Procedure for termination of Russian citizenship: grounds, documents

Under certain conditions, it becomes necessary to renounce your current citizenship status. In a number of cases, termination of Russian citizenship occurs in connection with legal requirements. If you are faced with such a situation, you need to know exactly what the procedure is for losing or changing your status. We should not forget that it is not always possible to renounce citizenship.

Grounds and procedure for acquiring the status of a citizen of the Russian Federation

The acquisition of Russian citizenship is regulated by the Law “On Citizenship of the Russian Federation” dated May 31, 2002 No. 62-FZ, according to which there are the following grounds for granting the status of a citizen of the Russian Federation:

• the applicant’s birth in the country;
• acquisition of citizenship by the applicant;
• based on the results of the citizenship restoration procedure;
• for other reasons provided for by law, namely in cases of change of citizenship by parents of minors, guardians of incapacitated persons, during adoption.

An application for acquiring Russian citizenship is considered by the Commission under the President of the Russian Federation. Only a person who has reached the age of majority can submit an application independently.

Read more about the conditions for obtaining Russian citizenship.

How long does the procedure take?

Termination of citizenship of the Russian Federation is a lengthy procedure. Review of the grounds and set of papers takes 1 year.

In special cases (for those who permanently reside in another state or children of foreign citizens), termination follows a simplified procedure. In this case, the registration procedure takes six months. Satisfaction of the application depends on the correct completion of the paperwork. You can resubmit your papers after a year.

Refusal

Refusal to carry out the procedure is received by:

1. Persons who do not provide guarantees of obtaining citizenship of another country.
2. Citizens who are accused of committing a criminal offense.

Persons who have outstanding loans or have failed to fulfill a duty to the country (military service) can only apply when:

• All state requirements have been met.
• There is a certificate confirming the repayment of all loans and credits.

Those who have the opportunity to urgently obtain citizenship of another country are eligible to apply.

What does loss of Russian citizenship mean?

From a legal point of view, termination of citizenship is understood as the voluntary or legally justified loss by a person of the status of a citizen of the Russian Federation, the result of which is the status of a stateless person or a foreign citizen.

The right to voluntary expatriation is reserved for every citizen of the Russian Federation in Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Also very important is the provision of the Constitution of the Russian Federation (Part 3 of Article 6) that no state body or official can forcibly deprive the status of a citizen of the Russian Federation.

Thus, loss of citizenship is an exclusively voluntary decision of a particular person due to changes in his life circumstances.

Reasons

To apply for deprivation of citizenship, you need grounds for termination of citizenship. The grounds are:

1. Voluntary expression of the will of a citizen.
2. Having citizenship of another state.
3. Cancellation of the issuance of a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation for a stateless person or a foreigner.
4. Obtaining by children the citizenship of parents or persons replacing them (trustees, adoptive parents).

Methods for a person to lose the status of a citizen of the Russian Federation

All options for a person’s loss of civil status are enshrined in legislation, namely, in the law “On Citizenship of the Russian Federation”.

According to this regulatory act, the procedure is possible in the following cases:

• renunciation of citizenship by the personal will of the applicant, subject to his permanent residence in the territory of the Russian Federation;
• change of citizenship (in this case, the method of terminating citizenship is not the acquisition of a second citizenship or obtaining a residence permit in another state);
• loss of status by parents of minor children under 14 years of age;
• changing the state border of the country.

The only way to terminate citizenship, which does not involve the voluntary expression of the will of the person concerned, is to cancel the decision to assign this status. This is possible if the applicant provided false information. All other methods of loss of citizenship imply an independent decision of a citizen of the Russian Federation to renounce his status.

The situation related to the death of a person who was a citizen of the Russian Federation during his lifetime stands apart. According to the current legislation, namely Article 18 of the previously mentioned law, death is included in the list of other grounds leading to termination of citizenship. And this is the answer to the question of whether a person’s citizenship ceases due to his death.

Various grounds for termination of Russian citizenship

Both the procedure and the grounds for termination of the status of a citizen of the Russian Federation are regulated by legislative acts. They also stipulate the nuances of one or another basis for the procedure, while children under the age of 14 can change their status only with the consent of both parents. It should be noted that the applicant’s desire alone is not enough: he needs to collect the necessary package of documents and wait for the official decision of the state commission under the President of the Russian Federation on his issue.

