Requirements for obtaining citizenship

Every year a huge number of foreign citizens enter Russia. The purpose of their visit is often to find employment in Russia. Some of them want to become full citizens of the Russian Federation. In recent years, a number of decrees have been signed that make it easier for residents of the countries of the former USSR to obtain Russian citizenship.

Legal agency “Migron” https://migron.ru/ is a specialized migration agency for citizens of the CIS countries in Russia. Can help you obtain a temporary residence permit, residence permit, non-resident residence permit and Russian citizenship on a turnkey basis from the very beginning until receiving a Russian passport. Over 6 years of work, we have helped more than 2,500 foreign citizens obtain Russian citizenship. Address: Moscow, Kurskaya metro station, st. Zemlyanoy Val, building 7, office 219 Phone: + 7 (495) 118 33 71 Find out how to apply for Russian citizenship on the website migron.ru

New law on obtaining Russian citizenship dated July 24, 2021

In order to find out how you can obtain citizenship, you should refer to the Federal Law of May 31, 2002 No. 62 “On Citizenship of the Russian Federation”. Federal Law-62 reveals the main procedures for acquiring the status of a citizen of the country.

According to the new law, when obtaining Russian citizenship, all foreign citizens, without exception, are no longer required to renounce their existing citizenship, regardless of the grounds for acquiring Russian citizenship.

In addition, some categories of applicants no longer need to comply with the condition of a 5-year period of residence in the Russian Federation from the date of issuance of a residence permit and confirm the presence of a legal source of income.

The amendments entered into force on July 24, 2021.

Decree 665 of November 4, 2021 on simplified acquisition of citizenship for the DPR and LPR

On November 4, 2021, the President of the Russian Federation signed decree No. 665, which complements decree 183, which concerns the registration of citizenship of the Russian Federation for residents of the DPR and LPR in a simplified manner.

1. Now only holders of DPR and LPR passports can apply for Russian citizenship in a simplified manner. It is not now a requirement for applicants to have a Ukrainian passport at the same time.
2. Having only a passport of the DPR and LPR and permanent registration in these regions gives the right to submit documents on their territory for registration of Russian citizenship according to a simplified scheme.
3. All amendments came into force on November 4, 2021 immediately after the publication of the decree.

Other decrees and laws simplifying the acquisition of Russian citizenship

On April 24, 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the possibility of obtaining citizenship through a simplified procedure for residents of the DPR and LPR: https://kremlin.ru/acts/news/60358. The amendments directly affected residents of the LPR and DPR. .

On July 17, 2021, Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 343 was issued, clarifying the list of documents required for obtaining Russian citizenship by residents of the LPR and DPR according to a simplified scheme: https://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001201907170036. You can view the version of the document on our website.

On May 1, 2021, the President of the Russian Federation signed a new Decree, which allows a wider range of applicants from Ukraine to apply for citizenship under a simplified scheme. Now Ukrainians can submit an application and documents to obtain a Russian passport at their place of residence, and not registration, as was the case before.

On August 2, 2021, the President of the Russian Federation adopted Federal Law-257: https://www.kremlin.ru/acts/bank/44554. Now citizens of Ukraine and stateless persons residing permanently in the country, recognized as refugees, or who have received temporary asylum in the Russian Federation, can apply for a temporary residence permit without taking into account the quota. You can view the editorial content on our website.

On April 17, 2021, Federal Law No. 134 was adopted by the State Duma and approved by the Council of Federation on amendments to Federal Law No. 62, which significantly simplifies the procedure for obtaining citizenship: https://www.kremlin.ru/acts/bank/18131.

Ways to obtain Russian citizenship

Ways to obtain citizenship in 2021

According to the basic norms of legislation, there are several ways to obtain Russian citizenship:

1. By birth.
2. As a result of admission to citizenship of the Russian Federation.
3. As a result of restoration of citizenship of the Russian Federation.
4. On other grounds provided for by this Federal Law or an international treaty of the Russian Federation.

Citizenship can be obtained in a general or simplified manner

The general procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship means the assignment of the status of a Russian citizen after 5 years of continuous residence in Russia from the date of issuance of a residence permit.

If a person wants to obtain Russian citizenship in a shorter period of time, then he should use the simplified procedure. Not everyone has the right to such a “privilege”. To obtain Russian citizenship in this way, there must be very compelling reasons.

Video: how to obtain Russian citizenship

Find out from the video:

• ways to obtain Russian citizenship;
• stages of legalization of foreigners in the Russian Federation;
• Is it possible to speed up the process of obtaining a passport?

