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Scenarios / Market entry
Scenario 01 · Not yet operating in Russia

Market entry in Russia

Establishing a presence in Russia means aligning legal structure, tax setup and operations before the first invoice — so you launch compliant and ready to trade.

Signals you're here
You are choosing between an LLC, branch or representative office
You need to hire, bank and invoice locally
A foreign director needs to be in place legally
A first shipment or contract is on a fixed timeline

Entering the Russian market means making a series of connected decisions before your first invoice — the legal structure you trade through, how you register for tax, how you bank, and how you employ people locally. For foreign companies, the choice between an LLC, a branch and a representative office shapes your tax position, your ability to hire and invoice, and your reporting obligations for years. TaxWell coordinates the whole entry: entity registration, tax and statistics registration, bank account opening, accounting setup, payroll for your first hires, and HQS work permits for foreign managers. Documents are executed remotely, so your team does not need to be in Russia to launch — the result is a compliant, operational presence you can trade from on day one.

+ what we handle

The expertise this calls on

04
Company registration

Entity setup, corporate secretarial and governance.

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01
Tax & compliance

CIT, VAT, withholding tax and FTS audit defence.

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07
Immigration · HQS

HQS work permits and mobility for foreign executives.

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05
Payroll & HR

Employment compliance and HR for international teams.

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08
Customs

Import duties, clearance and customs compliance for traders.

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+ how it usually sequences
01
Structure & scope

Choose the right entity and map the setup against your business model.

02
Registration

Incorporate, register for tax and open banking — documents executed remotely.

03
Operational setup

Accounting, payroll and work permits so you can trade from day one.

+ related work

How this has played out

All customers →
Market entry01
Russian subsidiary setup for European industrial group

Entity setup, tax registration, accounting, payroll and customs — operational from day one.

View case
Market entry05
VAT registration for foreign digital services provider

Electronic-services VAT registration and quarterly reporting for a US SaaS company serving Russian clients.

View case
Market entry09
LLC registration & work permit for Chinese trading company

LLC formation, HQS work permit for the General Director and payroll setup.

View case
+ common questions

Questions clients ask

What is the best legal structure for entering Russia?

Most foreign companies trade through a Russian LLC — a full legal entity that can hire, bank and invoice. A branch extends the foreign parent, while a representative office cannot trade and is limited to marketing and liaison. The right choice depends on your business model, tax position and how you plan to repatriate profit.

How long does it take to register a company in Russia?

An LLC is typically registered in about seven working days once documents are prepared. Banking, tax registration and payroll setup run alongside, so a fully operational entity usually takes six to eight weeks end to end.

Can a foreign company set up in Russia remotely?

Yes. Incorporation can be handled remotely under a scoped power of attorney, with documents executed abroad and notarised. Your team does not need to travel to Russia to register or launch.

Does a foreign director need a work permit?

A foreign General Director generally needs an HQS (Highly Qualified Specialist) work permit to be legally in post. It is threshold-based rather than quota-based and is usually sequenced with incorporation.

For individuals Operating in Russia

Not sure this is your situation?

A senior adviser will map your position and the open items in a short scoping call.

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Insights
3-NDFL tax return in Russia: complete guide for foreign individualsAccounting Outsourcing in Russia: PracticalAccounting in Russia: RAS rules and mandatory reporting for foreign companies All articles →
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