A quota for engaging foreign workers is the single most common reason a hiring timeline collapses. Not sourcing, not the candidate’s documents — the quota. Companies discover it exists at the moment people are needed within a month, while the application was due a year earlier.
Who the quota applies to
Only to nationals of visa countries: India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, China and others. For nationals of visa-free countries — Uzbekistan, Tajikistan — no quota is required; they work on a patent. Citizens of EAEU states (Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Belarus) need no patent either.
How the cycle works
| Stage | What the employer does | When |
|---|---|---|
| Application for need | Files an application for the following year, with trades and headcount | in advance, before the year of need |
| Review | The application is reviewed by a regional interdepartmental commission | after filing |
| Engagement permit | Obtains a permit to engage foreign labour | after the quota is confirmed |
| Invitation letter | Obtains an invitation letter for each candidate | ≈20 working days |
| Work permit | Obtains a work permit for the specific person | before work begins |
What to do when there is no quota and people are needed now. The only fast route is the visa-free channel: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, 3–5 weeks against 5–8 for visa countries. The second option is to take people through outstaffing, where the provider is the employer and holds the permits. In parallel it is worth preparing an application for the next cycle so the situation does not repeat in a year.
A quota and the permitted share are not the same thing
These are constantly confused, and they are unrelated. A quota limits the issuing of work permits to nationals of visa countries. The permitted share limits the percentage of foreign nationals in your average headcount and applies regardless of nationality or documents. Both must be satisfied: you can hold a quota and still be unable to employ the person because the share is full.
For 2026 the shares are set by Government Decree No. 1995 of 5 December 2025 and were cut almost across the board: construction 50%, forestry, wood processing and vegetable growing 40%, road freight transport 24%, retail sale of alcohol, tobacco and medicines 0%. Full table and limit calculator.
What we take on
We handle sourcing and documentation on the source-country side: searching against a specific skill grade, verifying the skill on work video, the candidate’s documents, medical clearance, consular procedures, logistics and airport pickup. The quota application and the engagement permit are obtained by the employer — we advise on the document pack and the deadlines, but the company files them in its own name.