Contract Issues
Settling-in Allowance
Q.: What is it?
A.: This is a lump sum designed to cover expenses associated with the settling-in of an international employee into a new location.
Q.: Who is eligible?
A.: Any tenure-track or a postdoc hire.
Q.: When is it paid?
A.: With the first salary payment.
Q.: What documents do I need to provide to receive it?
A.: You need to have a Russian bank account to be able to receive the settling-in allowance.
Q.: Is it taxable?
A.: Yes. Taxes applied to this sum depend on one’s tax residency status.
Taxation
|
Type of income |
Income bracket (RUB/year) |
All HQS holders* and Russian tax residents** |
Russian citizens (tax non-residents) |
|
Salary
|
≤2.4 million |
13% |
30% (irrespective of income bracket) |
|
2.4-5 million |
15% |
||
|
5-20 million |
18% |
||
|
20-50 million |
20% |
||
|
>50 million |
22% |
||
|
Settling-in allowance |
13% – for tax residents 30% – for tax non-residents |
||
*For more information on the HQS status see the HQS Card.
HQS work permit can be annulled on a number of reasons, including absence of a foreign national on the territory of Russian Federation for 6 months and more.
**A tax resident is a citizen of any nation that has lived on the territory of the Russian Federation for at least 183 days within the last 12 months.
The calculation is as follows:
|
Taxes applied to other payments
HQS status does not automatically give an employee the right to a 13% tax rate, as applied to other payments such as settling-in allowances. Whether it is a 13% or 30% tax rate will fully depend on the tax status of the resident. A tax resident is a citizen of any nation who has lived on the territory of the Russian Federation for at least 183 days within the last 12 months. A 13% tax rate shall be applied to the income and other payments of Russian tax residents, whereas the tax rate for non-resident individuals comes to 30%.
Tax deduction and tax filing
All taxes are deducted from your salary automatically by the employer. It means that the sum you receive is your salary after taxes. It also means that you will not have to file taxes in Russia.
For further information on Insurance Contributions to the Pension Fund, Social Security Fund and Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation, Deducted from Payments to Individuals we recommend you to visit this page.
Health Insurance
International faculty at HSE, as well as their accompanying family members relocating to Russia, are provided with basic health insurance plan financed by the university.
'SOGAZ' is the health insurance company which was selected for the year 2026 as a result of an annual competitive procurement procedure. The university has year-long contracts with insurance companies, which means that every January employees receive new health insurance policies.
This insurance plan is valid in Russia and covers outpatient care at specific clinics, as well as house visits, emergency and planned hospital admission, basic dental care. The insurance policy also covers acute diseases and trauma treatment but does not include life-threatening diseases, most chronic illnesses and pregnancy-related medical care.
|
'SOGAZ' 24/7 call centre: +7 (800) 333 44 19 English-speaking clients can address the number +7 (495) 984-85-82 to be consulted in English. ! If the clinic requires you to pay for any medical services that are supposed to be included in the VHI policy, please contact the insurance company to confirm the legality of the clinic's claims |
Outpatient treatment of non-Russian citizens in Moscow (Insurance Programme 5.1)
- is provided on the basis of 'Medincentre' of the Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Address: 4th Dobryninsky Lane, 4 (Dobryninskaya metro station)
Phone numbers: +7 (495) 933-86-48, +7 (495) 933-86-49; +7 (499) 237-40-04 – please ask to redirect you to English-speaking staff (for home visits arrangement, appointments to physicians, other specialists, including children’s appointments, doctors’ reception hours, etc.).
List of clinics available under Programme 5.1
Guidelines in English:
Medical services provided (Adults)
Medical services provided (Children aged 0-1)
Outpatient treatment of Russian citizens in Moscow (including family members of HQS with Russian citizenship, Insurance Programme 1.1)
- is provided on the basis of the clinic of the Ministry of Economic Development.
Address: Skatertny Lane, 10/12 (Arbatskaya metro station)
Phone number: +7 (495) 697-00-00
Information for St. Petersburg
Travel Abroad Insurance
Travel Abroad Insurance is available under standard health insurance plan as an additional option offered by 'SOGAZ' free of charge.
Travel Abroad Insurance conditions:
- Insured amount is EUR 50,000 per person.
- Insurance territory: all countries of the world except for Russia and country of citizenship.
- The number of trips is unlimited within the period of insurance of the policy. However, the duration of each trip should not exceed 90 days.
Travel Abroad Insurance can be downloaded from 'SOGAZ' website or mobile application upon registration.
Guidelines on registration procedure (in Russian)
Guidelines on obtaining Travel Abroad Insurance (in Russian)
For more information about any other issues related to medical services, please visit the webpage Medical Aid for International Faculty of the Office of Staff and Students Benefits or contact Alla Pushkareva at +7 (495) 621-70-78, ext. 15489, apushkareva@hse.ru.
Accommodation
Please visit this page.