There are several reasons for terminating citizenship:

1. Voluntary cessation of citizenship due to renunciation at the request of the interested person. In this case, the applicant can reside both in the territory of the Russian Federation and in the territory of another state. The petition is granted if there are no circumstances preventing it, which will be discussed in more detail below. Persons under 18 years of age are deprived of citizenship at the request of their parents, but retain the opportunity to restore the lost status upon reaching adulthood.
2. Option is a voluntary choice of two citizenship options. In this case, the basis for termination of citizenship of the Russian Federation according to the Constitution is a change in the state border. If a territory that was previously part of one state, for any reason, passes to another state, then the persons living on it have the right to renounce their current civil status.
3. Other conditions. These include changing the status of parents of minor children, guardians of incapacitated persons, or canceling a decision on admission to Russian citizenship. All these conditions for termination of Russian citizenship are stipulated by law and require the voluntary application of responsible persons.

How to make a petition

The application of the interested person is drawn up on a special form of the approved form; it should not contain corrections, errors or blank areas, otherwise the application will not be accepted for consideration. Two copies of the document are prepared. All information must be presented in Russian, entered by hand with a ballpoint pen (with black, blue or purple ink) in capital letters or block font.

Individuals living abroad can complete the application online.

Read more about the rules for drawing up a document to renounce Russian citizenship.

Whether the applicant has the status of a citizen of another state

It is possible to acquire a new status before renouncing Russian citizenship only if the country recognizes dual citizenship, otherwise a renunciation of Russian citizenship will be required.

When it comes to minor children under the age of 14, they can accept foreign citizenship, renouncing Russian, based on the status of one or both parents.

Read more about the procedure for filing an application to change citizenship.

Cancellation of the decision to issue a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation to a foreigner or stateless person

Such a decision can be made only if it is found that a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation was issued to a specific person without reason or on the basis of false data. Such facts are often revealed during the process of changing or restoring a passport. There are cases when even pensioners received an unpleasant surprise from civil service employees.

The following categories of persons have the highest chances of being refused to issue a new document due to identified violations:

• born outside the Russian Federation;
• those born in the RSFSR before the collapse of the USSR;
• who did not have permanent registration in the Russian Federation on February 6, 1992 (the date of entry into force of the law “On Citizenship of the Russian Federation” of November 18, 1991).

The result of the confiscation of a passport is the deprivation of all civil rights. In order not to encounter a similar situation, you should study in more detail the rules by which the acquisition and loss of citizenship is carried out.

Registration of Russian citizenship for children according to the citizenship of their legal representatives

According to the legislation of the Russian Federation, children under the age of 14 acquire citizenship according to the status of their legal representatives: parents or guardians. They cannot make the decision themselves, but they still have the right to apply to change their status upon reaching adulthood.

Registration of citizenship for a child is carried out subject to the following rules:

• there is consent from both parents/guardians/adoptive parents;
• both parents/guardian/adoptive parents have applied for Russian citizenship.

When submitting documents at the same time, information about a child under 14 years of age is entered into the parent’s form; adolescents over 14 years of age must fill out a separate form.

The concept of Russian citizenship

Citizenship of the Russian Federation is a legal connection with the state, which is stable and terminates only for special reasons. It gives rise to mutual rights and obligations between both parties, enshrined in the Constitution of the Russian Federation. The rules governing citizenship are mandatory for everyone in Russia, as well as for citizens of the country living abroad.

Basic principles and rules of citizenship:

• Restrictions on civil rights and obligations due to racial, linguistic, social and national differences are prohibited.
• The rights and responsibilities of citizens are equal and obligatory for everyone.
• Citizens living abroad retain citizenship in the Russian Federation (forever or until they renounce it).
• Every citizen has the right to change citizenship.
• Citizens of the Russian Federation are under state protection (a Russian citizen cannot be extradited to a foreign state).
• For stateless persons living in the country, the state provides the opportunity to purchase it.
• Belonging to the Russian Federation of persons who were former citizens of the USSR is determined on the basis of international treaties and legislative acts in force at the time of acquisition of the corresponding status.

  
  Constitution of the Russian Federation

According to Article 5 of Federal Law 62, citizens of Russia are persons who have citizenship from birth or acquired it in accordance with established rules. Both persons have a number of state privileges.

