How to get russian citizenship
How to get russian citizenship
How to obtain Russian citizenship: What you need to know
While the image of a cold arctic tundra isn’t totally untrue if you’ll be living in the northern region, Russia does enjoy beautiful summer months. Not to mention, there are parts of the country that are near-tropical. And the green, hilly landscapes that span the entire nation are stunning. If you’re not an outdoorsy person, you may also find the diverse and historic architecture in Russian cities to be interesting and aesthetically pleasing.
Another huge draw for foreigners is the low cost of living in relation to the relatively high salaries paid by international companies operating in the country. In the recent past, startup and tech communities are booming. As such, it’s no surprise that many expats are looking into cementing their ties with the nation in the form of citizenship as they start businesses, seek jobs and simply enjoy the Russian way of life.
This guide will walk you through the most important steps and processes for obtaining citizenship, so you can get started on building your life and business in Russia.
What’s the difference between citizenship and permanent residence?
Ultimately, there isn’t much of a difference between holding a permanent residence permit and a citizenship in Russia. Permanent residents have almost identical rights to natural citizens, and hiring permanent residence permit (PRP) holders may actually be advantageous for Russian businesses over hiring citizens. A PRP is valid for 5 years and can be renewed an indefinite number of times.¹
Unlike a PRP, however, a citizenship never needs to be renewed, and you won’t be faced with the possible loss of your visa. Citizenship also means visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 105 countries with your Russian passport², many of which require visas for American and UK citizens specifically.
Many expats do choose to remain in the country on a PRP rather than apply for citizenship, however. One reason for this is the belief that becoming a Russian citizen means leaving behind your homeland permanently. While this is widely believed to be the case, most expats aren’t required to revoke their citizenship in order to obtain a Russian one, unless their home country doesn’t allow them to hold dual nationality.
Gone are the days with strict travel restrictions inside Russia. However, one slight downside to PRP holders versus Russian citizens is the travel restriction to closed Russian cities and territories, which are often locations that have specific military purposes. If you’re a PRP, you won’t be able to visit these places under any circumstances³. In reality, though, you likely won’t ever need to visit any of these 44 closed cities anyhow. Russian citizens themselves would need to get permissions either by being officially invited to the city by one of its residents or have a government-approved reason to go there⁴. But this restriction is something you probably won’t lose sleep over.
Like many countries in Europe, though, regardless of whether you’re a citizen or not, you’ll need to register where you live in Russia if you reside in a place for over 90 days⁵. If just visiting Russia to begin with, bear in mind that your host will need to register you with the immigration registry if you stay for more than 7 business days⁶.
Can I have a dual citizenship?
Yes, dual citizenship is recognized in Russia⁷ and there are over a million people who hold Russian citizenship in addition to another passport. It’s important to check your home country’s laws on dual citizenship before you begin your application, however. In many countries that don’t allow dual citizenship, merely applying for a second nationality is just cause to have citizenship revoked.
Many sources on the web claim that a step in the citizenship application process is revoking your previous citizenship⁸. However, rest assured, as long as your home country allows dual citizenship, this isn’t the case. Foreign nationals shouldn’t worry about being able to keep their previous citizenship as they apply for their Russian one.
Ways to obtain Russian citizenship
There are a few ways to gain Russian citizenship, depending on your circumstances. They are generally split into 3 categories⁹:
But, overall, there are a number of different ways many obtain their Russian nationality. Read on to find the different options.
Obtaining Russian citizenship by birth (jus soli) or parents (jus sanguinis)
The first and foremost way you can obtain most any citizenship is by birth. But even if you weren’t born in Russia, but one of your parents is a citizen, you may still possibly be granted Russian nationality⁸.
Under Article 12 of Russian law regarding citizenship there are several points laying out what qualifies you, but they can be summed up under 3 points. You can claim Russian citizenship by birth if any of the following are true⁹:
These conditions are often called jus soli (right of soil) and jus sanguinis (right of blood).
Obtaining Russian citizenship through ancestry (right of lineage)
If you’re a foreign national and you’re over 18, according to article 14 of the Russian Federation Federal law on citizenship of the Russian Federation, you can apply for citizenship under the simplified procedure if at least one of your parents is a Russian citizen and is living in Russia⁹.
If you’re under 18 you can get citizenship in the simplified manner if one of your parents is a Russian citizen and the other parent gives their consent, or when your only parent is a Russian citizen⁹.
