Is Russia the last frontier for expat professionals

It has to be said that Russia isn’t exactly the first relocation which springs to mind, but is it as unfriendly as it seems?

The world’s largest country regularly features near the bottom of expat surveys, mostly due to its unbelievably harsh winters and the seeming unfriendliness of its population. The most-heard complaint from those who’ve taken a chance and relocated to one of its major cities is that feeling at home in their new country is almost impossible, possibly because very few Russians speak English and Russian is hell to learn. One thing’s for sure, relocating is set to be a unique experience, even for expat professionals who’ve been there and done that in even stranger corners of the world.

The country's distinctive atmosphere is a combination of traditional Russian values and the influx since the end of the cold war of Western influences, hard to understand and even harder to get used to. It’s a reasonably safe country, at least in the cities and, in spite of surveys stating otherwise, Russians are welcoming and friendly after you get to know them. The infamous Russian winter offers temperatures as low as -30 degrees Celsius and seem to last for almost ever, especially to new arrivals. In compensation, summers are really hot, making dressing for the season essential. As regards healthcare, it’s excellent in the major cities’ private hospitals and best avoided elsewhere in the vast country, but the cost of your health insurance will make your or your company’s eyes water.

For expats with children, international schools are found in most big cities, with the best choice in Moscow and St Petersburg. Due to traffic congestion, driving can be a nightmare in the cities although road conditions are generally good, but driving long distance is not a good idea. Within the huge conurbations, public transport is efficient, and Moscow’s fantastic subway has to be seen to be believed. Foreign drivers’ licenses are only valid for 60 days after arrival, and an application for a Russian license will drag you into Russian bureaucracy with its demands for reams of paperwork, most of which needs to be officially translated. If your home country license is still valid you’ll have to take a theoretical test; if it isn’t you’ll have to take a practical test as well – both of which are conducted in the Russian language!