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The procedures for obtaining citizenship of the Russian Federation are quite complex and require going through many stages. The legislation of the country allows applications from persons of any nationality, but in some situations special requirements may be put forward.
To obtain permanent residence, a foreigner must go through several main stages – to obtain a visa, become the holder of a temporary residence permit, request a residence permit and send an application for the assignment of citizen status. The application is submitted to the territorial department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The procedure takes several months and requires personal participation in an interview, as well as passing an exam in the Russian language, culture, history and Constitution.
Ways to obtain citizenship
The process of obtaining residency, the grounds for assignment, the conditions of acquisition and cancellation are regulated by the Federal Law «On Citizenship of the Russian Federation» No. 138-FZ dated 04/28/2023. Current legislative practice recognizes the rights of birth and descent. At the same time, simplified rules for obtaining residency apply to some categories of citizens of the former USSR countries.
Citizenship of the Russian Federation can be granted in a general and simplified manner for persons who have family ties with residents of the country and are determined by presidential decrees.
Citizenship by right of origin
The principle of acquiring Jus sanguinis citizenship is valid in the Russian Federation. According to this right, persons born outside of Russia, but whose parents have citizenship of the Russian Federation, can obtain residency. To apply the rule, it is enough to have one parent with permanent residence.
By right of birth
According to Russian law, a child born on the territory of the country and having at least one of the parents, a citizen, automatically receives the right to receive the status. In the case of birth abroad, when both or one parent is a citizen of the Russian Federation, the situation is similar – you can request citizenship by birth. When a child is born from a surrogate mother in the territory of the state, this rule also applies.
Through marriage
This option is a common way to obtain residency, but does not allow you to obtain status immediately after entering into a marriage union. A foreigner who has a spouse of a Russian citizen gets the right to join the program if he has been legally married for at least 3 years. The method is one of the simplified procedures that impose less stringent conditions for acquiring status.
Naturalization
A general procedure available to most foreign citizens. To apply, you will need to go through the main stages – to get a quota, a RVP, a residence permit and permanent residence. The minimum period of legal residence in the country must be at least 5 years. Additional requirements include knowledge of the Russian language, culture, law, and the availability of financial resources for self-sufficiency. For citizens of countries that do not have dual/multiple citizenship agreements with Russia, the condition of renunciation of previous citizenship is put forward.
Advantages of citizenship of the Russian Federation
In addition to the right to legal residence in the country, free movement on the territory and access to social security, the main advantages and privileges of permanent residence in Russia can be highlighted:
- The right to visa-free travel to 100+ destinations. A number of States allow you to visit their territories with a visa on arrival or an electronic permit.
- The cost of living. In comparison with most Western countries, the cost of living is noticeably lower.
- Access to free education and medicine. Educational and medical institutions, especially in the capital, provide high-quality services.
- Access to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). There are wide opportunities for citizens of the Russian Federation to travel, find employment, study and conduct commercial activities in the countries of the Union.
- Voting rights. The status of a citizen allows you to participate in local and national elections and referendums, as well as to nominate your candidacy for public office.
- Consular protection. A resident of Russia has the right to count on the protection and assistance of the Russian consulate around the world.
Dual citizenship
By law, the government of the Russian Federation does not prohibit having a residence in another state. At the same time, 2 legitimate statuses can be distinguished – dual and second citizenship. Dual citizenship is allowed to be obtained in states with which Russia has relevant agreements. This applies to the Republic of Tajikistan. In this case, the citizen retains the corresponding statuses in both countries. At the same time, the obligation to pay taxes and undergo military service arises at the location.
A Russian can obtain a second and subsequent citizenship in any country in the world. At the same time, in each of them he will be considered a subject. Accordingly, all legislative obligations of the country are imposed in full.
Citizenship by Investment Program
According to Federal Law No. 62-FZ and Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 994 dated 30.09.2014, foreign citizens and stateless persons acting as individual entrepreneurs or investors have the opportunity to obtain permanent residence in a simplified manner.
