Deel recognizes that the situation in Eastern Europe continues to be volatile and uncertain, with frequently changing market conditions. But we aim to help our customers however we can during these unstable times.
For more details on how we are handling the ongoing situation, please select a category below:
Update (May 3) For Russian Contractor Withdrawal Options
Update (April 8) For Russian Contractor Withdrawal Options
Update (April 1) For Clients With Russian Workers
Previous Updates to Deel's Russia Policies
[ACCORDION] Update: 3 May 2024
For Russian Contractors
Deel can no longer facilitate withdrawals to contractor bank accounts in Russia. Contractors with pending withdrawals to Russian bank accounts will see their funds returned to their Deel balance.
Independent Contractors and COR Contractors with pending withdrawals to Russian bank accounts will see their funds returned to their Deel balance.
Contractors need to choose another supported withdrawal method.
Current supported methods for withdrawal:
- Using a foreign bank account, from a foreign bank not housed in Russia
- A supported digital wallet, if you are able to access one
Please note that Deel cannot create nor manage wallet accounts, as availability may change.
[ACCORDION] Update: 8 April 2024
For Russian Contractors
Russian contractors can now add RUB withdrawals methods on platform, and upload their mandatory documents needed to begin the withdrawal process.
Contractors will be prompted to add required withdrawal documents as part of the withdrawal method creation flow ; they will not need to navigate to the Documents tab or the Compliance Documents section.
Please note that Russian contractors can only actually start RUB withdrawals once they send their documents and the documents have been reviewed and approved by the Deel finance team.
Deel aims to complete the review of contractor SEC documents by the end of the following business day.
Withdrawals currently have a 7 day processing ETA.
It should be a straightforward four step process:
- Independent Contractor in Russia adds RUB withdrawal method
- When adding RUB withdrawal method, they will be prompted as part of that flow upload the Self-Employment Certificate (SEC) document
- Deel team approves the SEC and withdrawal method within a full business day.
- Contractors can now withdraw in RUB
[ACCORDION] Update: 1 April 2024
For Clients
Clients now have only two options for payment to workers in Russia:
- Companies can switch their contractors to EOR employees using Deel's EOR hiring model.
- Contractors must submit a Self Employment Certificate or an Individual Entrepreneur extract to Deel to compliantly process. These changes took effect April 1 2024
In Russia, stringent new regulations came into effect in April 2024.
Tightening restrictions on money transfers into Russia are a consequence of recent events, with the last remaining banks discontinuing USD transfers into the country. Moreover, there's been a notable uptick in scrutiny across the region and it’s generally not recommended to send money into Russia cross-border anymore.
To provide a solution, we've developed two secure and compliant options that we believe will serve as a sustainable long-term remedy.
Clients will have the option to engage their contractors as employees who are paid locally through our Employer of Record (EOR) model as employees.
Clients can still utilize Deel to pay contractors, although they will receive funds exclusively in local currency (RUB) and will be required to upload either a Self Employment Certificate or Individual Entrepreneur extract before getting paid.
Other important notes:
- Deel is not accepting new clients from Russia
- Deel has launched a second IT entity for preferential employee taxation
- Deel does not support USD EOR employee contracts in Russia
- Deel is only be able to support payments in RUB for transactions within Russia
- Withdrawals to banks outside of Russia are still supported.
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Frequently Asked Questions
[ACCORDION] Does Deel KYC and Sanction screen all of its Employees and Contractors?
Yes. Deel conducts a Know Your Customer (“KYC”) check and sanction screening check on all employees and contractors. Sanction screening is refreshed daily. You can learn more about our KYC screening process here
[ACCORDION] What is Deel doing to plan for potential future regulatory changes and sanctions?
Deel maintains a sophisticated network of payment methods in the region, which include local bank payments, international wire payments, wallet payments, and cryptocurrency payments.
Deel is closely monitoring the situation and we are ready to act quickly to any further changes that arise. If certain payment methods are blocked, we will offer a parallel solution to pay employees and contractors.
[ACCORDION] Will Deel help with the migration of employees and contractors from the region?
Ukrainian EOR Employees: Deel is able to offer mobility support for Ukrainian EOR employees to relocate to the UAE and Romania.
Russian EOR Employees: Deel is able to offer mobility support for Russian EOR employees to relocate to the UAE.
Belarusian EOR Employees: Deel is able to offer mobility support for Belarusian EOR employees to relocate to the UAE and Armenia.
Employer Of Record relocations must follow our normal process.
Deel can generally support independent contractors in a country that is not considered an extreme risk. This means an individual (employee or contractor) can move to another country and we can still support them.
Please note that immigration protocols must be followed, and Deel is unable to help with independent contractor immigration and mobility at this time (Freelance visas are suggested)
[ACCORDION] How often does Deel review its policies and procedures regarding Eastern Europe?
Deel is closely monitoring the situation in Russia and Ukraine, and we are constantly reviewing our protocols given new developments.
We will continue to update this important FAQ with all the updated information we have at hand.
You can always contact us with additional questions or concerns. Our agents are available 24/7 via our Live Chat.
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We no longer allow withdrawals to the following banks:
| Absolut Bank | Gazprombank Group | Sberbank |
| Agrosoyuz Bank | Genbank | SDM-Bank |
| Alfa Bank | Globexbank | Settlement Non-Bank Credit Organization (Metallurg) |
| Bank Belveb | Industrial Savings Bank | Smp Bank |
| Bank Dabrabyt | Investcapitalbank | Sobinbank |
| Bank Levoberezhny | Joint-Stock Bank 'Morskoy' | Sovcombank |
| Bank Morskoy | Krajinvestbank | Subsidiary Bank - Sberbank of Russia Public Joint-Stock Company |
| Bank of Moscow | Mir Business Bank | Sviaz Bank Oao |
| Bank Otkritie | Modulbank | Taatta Ab Zao |
| Bank Primorye | Moscow Regional Bank | Tc Bank |
| Bank Rossiya | Mosoblbank | Tinkoff Bank |
| Bank Saint-Petersburg | MTS Bank | Transkapitalbank |
| Bank Vvb | North Credit Bank | Ural Bank for Reconstruction and Development (UBRD) |
| Bank Zenit | Orient Express Bank | URALSIB Bank |
| Belagroprombank | PJSC VTB Bank | Verhnevolzhskiy' Cb Oao |
| Belinvestbank | Post Bank | Vietnam - Russia Joint Venture Bank |
| Central Bank of Russian Federation | Prom invest Bank | Vnesheconombank |
| Commercial Bank Lanta-Bank | Promsvyaz Bank | Vtb Bank Group |
| Commercial Bank Metallurgical Investment Bank | Qiwi Bank | |
| Commercial Bank Novikombank | Rfc Bank | |
| Credit Bank of Moscow | Rosgosstrakh Bank | |
| Credit Ural Bank | Rossbank | |
| Credo Bank | Rublev Bank | |
| Development Bank of the Republic of Belarus | Russian Bank for Small and Medium Enterprises Support | |
| Eximbank of Russia | Russian National Commercial Bank | |
| Expobank Joint Stock Company | Sarovbusinessbank |
Important note regarding Raiffeisen Bank :
While not a sanctioned bank, Raiffeisen Bank recommends using other payment methods.
The bank is limiting the number of incoming payments in US dollars from other banks and increasing the commission for individual clients.
The commission for crediting transfers in US dollars from other banks to the accounts of individual customers, individual entrepreneurs, and legal entities will be 50% of the transfer amount, at least $1,000 US dollars, but not more than the amount received.
The maximum commission amount will be $10,000 USD.
To set up a new Withdrawal method, head to your Account Settings and choose another option.