Ways to obtain Russian citizenship

Russian citizenship can be obtained in 2 ways in 2021:

1. In general order.
2. In a simplified manner.

The general and simplified procedures differ:

• the period of required residence on the territory of Russia on the basis of a residence permit (in the general order it is necessary to live for 5 years
  , in the simplified procedure
  - 1 year
  );
• the period for reviewing submitted documents for obtaining citizenship (in the general procedure, within 1 year
  , in a simplified procedure,
  up to 6 months
  );
• decision-making competence (in the general order, the decision is made by the President of the Russian Federation, in a simplified manner, the heads of the territorial bodies of the Main Directorate for Migration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia (FMS)).

In addition to the above methods, Russian citizenship can also be obtained by birth and as a result of restoration of citizenship.

General procedure

The general procedure means the acquisition of Russian citizenship after 5 years of permanent residence in this country. However, the length of residence is not the only condition for filing an application for acquiring Russian citizenship.

In addition, the applicant must take into account the following aspects:

• Availability of a residence permit.
• Age of majority.
• Stable financial income.
• Having a permanent place of residence. The applicant may not own his own property, but must provide documents indicating that he has a place to live. For example, with relatives or in rented real estate.
• Willingness to comply with the Constitution of the Russian Federation and other legislative acts of the country, as well as take the Oath of a citizen of Russia.

From July 23, 2020, the condition for acquiring Russian citizenship, which involves renunciation of previous citizenship, is canceled, since this norm of Federal Law-62 has lost force.

Foreign citizens who have previously lived in Russia for at least a year on the basis of a temporary residence permit (valid for 3 years) have the right to obtain a residence permit. The procedure for issuing a temporary residence permit is defined in Article 6 of Federal Law-115 “On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens.”

The procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship in general will take about 7 years.

Application forms and samples

Application form for citizenship of the Russian Federation (5029 Downloads) Application form for citizenship of the Russian Federation (new from 07.24.2020) (One Download) Application form for citizenship of the Russian Federation for a child (1699 Downloads) Application form for citizenship of the Russian Federation according to the NRN (966 Downloads) Application form for citizenship Russian Federation in a simplified manner (2659 Downloads) Application form for Russian citizenship for the LDPR according to Decree No. 187 (4463 Downloads)

Sample application for citizenship of the Russian Federation (3509 Downloads) Sample application for citizenship of the Russian Federation for a child (770 Downloads) Sample application for citizenship of the Russian Federation according to NRN (887 Downloads) Sample application for citizenship of the Russian Federation in a simplified manner (5438 Downloads) Sample application for citizenship of the Russian Federation by marriage ( 2568 Downloads) Sample application for Russian citizenship for the LDPR according to Decree No. 187 (2882 Downloads) Sample application for Russian citizenship for the LDNR according to Decree No. 187 (submission by “trailer”) (2096 Downloads)

Application form for participation in the resettlement program for compatriots (1866 Downloads) Sample application for participation in the resettlement program for compatriots (1176 Downloads) Notification of dual citizenship (597 Downloads) Notification of dual citizenship through a representative (210 Downloads) Application for Russian citizenship by birth ( 353 Downloads) Application for renunciation of Russian citizenship in the general manner (136 Downloads) Application for renunciation of Russian citizenship in a simplified manner (140 Downloads)

Autobiography template for Russian citizenship (698 Downloads) Sample of filling out an autobiography for Russian citizenship (One Download)

Simplified procedure

The main differences between the simplified procedure and the general one are that it is not necessary to comply with the condition of a 5-year period of continuous residence in the territory of the Russian Federation from the date of issuance of a residence permit and the need to confirm a legal source of income.

A complete list of grounds for obtaining a Russian passport through an accelerated procedure is contained in Art. 14 No. 62-FZ dated May 31, 2002 (as amended on July 13, 2020). You can view it here: https://www.consultant.ru/