Russians are guaranteed:

• participation in referendums and elections;
• free medical care;
• social Security;
• free education;
• official employment and pension calculation;
• the possibility of obtaining a loan from Russian banks;
• the right to free movement within the territory of the Russian Federation.

Note! It is not prohibited to change or terminate Russian citizenship on your own. A person who abuses the laws of the country may be forcibly deprived of citizenship (for extremist activities).

Russian passport

Stages of the procedure for termination of Russian citizenship

The procedure for voluntarily changing your own status involves the following steps:

• collection of documents;
• submitting an application and a package of documents to a government agency authorized to receive them;
• receiving a letter with a positive or negative decision;
• surrender of the Russian Federation passport (in case of a positive decision).

In case of refusal, the procedure for terminating Russian citizenship is supplemented by a clause on correcting these errors and resubmitting your application.

Peculiarities of renunciation of Russian citizenship for children under 14 years of age

Both obtaining citizen status for a child and refusing it is possible only through the mutual expression of the will of both parents/guardians/adoptive parents. Documents for change of status can be submitted simultaneously with documents of legal representatives of minors.

It should be noted that consent to change the status of a child can be carried out when only one parent renounces citizenship, but with the consent of the second. If it is impossible to obtain the consent of the child's second legal representative, a court decision may be obtained. Such situations include deprivation of parental rights, death or recognition of the second parent as missing. The procedure for filing an application for change of status in this case is regulated by Article 24 and part five of Article 25 of the Law “On Citizenship of the Russian Federation”.

Package of documents

Persons who have reached the age of majority must prepare the following set of documents:

• a completed application on a standard form in two copies, which will provide answers to all consular questions in the form for termination of citizenship;
• internal passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation;
• the applicant’s international passport with a document confirming his permission to reside in another state (visa, residence permit);
• a certificate confirming deregistration at the place of residence;
• a certificate confirming that the applicant has no debt to the state from the tax service of the Russian Federation;
• documentary evidence that the applicant has been granted citizenship of another state;
• three photos of the established sample;
• when changing the applicant's full name, a certificate from the registry office is provided;
• original receipt for payment of state duty / consular fee.

When filling out an application, it is important to comply with the rules of the Russian language and avoid corrections; all information must be provided in expanded form, without using abbreviations or abbreviations.

The renunciation of Russian citizenship for children under 18 years of age also takes place on the basis of a whole package of papers.

The set of documents includes:

• a statement from each/single parent, certified by their signatures;
• three photographs of the established sample (for children over 6 years old);
• the child’s birth certificate (with an insert/mark indicating Russian citizenship) and a notarized copy thereof;
• original and notarized translation confirming that the minor has another citizenship / confirmation of the possibility of granting him citizenship of another state in the future in the event of his renunciation of Russian citizenship;
• free-form consent of a child aged 14 to 18 years to terminate Russian citizenship;
• certificate of adoption or registration of guardianship over a minor - in case of submission of documents by guardians/adoptive parents;
• original receipt for payment of state duty / consular fee.

Rules for registration and submission of documents

All documents must be completed in Russian. If there are documents issued by foreign services, a notarized translation must be attached to the original or copy.

The validity of the foreign passport at the time of submission of documents must be at least 12 months.

Each copy of the application must be filled out separately by the applicant; photocopies cannot be provided. Blank lines and illegible writing are also not allowed. Indication of knowingly false data will lead to refusal to satisfy the request to sever legal relations with the Russian Federation.

Where to submit documents

Depending on where the applicant is geographically located, documents are submitted to various government services:

1. If you are on the territory of the Russian Federation, you should contact the territorial body of the Main Directorate for Migration Issues of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.
2. If you live outside of Russia, you must contact the Russian Consulate. Here you will be given a sample certificate for the tax service in Moscow. After receiving the certificate, you can fill out an application and submit it along with other documents for consideration at the consulate.

How much does it cost to renounce the status of a citizen of the Russian Federation?

The question is ambiguous, since the cost of consular services varies depending on the country in which the application is submitted.

The cost of the service for considering an application for renunciation of Russian citizenship

In the European Union, in one country the service is more expensive, in another - cheaper, for example, in the Netherlands - 54 euros, in Austria - 61.