Alternatively, citizenship through parents is also applicable if you’re born to non-Russian parents, but one of your parents becomes a Russian citizen and your family lives in Russia before you’re 16 years old. This is called citizenship by lineage, and helps families who are moving to Russia together become citizens all at once.
Obtaining Russian citizenship through marriage
Obtaining Russian citizenship through marriage may allow you to go through the process a bit faster. You do still have to obtain a temporary residence permit (TRP) first, but when you’re married to a Russian citizen the annual quota for granting TRPs doesn’t apply. So even when this quota has been met, you can still apply for, and be granted, temporary residence when you’re married to a Russian citizen.¹⁰
Normally you can apply for Russian citizenship after having lived in the Russian Federation for 5 years since you obtained a TRP. During those 5 years you can’t travel outside of Russia for more than 3 months per year. But if you’ve been married to a citizen of the Russian Federation for at least 3 years, you can apply for citizenship through a simplified procedure. Which means you don’t have to wait 5 years, and can start the procedure straight after you’ve obtained your TRP⁹.
You can submit your application either to your local Federal Migration Service office, or with the Russian diplomatic mission or consular located in your home country. Even though the process might be a bit faster when you’re married to a Russian citizen, it’s not necessarily less work. You should still keep in mind that you have to provide a lot of documents and that the whole process will take some time.
Obtaining Russian citizenship through investment
Obtaining Russian citizenship can be fairly straightforward if you have a business you want to move to Russia, you’re thinking of setting one up on the spot, or you’re simply interested in investing in Russian businesses.
To qualify for citizenship based on investment, you’ll need to fulfill the following requirements¹¹:
Obtaining Russian citizenship through naturalization
Technically there are two types of naturalization processes, “general” and “simplified,” however, despite their names, there’s little difference between the two processes speed or simplicity-wise. Regardless of the name, the simplified process is not simpler. To apply, you’ll need to be a resident of Russia, which means you’ll need to hold a temporary residence permit (TRP) and therefore, the whole process of receiving citizenship through simplified naturalization can still take a minimum of 2-2.5 years⁸.
You can go through the simplified process for naturalization if at least one of the following circumstances applies to you¹²:
Should the circumstances above not apply to you, you’ll need to go through the general process with the following requirements¹³:
How can I apply for citizenship?
Applying for Russian citizenship isn’t easy and you have to keep in mind that in the application package you’ll have to fill in forms that are in Russian, provide documentation which need to be provided in a notarized translation to Russian as well as have been notarized in Russia. You may also have to include results from medical test done by Russian state clinics. Should you not have a high school diploma proving your level of Russian, you will also need to take a test in order to prove your proficiency in Russian.
In order to make this process as smooth as possible, check with your local office in Russia for specific instructions and requirements for your situation. However, even if you have done your research on official government websites and you have looked through legislations to thoroughly prepare, you may find that they give you entirely different information and requirements in your local office. This is simply how it works in Russia and in order to make sure the officials follow protocol, there are law firms that can help you with the application process¹⁰.
Here is a general outline of the different ways in which you can apply for Russian citizenship:
More resources
All in all, finding good information about the Russian immigration process can be fairly difficult. A good place to start is at your local consulate. If you’re not sure where it is, this site has compiled a comprehensive list of Russian embassies around the world.
For American citizens, the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Washington DC has a plethora of information regarding immigration available online. While the Russian government’s website is a good resource and those who are currently in Russia may have the easiest time accessing the site, it’s not available everywhere.
If you’re not already familiar with money and banks in Russia you’ll want to do a bit of research or, if you haven’t already, make sure to open a bank account in Russia to help cut down on costs.
With that, you’re all set. Good luck on becoming a Russian citizen!