To join the program, a foreigner must legally reside in Russia and meet one of the conditions:
- To be an investor with a contribution share in the authorized capital of a Russian company of at least 10%.
- Be an entrepreneur, conduct commercial activities for more than 3 years and have an annual revenue of 10 million rubles.
An additional condition is the conduct of entrepreneurial activities and investments in activities established by the Government of Russia.
In addition, a foreign citizen can obtain a residence permit when investing in a socially significant project from 15 million rubles in the regions of the Russian Federation. An alternative option is to invest from 30 million rubles in a Russian company that has been operating for more than 3 years.
The purchase of a real estate object can also be the basis for granting a preferential residence permit. To do this, the investor must buy a property under construction or commissioned no later than 2 years. The total cost of an object or group of objects must be at least 50 million rubles in Moscow and at least 20 million rubles in the regions of the country.
Recent reforms of the citizenship program
Among the latest changes in the civil legislation of Russia was the entry into force of the new Law "On Citizenship" on 10/26/2023. It replaced the previous version of the law in force since 2002.
The most important innovations included provisions defining the processes of obtaining residency by birthright, naturalization, the possibility of simplified status, issues of deprivation, as well as obtaining dual and multiple citizenship.
Step-by-step application process
A foreign citizen planning to apply for the status of a citizen must fulfill a number of requirements and conditions, including the period of minimum residence in the country. Depending on personal circumstances, the applicant can use a standard or simplified registration procedure. In the first case, the process is longer and involves the following steps:
It is necessary to make sure that there are all grounds for launching the procedure – the living conditions are met, there are family ties with Russians or other documentary grounds.
The applicant must prepare a personal dossier, including all documents confirming the right to request.
The application form can be obtained at the territorial department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation or at the nearest Russian embassy/consulate abroad.
Provide the competent authorities with a personal dossier and an application form.
The submission of the application must be accompanied by mandatory payment of fees for the administrative processing of the application.
If there are no conditions to exclude this requirement, the candidate must pass the appropriate tests and provide certificates.
If the decision is positive, the specialists of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation send an invitation to present a certificate of Russian citizenship.
The final stage is to obtain a national identity card.
Collecting documents and submitting an application
After collecting the documents, according to the checklist of the chosen residency program, the applicant must contact the territorial department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation at the place of residence. The petition is drawn up in 2 copies. The application form must correspond to the chosen basis.
When applying, the candidate must provide a package of documents capable of proving identity, confirming current citizenship, and proving the existence of a place of residence.
List of documents
The control package of documents will differ depending on the personal circumstances of the applicant and the grounds for granting residency. In accordance with Russian law, the applicant must provide the following personal documentation:
- A completed application form.
- A valid passport and residence permit in Russia.
- A certificate of medical examination confirming the absence of dangerous diseases (including HIV infection).
- A certificate of no criminal record.
- Information about the financial condition and self-sufficiency opportunities.
Consideration and decision
The territorial department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia is responsible for processing the application. The final decision is made by the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation.
When launching the standard procedure for obtaining citizenship, the period of consideration of the application can be extended up to 1 year. If there are grounds for a simplified procedure, the review period does not exceed 6 months. In this case, the decision is made in the GUMVD.
If the submitted application is rejected, the foreigner has the right to file an appeal. To clarify the current algorithm of actions, you should contact the territorial department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.
Disadvantages of citizenship of the Russian Federation
Many foreigners seek to obtain a Russian passport. Indeed, Russian citizenship provides a number of privileges for both the main applicant and his family members. However, there are circumstances that can be attributed to disadvantages:
- The need to renounce previous citizenship. The exception is countries with international agreements on the provision of dual/multiple residency.
- Difficulties in obtaining a visa to countries with complex political relations with Russia.
- Entrepreneurial activity abroad is associated with a number of restrictions.
- The need to complete military service after accepting a new citizenship.
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