Foreign companiy has the ability to manage its own activity on the Russian market by the means of opening branch or a representative office in the territory of the Russian Federation. According to the Russian civil legislation a representative office is understood as separate subdivision located outside of its location which represents interests of a legal person and manages its safety (the branch other than representation office undertakes the performance of the legal person function’s part, and particularly representative capacity)
For realization its own activity any foreign representative office needs to obtain an accreditation which is carried out by authorized state bodies, in particular – State Registration Chamber under the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation.
A representative office of a foreign firm (company) can exist freely for any period required to achieve the goals, however, accreditation is granted for 1, 2 or 3 years. However, upon the expiration of accreditation if it is necessary may be extended. For accreditation and certificate issuance fees are collected depending on the term of accreditation. Simultaneously with the accreditation in the State Registration Chamber representative office is entered in the Consolidated State Register. Certificate of entry is considered to be necessary for opening a operating and other banking accounts, registration of company’s transport and the implementation of other formal operations. For the entire period of accreditation of the State Registration Chamber is obliged to provide a range of services to representation office according to the accreditation of staff, passport and visa support, etc. Accreditation is usually executed by State Registration Chamber movement during 21 working days from submission of the episode a perfect set of documents, but when necessary, this period may be shortened to seven days.
Accreditation of a representative office of a foreignlegal person allows it to get an official status on the territory of the Russian Federation. apart from the fact that an official status is obtained by the residents of the other countries — representative office’ employees.
For accreditation the following documents are needed:
- Written application on your intention to open of a foreign legal person on the territory of the Russian Federation (with the details, types of activities and objects ;
- Document confirming registration of a foreign body corporate (legal person) according to the law of the country (location) where it is located.
- Charter Articles of association of a foreign body corporate or a document proving that the law of the country of registration does not include the existence of the Charter Articles of association
- Firm resolution on the opening of a representative office in Russia.
- Status of a representative office (the original and a notarized copy).
- Letters of reference of a bank serving foreign legal person and Russian business partners (not less than two).
- Notarized copy of general power of attorney upon authorization as a head of a consulate foreign legal entity in Russia.
- Power of attorney issued in the name of the authorized person under the management of affairs in the State. Registration Chamber on getting permission to open a representative (notarized).
- Document confirming the address of a representative office of a foreign legal person in the Russian Federation (the letter of guarantee or a lease contract with an application of the certificate of lessor title .
- The card with the information about a representative office of foreign legal person application form is given by the State Registration Chamber).
Following the submission of all necessary documents and payment of a fee accrediting body considers them and then gives an accredited legal entity permission to open representative offices (State Registration Chamber at once issues certificate of registration into the Consolidated State Register of Foreign Legal Persons carrying out its own activities in Russia through representative offices). From the date of issuance of permit (the date of accreditation) representation is considered to be open. Upon expiration of the accreditation term, if the firm did not apply to the accrediting body for request to extend the term of accreditation , the activity of representation is terminated.