Establishing a company (ООО) and an individual entrepreneur (ИП)

This page is for Turkish citizens and Turkish companies wishing to establish their own business in Russia. There are two main routes in Russia: an individual entrepreneur (индивидуальный предприниматель, ИП) and a limited liability company (общество с ограниченной ответственностью, ООО). Registration is carried out by the Federal Tax Service of Russia (ФНС России); if the documents are complete, registration is completed within 3 business days. Below you will find who can establish which structure, how to apply step by step, the 2026 fees, how to choose a tax regime, and the rules for working in your own company.

• Individual entrepreneur (ИП):
  • Only foreigners who have a temporary residence permit (РВП) or a residence permit (ВНЖ) in Russia may register as an ИП. The application requires a copy of a document showing the right to temporary or permanent residence in Russia (Article 22.1 of Federal Law 129-FZ).
  • A foreigner listed in the register of “controlled persons” (реестр контролируемых лиц) cannot be registered as an ИП (see R2.4).
• Limited liability company (ООО):
  • A residence permit is not among the incorporation documents requested by the Tax Service.
  • The founder may also be a foreign company. In this case, an extract from the commercial register in the founder’s home country is required.
• Self-employed regime (налог на профессиональный доход, НПД): the law provides for registration under this regime for Russian citizens, citizens of member states of the Eurasian Economic Union, and Ukrainian citizens. Turkish citizens are not on this list (Article 5 of Federal Law 422-FZ).
• Branch or representative office of a Turkish company: branches and representative offices of foreign companies in Russia are entered in the state register of accredited branches and representative offices of the Tax Service (РАФП).

1. Prepare the documents:
   • Form P21001 (заявление о государственной регистрации физического лица в качестве индивидуального предпринимателя)
   • a copy of your passport
   • a copy of your РВП or ВНЖ
   • if your passport or residence document does not contain an address, a document showing your residential address in Russia
   • fee receipt: 800 rubles
2. Determine the correct tax office: registration is carried out at the registration-authorized tax office at the place where you are registered as residing. If you have no residence registration, your place of stay (место пребывания) is used.
3. Apply. Options:
   • in person at the tax office
   • through a municipal service center (МФЦ)
   • through a notary
   • electronically through the “State online business registration” (Государственная онлайн-регистрация бизнеса) service
4. Receive the result: if the documents are complete, the ИП registration record sheet (лист записи ЕГРИП) will be sent to the email address stated in the application after 3 business days.
5. Your signature must be notarized. There are two exceptions: when you submit the documents in person with your passport, or when you submit them with a qualified electronic signature (усиленная квалифицированная электронная подпись).
6. No fee is payable if the documents are submitted electronically, including electronic submission through an МФЦ or notary.
7. For certain activities, such as education, services involving children, or taxi and passenger transportation, a certificate of no criminal record is also required (Article 22.1 of Federal Law 129-FZ).

1. Prepare the documents:
   • Form P11001 (заявление о государственной регистрации юридического лица при создании)
   • the incorporation decision: a sole founder’s decision if there is one founder, or the minutes of the founders’ meeting if there are several founders
   • the company’s charter (устав). If the company will use one of the standard charters (типовой устав) of the Ministry of Economic Development, a separate charter is not required. This option has been available since June 25, 2019.
   • if the founder is a foreign company: an extract from the commercial register of its country or an equivalent document
   • fee receipt: 4,000 rubles
2. Determine the registration address: the company is registered at the address where its general director (постоянно действующий исполнительный орган) is located. This may be the founder’s office, the general director’s home address, or a rented office. The Tax Service requires the company to be genuinely reachable at the address.
3. Apply: in person, through a notary, through an МФЦ, or with a qualified electronic signature, including through the State online business registration service.
4. Receive the result: registration is completed within no more than 3 business days.
5. The signature on the application form must be notarized unless you apply in person with an identity document or use a qualified electronic signature.
6. No fee is payable for an electronic application or a submission through a notary.
7. Charter capital (уставный капитал): at least 10,000 rubles (Article 14 of Federal Law 14-FZ). The founder must pay their share within the period specified in the incorporation agreement, but no later than 4 months after registration.
8. The company is not required to use a seal. If it has a seal, this is stated in the company’s charter.
9. The grounds for refusal of registration are exhaustively listed in the law (Article 23/1 of Federal Law 129-FZ).

