Russia is fighting for Western workers: the controversial values ​​visa!

Russia is fighting for Western workers: the controversial values ​​visa!

Russia faces a serious challenge: an acute labor shortage. Estimates put the labor shortage at over 10 million in the coming years, partly due to low birth rates and the impact of the war in Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin has therefore developed a new strategy to attract people from Western countries to combat this shortage.

A core initiative in this context is the introduction of the “Shared Values ​​Visa”, a visa for citizens from “unfriendly” countries such as the USA, Canada and many EU countries. The visa, which was launched in August 2024, is intended to appeal primarily to arch-conservatives, the disappointed and the financially disadvantaged. Loud Mercury have submitted over 1,150 applications for this visa by May 2025, which is considered insufficient given the de facto enormous need.

Attractive conditions for applicants

The “Shared Values ​​Visa” offers a variety of advantages. Applicants can live and work in Russia for up to three years without having to prove specific language skills or qualifications. All they have to do is explain in an essay why they want to live in Russia and identify with the values ​​there. The visa is open to residents of 47 countries, including the UK, Japan, Australia and the US, while Hungary was the only EU country to be excluded from the list of eligible states. The processing time for the visa is approximately six months.

In particular Foreign perspective highlights that this visa serves not only to recruit workers but also to combat demographic change. The measures are part of a broader plan to stabilize and strengthen the country. Additional incentives include a free healthcare system and the opportunity to network among BRICS countries.

The economic situation and the challenges

Recent reports also show that job postings declined in the summer of 2025, reflecting frustration over labor shortages. The Ukraine war and the associated waves of mobilization drew many potential workers away from the market. Additionally, Russia recorded an average monthly salary of 99,442 rubles in May 2025, which is approximately 1,068.4 euros. This represents an annual increase of 14.5 percent, with real wage growth when inflation is taken into account at 4.2 percent.

In summary, it can be said that Russia's innovation strategies, especially the “Shared Values ​​Visa”, should make a decisive contribution to combating the serious labor shortage. The long-term impact of these measures will determine how the country can overcome its economic challenges and whether it will succeed in attracting Western talent to the Russian economy.