1. People who previously lived on the territory of the USSR can obtain Russian citizenship under a simplified scheme. In this case, it will be necessary to prove that the person lived precisely on the territory of the Russian Federation, which at that time was part of the Soviet Union.
2. Those who are officially married to a citizen of the Russian Federation living in the country can also acquire Russian citizenship in a shorter period of time. In this situation, they can count on being granted Russian citizenship after only 3 years of being legally married, and if such a marriage has common children, then compliance with the specified period is not required, but a temporary residence permit or residence permit is required.
3. Those who have relatives who are Russian citizens (parents or children) or have completed training in higher educational institutions of the country under state-accredited programs and have been working in Russia for at least one year can also apply for Russian citizenship using the same scheme.
4. According to Federal Law No. 134 dated April 24, 2020, the basis for obtaining citizenship under a simplified scheme is also the presence of citizenship of Ukraine, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Moldova or the Republic of Kazakhstan.
5. An important condition for some categories of applicants is knowledge of the Russian language. To do this, the applicant passes a language proficiency test, after successful completion of which he is issued a standard certificate.
6. It should be taken into account that if the applicant has previously passed testing to obtain a temporary residence permit or residence permit, then in order to obtain Russian citizenship he will again need to pass the tests, since the requirements for the level of knowledge are higher.
7. Native speakers of Russian (NRN) have a greater chance of obtaining Russian citizenship than persons who do not have such status. Within the framework of No. 58-FZ of March 18, 2020, which came into force, citizens of the Republic of Belarus and Ukraine with fluent command of the Russian language can now be recognized by the NRL commission without going through an interview.

It is possible to obtain Russian citizenship in a simplified manner within up to one year.

Video: passing the Russian language exam when applying for citizenship

Find out from the video:

• how to quickly obtain Russian citizenship if you have an NRN;
• conditions for obtaining NRN status.

Grounds for obtaining Russian citizenship in a simplified manner

In a simplified procedure, the following can count on obtaining citizenship: a person who has a residence permit in the Russian Federation (issuing a temporary residence permit), has registration at the place of residence, has a legal source of livelihood (official work), and speaks Russian. But this is not a complete list of persons entitled to obtain citizenship under a simplified procedure.

There are many reasons for obtaining Russian citizenship in a simplified manner. Some grounds are related to the previously existing union of Soviet republics, others are related to the implementation of labor, entrepreneurial, and investment activities on an ongoing basis, and others are aimed at protecting the rights of children.

The state, while providing for the possibility of obtaining Russian citizenship in a simplified manner, requires persons wishing to obtain it to renounce their old citizenship, as well as to comply with Russian laws. In addition, a foreign citizen must know Russian.

There is also a separate procedure for the restoration of Russian citizenship by birth or other reasons.

Migration procedures require a long implementation period for their implementation. Obtaining citizenship is one of them.

Who can undergo the procedure?

It will be easiest for those who speak Russian fluently, but of course this is not the main criterion. The following categories of citizens can obtain Russian citizenship in a simplified manner:

• Citizens who can document the fact that their relatives lived in Tsarist Russia or the Soviet Union;
• Living or previously born in the Soviet Union;
• Those who have undergone training and have a diploma of education;
• Having any relatives on the territory of the Russian Federation with the possibility of confirming family ties;
• Already had the status of a citizen of the Russian Federation.

Today there is also a certain list of countries with which the Russian Federation has a quadripartite international agreement on a simplified procedure for obtaining citizenship within three months. The following citizens of the states have such privileges:

• Belarus;
• Kazakhstan;
• Kyrgyzstan.

This agreement cannot be used by citizens who do not meet the criteria of the Federal Law. The general procedure for obtaining citizenship will be applied to other categories of citizens.

Stages of obtaining Russian citizenship

In order to obtain Russian citizenship, it is necessary to follow a certain procedure, which is specified in the law “On Citizenship of the Russian Federation”.

It includes several successive stages.

Certificate of admission to Russian citizenship from the Consulate General of Russia

Obtaining a migration card

Let us remind you that when entering the territory of the Russian Federation, a resident of another state must fill out a migration card form (with the exception of citizens of the Republic of Belarus), which indicates the main purpose of the visit to the country and the estimated duration of stay.

You can enter on the basis of a visa, but citizens of the CIS do not need one.

Completing the registration procedure

Registration means registration with migration authorities. It is worth remembering that this procedure must be completed within 7 working days from the date of arrival in the Russian Federation, and citizens of the EAEU member countries are given a 30-day period for this.

To register for migration, the receiving party of a foreign citizen should contact the territorial unit of the Main Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation and fill out a notification form, to which the following documents must be attached:

• National (domestic or foreign) passport.
• Migration card (except for citizens of the Republic of Belarus).
• A document confirming ownership (or other legal basis for the use of residential premises).