• An employment contract is concluded with the company’s general director (руководитель организации) (Article 275 of the Russian Labor Code).
• An employment contract with a foreign employee must include the details of the work permit or patent (Article 327.2 of the Labor Code).
• Therefore, a Turkish citizen staying in Russia on a visa must obtain a work permit or a highly qualified specialist (ВКС) permit if they will work as the general director of a company they founded (see R3.1 and R3.2).
• Holders of an РВП or ВНЖ may work without obtaining a work permit. An РВП holder may work only in the region for which the permit was issued (see R4.1).
• It is not possible to work in Russia with a tourist or business visa. A work permit process is required to work for the company (see R1.3 and R3.1).

• A newly established company and a newly registered ИП may submit a notification to switch to the simplified tax system (упрощенная система налогообложения, УСН) within 30 calendar days from tax registration (Article 346.13/2 of the Tax Code).
• УСН rates (Article 346.20, text dated August 4, 2026):
  • if the tax base is income: 6%
  • if the tax base is the amount remaining after expenses are deducted from income: 15%
  • regions may reduce these rates for certain activities (1–6% for income, 5–15% for income minus expenses)
• УСН has income and asset limits. For example, companies whose book value of fixed assets exceeds 200 million rubles cannot apply УСН (Article 346.12).
• If you do not submit the notification on time, you will be subject to the general tax regime. Calculate which regime is suitable for you with a tax adviser.
• For the tax identification number (ИНН), see R9.2. For income tax rates, see R9.1.

• “Unfriendly countries” list: Türkiye is not included in the Russian Government’s list No. 430-r dated March 5, 2022. The countermeasures applied to individuals and companies from countries on this list do not apply to Turkish citizens in that capacity.
• Currency control: an ООО established in Russia is a currency resident under Russian currency legislation. If it opens an account abroad, it must notify the tax office (see R9.5).
• Transferring dividends to Türkiye: the tax that Russia may withhold on dividends paid to a Turkish-resident shareholder may not exceed 10% under the treaty (see R9.3).
• Foreign documents: for apostille and Russian translation requirements when using documents issued in Türkiye, such as the registration record of your Turkish company, see O1.3.

• Federal Tax Service of Russia (ФНС России) — registration of ИП and ООО
  • Information line: +7 800 222-22-22 (within Russia)
  • Find the registration-authorized tax office: “Address and payment details of your tax office” service
  • Appointments: order.nalog.ru
  • Create a fee receipt: “Tax and fee payment” service
• Municipal service centers (МФЦ) — receive and forward ИП applications. Check in advance whether the service is provided at your local МФЦ.
• Commercial Counsellor’s Office of the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Moscow — information on the Russian market and commercial matters
  • Address: 12, 7th Rostovski Pereulok, 115127 Moscow
  • Telephone: +7 499 246 39 89, +7 499 246 14 89, +7 499 246 49 89
  • Email: moskova@ticaret.gov.tr
  • Online question: Ministry of Trade “Ask the Counsellor” platform

• Trying to register an ИП with only a visa. An РВП or ВНЖ is required for an ИП.
• Thinking, “I established my company, so I can now work.” A work permit is also required to work as the general director.
• Providing an address as the registration address that cannot actually be reached.
• Forgetting to submit the УСН notification within 30 days after registration.
• Failing to pay the charter capital within 4 months after registration.
• Trying to register as self-employed (самозанятый). This regime is not provided for Turkish citizens.
• Paying an unnecessary fee for an electronic application.

• Is a residence permit in Russia required to register an ИП? Yes. A copy of your temporary residence permit (РВП) or residence permit (ВНЖ) is required with the application.
• Is a residence permit in Russia required to establish an ООО? A residence permit is not among the documents requested by the Tax Service. However, if you will work for the company, work permit rules apply.
• How long does registration take? 3 business days if the documents are complete. The result is sent by email.
• How much is the fee? In 2026, 4,000 rubles for an ООО and 800 rubles for an ИП. No fee is payable if the documents are submitted electronically or through a notary.
• What is the minimum required capital? 10,000 rubles for an ООО.
• Can my Turkish company open a branch in Russia? Branches and representative offices of foreign companies are entered in the Tax Service’s register of accredited branches (РАФП). Consult the Tax Service and a lawyer regarding the process.

• Form P21001: ИП registration application (PDF)
• Form P11001: company incorporation application (PDF)
• State online business registration service
• “Start your own business” (Создай свой бизнес) guide
• Tax and fee payment service
• Tax office address search
• Appointment at the tax office
• Company and ИП register search (ЕГРЮЛ/ЕГРИП)
• Register of accredited branches and representative offices (РАФП)
• Federal Law 129-FZ, Article 22.1: documents required for ИП registration
• Ministry of Trade – Ask the Counsellor