Sources:
¹http://www.timadvisers.ru/images/permanent-residency-in-russia.pdf (May 25, 2018)
²https://www.quora.com/What-would-be-the-benefits-of-having-Russian-citizenship-besides-a-passport-that-can-be-used-to-travel-to-many-countries-without-a-visa (May 25, 2018)
³http://www.atomic-energy.ru/smi/2012/07/30/35162 (May 25, 2018)
⁴https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed_city (May 25, 2018)
⁵http://www.tvoiprava.info/obzory/foreign#TOC—24 (May 25, 2018)
⁶https://russiau.com/registration-visa-russia/#When_is_it_not_mandatory_to_register (May 25, 2018)
⁷https://www.rbth.com/society/2014/08/12/hiding_dual_citizenship_now_a_criminal_offense_in_russia_38929.html (May 25, 2018)
⁸http://77rc.ru/eng/live/russian-citizenship/ (May 25, 2018)
⁹http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/50768e422.pdf (May 25, 2018)
¹⁰http://blog.acg.ru/en/legal-consultancy-support/residency-and-citizenship-privileges-held-by-foreigners-married-to-russian-citizens/ (May 25, 2018)
¹¹http://www.consultant.ru/cons/cgi/online.cgi?req=doc&base=LAW&n=221456&fld=134&dst=1000000001,0&rnd=0.3969648248433135#0 (May 25, 2018)
¹²http://77rc.ru/eng/live/citizenship-simplified-procedure/ (May 25, 2018)
¹³http://77rc.ru/eng/live/citizenship-general-procedure/ (May 25, 2018)
Russian citizenship: a guide to the application process
Make sure you’re ready to apply for Russian citizenship by getting an understanding of the country’s nationality law.
If you are relocating to Russia or looking to live their for a long period of time, you can choose between Russian permanent residency or full Russian citizenship. Both afford you the rights of Russian nationals, although there are differences between them.
There are different conditions and requirements depending on where you are travelling from, with those from Russian speaking former Soviet countries able to more easily settle in Russia. There are also benefits for refugees and those who enter on a Highly Skilled Professionals visa. Even more information on Russian entry visas is available in our article here.
This guide to Russian citizenship and Russian permanent residency includes information on topics such as:
Russia-Ukraine war
Russia is currently at war with Ukraine.
The situation fluctuates daily, and affects many aspects of life in Russia, including banking, cost of living, and immigration.
For this reason, please be aware that prices and options may differ from the information on this page.
Who can get a Russian passport or Russian permanent residency?
Foreign nationals in Russia can apply for Russian permanent residency after living in Russia for one year and for naturalization as a Russian citizen after five years of permanent residence. You can also do this sooner if you meet certain criteria.
In order to obtain Russian permanent residency, you must legally reside in Russia with a valid Russian temporary residence permit (other than nationals from Belarus, refugees from Turkmenistan, and those entering on a Highly Skilled Migrant visa, who are entitled to permanent residence upon entering Russia). This is normally for those in Russia on a long-stay visa such as a Russian work visa. Temporary residence permits have government quotas and certain categories of foreign residents receive preference. See our guide to Russian visas and residence permits for even more information.
The Russian General Directorate of Migratory Affairs (GUVM) issues residence permits and Russian passports.
Differences: Russian citizenship or Russian permanent residency?
The Russian permanent residence permit is a step towards taking on Russian citizenship. Many people are happy to settle in Russia on permanent residency alone. However, there are certain rights and benefits for both Russian citizens and permanent residents. Both may take up employment in Russia without a work permit. In addition to this, both are able to:
The following applies only to those with full Russian citizenship:
The Russian permanent residence permit is valid for five years but can be renewed an unlimited number of times. However, it has to be registered with the GUVM every year. If a Russian permanent residence permit expires, it cannot be renewed. It will also become invalid if you leave the country for an unbroken six month period.
If you take full Russian citizenship through naturalization, you will also need to renounce the citizenship of your home country. You will also have to pay the Russian citizenship fee and embark on a process that can take up to a year to complete.
Applying for Russian permanent residence
You can apply for Russian permanent residence after one year of legally residing in Russia. You should do this six months before your temporary residence permit expires. The Russian permanent residence permit is valid for five years, can be extended an unlimited number of times but it cannot be issued beyond the expiration date of your passport. Renewal of a Russian permanent residence permit must be done at least two months prior to its expiration. If your permit is revoked, however, you must leave Russia within 15 days.
Russian permanent residence applications need to be made at the GUVM office in your region. A list of local GUVM offices is available here. Exact documents required vary depending on whether you are from a CIS or non-CIS country, but will include the following:
If you are living in Russia, you can check your eligibility for a Russian permanent residence permit here.