In addition to the consular fee for reviewing your documents, you will need to pay for the procedure for certification of signatures, translations, as well as for the services of a photographer and translator.

Approximate time frame for consideration of an application

Speaking about the period for reviewing documents, it should be borne in mind that it can be increased, because the preparation of the necessary certificates will also take time. So, for example, if the applicant is abroad, it may take a month and a half to receive confirmation from Moscow of a document confirming the absence of debt. In addition, it is not always possible to immediately make an appointment with the consulate.

In the Russian Federation, consideration of an application can take up to 12 months; abroad, the procedure can take 6-8 months. And this does not take into account the time spent collecting and completing all the papers.

It should be noted that there are standard and simplified schemes for renouncing Russian citizenship.

SchemeWho submits documentsWhere documents are submittedDeadlines for consideration

Where to contact

To carry out the procedure for terminating citizenship of the Russian Federation, apply to the local branches of the FMS. Citizens who live outside the Russian Federation submit an application to the Russian consular mission or diplomatic institutions located in the country of residence.

The termination procedure is regulated by the state and follows the following algorithm:

1. An application is submitted. It is issued on a special form for renunciation of citizenship. Forms that are completed without violating the rules (no blank areas, no errors, no corrections) will be accepted for consideration. Fill out the form using a pen.
2. Consideration. The applicant is awaiting notification of loss of citizenship status. The notification is sent by mail.
3. Return of passport and birth certificate.
4. Obtaining a certificate indicating the deprivation of a Russian passport.

Set of papers

To apply for deprivation of citizenship of the Russian Federation, collect a package of papers:

• Civil passport of the Russian Federation.
• Statement. .

• A certificate that proves that another state accepts or is ready to accept the applicant as its citizens.
• 3 photographs. Photos 3x4 cm are accepted. Photos in black and white or color are accepted.
• A certificate from the tax office confirming that the applicant has no debts to the state (unpaid taxes, contributions, loans). This paper is one of the main ones. A certificate is issued at the local tax office. To receive it, submit a written request. Please note that registration takes 10 days, starting from the day of submission.

Sample tax payment request

• A receipt indicating payment for the service (the approximate cost of the fee is 2,000 rubles).

If there has been a change in personal data, the applicant submits certificates that confirm this. In addition to the original certificates, a photocopy of each document is attached. All certificates are prepared in Russian, in accordance with registration standards.

How to register

In order for the application to be accepted for consideration, all certificates must comply with the general rules:

• Display truthful and up-to-date information.
• No damage.
• Have a neat appearance.
• Prepared in accordance with the basic requirements for filling out forms.

Reasons why renunciation of Russian citizenship may be denied

The most common reasons why an application may be denied include the following:

• if the applicant does not have citizenship of another state or there are no guarantees of obtaining it;
• the applicant has been brought to criminal liability on the territory of the Russian Federation / is under a court conviction;
• the applicant has debts on loans / taxes and fees of the Russian Federation;
• deliberately false or erroneous information is provided in the documents;
• the applicant received a summons for compulsory military service;
• documents are sloppily filled out/contain illegible data.

In addition, termination of Russian citizenship is not allowed for persons under 14 years of age without the consent of both parents, and from 14 years of age - without their own.

Is it possible to cancel the decision to terminate Russian citizenship?

After making a positive decision to renounce Russian citizenship, it will no longer be possible to simply cancel it, but the applicant will still have the opportunity to restore the lost status. To do this, you will need to live in the Russian Federation for at least 36 months; within 12 months you can travel outside its borders for a period not exceeding 90 days. After this, those interested will be able to submit an application for a Russian passport.

As for minors who lost their status following their parents/guardians/adoptive parents, upon reaching adulthood they still have the opportunity to restore their lost rights.

The recovery procedure is the same for everyone, regardless of the failure scheme, standard or simplified.

Are there grounds for deprivation of Russian citizenship?

According to the Constitution of the Russian Federation (clause 3 of Article 6), it is impossible to forcibly deprive anyone of Russian citizenship. As for minors, the child retains his current status if, in a family of Russian citizens, the citizenship of the father is terminated, but remains with the mother.

This postulate applies in all cases where the status was acquired legally. As stated above, if checks determine that false or inaccurate information was provided to obtain citizenship, the status will be suspended or terminated.

Find out more about how deprivation of Russian citizenship occurs.