotely for a US or European company. Many jobs can be 100% remote. It has now become the norm and it’s easier than ever before to negotiate remote work with your current employer or find a completely remote job with a new employer.

The truth is that remote work comes in many forms and has been in practice for quite some time. The BPO (business process outsourcing) industry, for example, has long been in full swing and large corporations have monopolized on that opportunity for many years. You have undoubtedly landed a call at a call center overseas and heard a customer service representative with an accent wondering whether they are in the US. I recall a phone call I made to Chase customer service in the Spring in the middle of the pandemic and recognized the slight Tagalog accent of the support rep and the chirping of crickets in the background. I knew my call was ending up in the Philippines at night. I also realized due to the onset of a global pandemic, like millions of others, that a disproportionate amount of work can be accomplished remotely, largely thanks to today’s technology.

At Let’s Russia, our team has spoken to many people about their travels to Russia and some express interest in moving to Russia for a time. Before COVID-19, they wondered how they would continue at their current jobs. Now that more and more people are able to work remotely, the plausibility of working across the world away from your employer becomes within reach. And it’s no longer an opportunity limited to tech companies anymore. With the boom of online services and countries being connected through the internet, the bulk of your work can be done from behind a computer with an internet connection. We’ve witnessed it happen already. Conferences even with thousands of participants have gone completely online. Video calls, virtual meeting rooms, online events and so on can all be done even with higher productivity than previously.

So, if you want to move to Russia and work remotely, there’s no better time to pursue that goal. There’s no better time to leverage the current situation in your favor when negotiating with your employer. There’s no better time to set up a remote team. There’s no better time to set a goal to go where you want to be located and make your work actually work for what you want and desire out of life.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Russia has a lot of opportunities, especially for foreigners. However, the expat job market is not for everyone. Many expats settle for teaching or editing positions that lack growth opportunities, especially if you’re not a high level working professional to offer your skills to a multinational company. If you already have a job based in the US or Europe that pays you a salary in USD or Euros, consider your options at keeping the position and moving to Russia. Truth be told, if structured correctly, you and your employer can reach a win-win solution by them allowing you to work remotely in Russia. 

Let’s Russia and Expatriant have long been working with people wishing to move to Russia either for the short-term or long-term. Many have run into the same difficulties of staying in Russia legally without traveling back and forth for new visas every few months. They just want to continue their work but from Russia. COVID-19 has forced companies to work with their employees and figure out how to work remotely from home. With all these factors coming into play, we have launched a solution that helps all parties find a win-win solution. It’s called Exmote.com and offers remote workers the option to move to Russia while keeping their remote job, or starting a new one, and stay in Russia legally and in full compliance with immigration and labor laws. Oh, and did I mention that you keep arguably the best status while doing it? So, if you’ve been looking for a way to get to or stay in Russia for a longer period of time, don’t give up your current job just yet. Doing your remote work from Russia is possible and quite realistic in 2021. Reach out to Exmote and see what options are available for you. Even if you’re in an industry that isn’t remote-work friendly, there may still be opportunities you’re overlooking or unaware of. For those of you who have been hit hard by 2020, and there are certainly many, start considering the online work that is out there. You’d be surprised at the opportunities.