Obtaining a temporary residence permit (TRP)

To obtain a temporary residence permit, you must also contact the territorial unit of the Main Migration Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation at your place of residence and submit the following documents:

1. Application for a temporary residence permit in 2 copies.
2. Applicant's national passport.
3. Photos.
4. A medical certificate confirming the absence of HIV and other dangerous diseases.
5. A document confirming knowledge of the Russian language, knowledge of the history of Russia and the fundamentals of the legislation of the Russian Federation (if necessary).
6. A document confirming the basis for obtaining a temporary residence permit: birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.
7. Receipt for payment of state duty in the amount of 1,600 rubles.

It should be noted that not all categories of foreign citizens are required to issue a temporary residence permit. In Part 2 of Art. 8 No. 115-FZ of July 25, 2002 provides a complete list of such persons, including citizens of the Republic of Belarus.

The period for issuing a temporary residence permit is 60 days from the date of acceptance of the application from a foreign citizen.

Obtaining a residence permit (residence permit)

Obtaining this document is the penultimate step towards obtaining Russian citizenship. Like a temporary residence permit, a residence permit is issued at the territorial unit of the Main Directorate for Migration Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation at the place of residence.

To obtain a residence permit, a package of documents is submitted, which includes:

1. Application for obtaining a residence permit in 2 copies.
2. Applicant's national passport.
3. Photos.
4. RVP.
5. A document confirming knowledge of the Russian language, knowledge of the history of Russia and the fundamentals of the legislation of the Russian Federation (if necessary).
6. A document confirming ownership (or other legal basis for the use of residential premises).
7. Medical certificate confirming the absence of HIV and other dangerous diseases.
8. Receipt for payment of state duty in the amount of 5,000 rubles.

Previously, a residence permit was issued for 5 years. From November 2021, foreigners receive a document valid indefinitely.

The exception is highly qualified foreign specialists working under a contract in the Russian Federation. They receive a residence permit for the period of working in the Russian Federation.

Residence permit for a foreigner in the Russian Federation

Obtaining Russian citizenship

After living on the territory of the Russian Federation for at least 5 years continuously, a foreigner has the right to apply for Russian citizenship. However, in the case of a simplified procedure, the requirement for the required period of residence may be reduced from 5 to 1-3 years or completely absent.

The procedure for obtaining citizenship requires the applicant to provide all the necessary documents.

Citizenship of the Russian Federation is issued at the territorial division of the Main Directorate for Migration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. In this case, the applicant must submit the following package of documents:

1. Application for Russian citizenship in 2 copies. The application form for obtaining Russian citizenship and a sample of filling out the application can be downloaded from the links.
2. Passport.
3. Residence permit.
4. Photos.
5. Consent of the child upon reaching the age of 14 years.
6. A document confirming knowledge of the Russian language, knowledge of the history of Russia and the fundamentals of the legislation of the Russian Federation (if necessary).
7. A medical certificate confirming the absence of HIV and other dangerous diseases.
8. Receipt of payment of the state fee for registration of citizenship in the amount of 3,500 rubles.

All of the above documents are provided in Russian along with the originals.

If the applicant lives outside the Russian Federation, then he has the opportunity to obtain Russian citizenship at the Consulate of the Russian Federation on the territory of a foreign state if he is a stateless person and lives in one of the countries of the former USSR, but has not yet received citizenship of such a country . In addition, minor children are entitled to this right.

Statistics. Obtaining Russian citizenship by citizens of other countries

Legal assistance in obtaining temporary residence permit, residence permit and citizenship

A specialized legal agency for citizens of Ukraine and CIS countries in Russia “Migron” can help you formalize:

• RVP,
• residence permit,
• AE status,
• Russian citizenship “turnkey” from the very beginning until receiving a passport.

Over 5 years of work, we have helped more than 1,000 foreign citizens obtain Russian citizenship.

• Address: Moscow, Kurskaya metro station, st. Zemlyanoy Val, building 7, office 219
• telephone: +
• Find out how to obtain Russian citizenship on the website migron.ru

The procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship in a simplified manner

In connection with the ongoing situation in the Middle East and Europe, namely with the new “great migration of peoples,” the issue of obtaining citizenship has become relevant. This article is aimed at explaining the procedure for obtaining citizenship in the Russian Federation. To become a citizen on a general basis, it is expected to go through several procedures: obtaining a temporary residence permit, then a residence permit, and then, possibly, obtaining citizenship of the Russian Federation.

There is also a simplified procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship, which boils down to both a reduced period for consideration of such an application and a smaller number of years lived in Russia required from a person wishing to obtain a passport.

