St. Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia. Thousands of people visit it every day to enjoy the unique architecture. What do you need to keep in mind if you decide to move to the Northern capital for permanent residence?
So, you've decided to become a Petersburger!
How to get there
There are three main ways to get to St. Petersburg - by plane, by train and by car. Petersburg Pulkovo Airport serves both domestic and international flights. It is located half an hour's drive from the nearest metro station "Moskovskaya". The metro in St. Petersburg is quite well developed, which will allow you to get to any side of the city very quickly. It's another matter if you arrive by train. The Central Station of St. Petersburg, "Moskovsky Vokzal", is located in the very center, on Vosstaniya Square. There are other stations in St. Petersburg, which are located in different parts of the city.
Where to live
Upon arrival in St. Petersburg, the first thing you need to do is to resolve the issue of housing. There are many hotels, mini-hotels and hostels in the city. If you need several days to get comfortable and choose a place of residence for a long time, but at the same time want to save money, then hostels are the ideal option. The cost of living, although it varies depending on the season, even in the hottest season, you can find budget options. Despite the fact that in summer prices for all types of hotels are higher than, for example, in November or March, the best time to move to St. Petersburg is the end of spring and the beginning of summer. Firstly, many students go home and vacate their apartments, and secondly, the weather! The climate in St. Petersburg is peculiar, even in summer there can be prolonged rains and a cold north wind blow. But summer is summer - more sunny days. It's nice to start a new life when it's warm and the sun is shining.
Long term housing can be found with the help of real estate agencies. But keep in mind that they usually charge up to 100% of the monthly rent for their services. Therefore, if you manage to find an owner who agrees to rent you an apartment, agree. This will save you a lot of money. The average cost of renting one-room apartments with furniture in 2017 is about 21,000 rubles per month, depending on the area and distance from the metro. Utilities are usually paid by tenants separately.
A room can be rented for 13,000-15,000 thousand per month. Hosts usually take a monthly deposit, which is refundable if you decide to move out. You can ask to split the deposit into two parts. Usually, all these nuances in terms of the cost of rent, collateral and property are indicated in the lease agreement. It is better to draw up such an agreement right away. It will protect you from sudden evictions or rent increases.
Temporary registration
According to the law, a citizen of Russia must register at the place of stay within 90 days from the date of arrival in another city. Registration is required by the owners of the apartment from whom you are renting housing. But, unfortunately, in St. Petersburg, few people agree to this, despite the violation of the law. Therefore, if you are denied a legal free registration, you can find other owners via the Internet who, for a certain fee, will issue you a temporary registration for any period. Be careful with strangers who promise a document on a photocopy of your passport through a courier with home delivery! The only legal way to register at the place of stay is to be present at the passport office together with the owner, who will have all the documents for the living space in his hands. Otherwise, you will lose money and fall under the article of the law on falsification of documents.
Job search
Once the housing issue is resolved, it is time to look for work. There is work in St. Petersburg. There are many enterprises, factories, retail outlets, institutions and firms of various levels in the city. It is best to look for a job through popular job search sites, sending out a resume. But be careful. If you are being invited for an interview, first read the information about the potential employer on the Internet. In St. Petersburg, there are those that are not even worth wasting your time on. Usually, when applying for a job, they are asked to present a standard package of documents, namely a passport with registration at the place of residence, TIN, SNILS, bank card details and work book. It is possible that a probationary period will be provided, during which the salary will be slightly lower. This is a standard practice in St. Petersburg. If the employer has instilled confidence in you, you are satisfied with both the job duties and the salary, let this trial period do not bother you. You will have time to figure out if you like everything in your new job. After two or three months, it will be possible to formalize and become a full-fledged resident of St. Petersburg!