A mandatory requirement for an applicant to obtain citizenship is his attainment of majority and his ability to work. This procedure includes the following steps:

1. Crossing the border and receiving the corresponding mark in the passport;
2. Temporary registration (it is worth noting that the migrant is given exactly seven days for this);
3. Searching for an enterprise that is ready to hire and confirm payment of income to a person;
4. Collection of the relevant package of documents;
5. An interview with a special commission or written testing.

When submitting documents to the reception, your file will indicate exactly how the final stage will take place; in essence, this is a test of the level of knowledge and understanding of the Russian language. All collected documents are accepted in copies and compared with the originals when submitting documents to the Main Directorate for Migration Issues. Next, you will be asked to write a written renunciation of citizenship and all you have to do is wait for the date of the interview or test.

ATTENTION: watch the video on the topic of obtaining Russian citizenship and ask your question in the comments of the video, don’t forget to subscribe to the YouTube channel so as not to miss new useful information:

Features of legalization in Russia

The procedure for providing permits for the right to reside in Russia has its own characteristics.

1. There is a quota system for issuing temporary residence permits. The number of quotas allocated annually to the constituent entities of the Russian Federation is established by the Government of the Russian Federation and distributed among the constituent entities of Russia. If their number is exhausted, the applicant may not receive the desired temporary residence permit. But there are categories of applicants who can receive a temporary residence permit without a quota. The list of such persons is given in Part 3 of Art. 6 No. 115-FZ dated July 25, 2002.
2. If the issuance of a temporary residence permit was carried out without quotas, then when submitting documents for obtaining a residence permit, you must document the basis.
3. If during the period of stay within the Russian Federation, the applicant changed his last name, then when applying for Russian citizenship, it is necessary to submit a document confirming the change of last name.
4. According to the law, female representatives over 60 years of age and male representatives over 65 years of age may not confirm knowledge of the Russian language. Also, citizens of the Republic of Belarus, NRY, participants in the Program for the Resettlement of Compatriots in Russia, etc. are exempt from this obligation.

Sequence of actions to obtain a temporary residence permit

Registration of Russian citizenship for Ukrainians under a simplified scheme in 2021

Since 2021, Ukrainians and stateless persons living on the territory of Ukraine, recognized as refugees, or who have received temporary asylum in the Russian Federation, can now apply for a temporary residence permit outside the quota system. In addition, residents of the LPR and DPR were given the opportunity to apply for Russian citizenship in a simplified manner only on the basis that they have passports of these republics and permanently reside there.

Within the framework of No. 134-FZ, which came into force on April 24, 2020, all citizens of Ukraine can obtain Russian citizenship in a simplified manner if they have a residence permit. This procedure does not require compliance with the requirement of a 5-year mandatory period of residence in the country, and eliminates the need to confirm income and renounce existing citizenship.

Who can obtain citizenship in a simplified manner

In addition, the following can obtain Russian citizenship in a simplified manner:

• Stateless adults (LSPs) who previously had USSR citizenship and live in one of the countries of the former USSR;
• applicants who were born on the territory of the RSFSR and were former USSR citizens;
• persons married to a citizen of the Russian Federation for at least 3 years, subject to his residence in the Russian Federation;
• foreigners who are married to a citizen of the Russian Federation with common children;
• applicants if they have an adult capable child who is a citizen of the Russian Federation (the requirement for their incapacity to work has been canceled within the framework of Federal Law No. 209-FZ of July 13, 2020, which has entered into force);
• persons who have a parent who is a citizen of the Russian Federation living in the territory of the Russian Federation;
• applicants who have a child who is a citizen of the Russian Federation, whose other parent is a citizen of the Russian Federation, died, disappeared, was deprived of parental rights, or was limited in them;
• persons who received education in accredited Russian educational organizations after July 1, 2002 and have been working in the Russian Federation for at least 1 year;
• applicants who have been carrying out business activities in the Russian Federation for at least 3 years, paying taxes and insurance contributions to the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation of at least 1 million rubles in each calendar year;
• foreign investors with a specified share of contribution to the authorized capital of a Russian legal entity;
• citizens of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Moldova, the Republic of Kazakhstan;
• native speakers of Russian (NRY);
• participants of the State Program for the Resettlement of Compatriots;
• WWII veterans who had USSR citizenship.

Video: how to quickly obtain Russian citizenship for a Ukrainian

Find out from the video:

• options for obtaining Russian citizenship for Ukrainians;
• what documents will be required;
• how much does it cost to obtain citizenship?
• application rules.