Russian citizenship requirements
Current Russian citizenship requirements are according to the 2002 Russian Citizenship Act. You can acquire Russian citizenship through the following ways:
Russian citizenship by birth
A child can claim Russian citizenship through birth if any of the following applies:
Russian citizenship by naturalization (common process)
Foreign nationals living in Russia can apply for citizenship by naturalization if they meet the following requirements:
The Russian permanent residence requirement can lessen to one year for the following groups:
Russian citizenship by naturalization (simplified process)
Certain categories of foreign national can apply for Russian citizenship by naturalization as soon as they have become permanent residents. These are foreign nationals who:
Restoration of citizenship for former Russian citizens
Former Russian citizens who have given up their Russian citizenship voluntarily may have their Russian citizenship reinstated after three years of residence in Russia.
Russia also has a joint international treaty with Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan enabling citizens of those countries to apply for Russian citizenship using a simplified process.
Applying for Russian citizenship
The GUVM processes Russian citizenship applications. Before applying for Russian citizenship by naturalization, you need to submit a request to an authorized agency to renounce the citizenship you hold within your home country. This request will only be carried through upon being successfully granted Russian citizenship.
You will need to submit your Russian citizenship application through the GUVM, as well as documents including:
If your Russian citizenship application is successful, you will be issued with an internal Russian passport (to be replaced with a citizen’s identity card in 2018) and will also be eligible to apply for a Russian passport for international travel. Russian passports are valid for 10 years.
Decisions on Russian citizenship applications can take up to a year and are made by the Office of the President of the Russian Federation. Applications via the simplified process take up to six months and are made by the GUVM. If your application for Russian citizenship is rejected, however, you are entitled to appeal through the courts. You should contact your local GUVM office for information.
Russian citizenship costs
The Russian citizenship cost is R3500 for the application. Those from former USSR countries who haven’t taken up citizenship in these countries, as well as parent-less children, are exempt from this fee. The cost of a Russian passport is R3500 for adults and R1500 for children. It is possible to purchase a special shorter-term passport that lasts for five years for R2000.
Dual nationality in Russia
Russian dual citizenship is a complex issue. On the one hand, Russia officially allows dual citizenship and Russian citizens can acquire citizenship abroad without giving up their Russian citizenship. However, the Russian state sees dual citizens as Russians only. In fact, Russia has dual citizenship treaties with just two countries: Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Citizenships of these countries are equal. However, recent changes in the law mean that Russian citizens acquiring dual nationality abroad need to inform their local GUVM office within 60 days.
If you become a Russian citizen through naturalization, you must renounce the citizenship of your home country during the Russian citizenship application process. This may provide grounds for you permanently losing your citizenship of your home country, depending on what the rules are regarding citizenship. You will also need to enquire with the relevant authorities of your home country if you have concerns regarding this.
How to Get Russian Citizenship
Today, we’ll take you through the details of how to apply for Russian citizenship. Follow the index to learn in-depth about each step of the process.
1) Starting point- Where to go and Sources
We recommend the local consulate as a place to start. Russian embassies can provide you with all the information that you need regarding citizenship procedures and required documentation. You can begin by searching through their website to obtain information online about immigration.
If you are in Russia, verify everything with your local office for specific instructions regarding your situation. There are also law firms that can help you with the application process.
2) Dual citizenship vs. Russian Citizenship
It is believed that Russia is one of the few countries that technically prohibits the practice of having two different citizenships at the same time. However, the Russian government has not stated this, officially. Regardless, you should first verify the regulation in your country, to check if their dual citizenship is allowed.
3) Residence Permit
The Permanent Residence Permit ( PRP ) is valid for five years and you could renew it as many times as you wish. Although, there are some restrictions for this sort of permit that make it different from citizenship: there are some travel restrictions for PRP holders to Russian cities and territories which are closed. These locations generally have military proposes, and that’s why only Russian citizens could access these places.
In order to obtain this permit, you must have lived in Russia in an uninterrupted way for at least five years, with the exception of spending a maximum of three months abroad each of those years.
4) Russian Citizenship by Birth
This is the easiest and most logical way of obtaining Russian citizenship: being born there. Now, according to Article 12 of Russian law regarding citizenship, there are three conditions under which a claim for Russian citizenship by birth would be acknowledged (you only need to comply with at least one of them):
5) Citizenship through ancestry
This one is very interesting. As the name may suggest, you can follow the so-called “right of lineage” and apply for citizenship if at least one of your parents is a Russian citizen living there. That is the specification marked by article 14 of the Russian Federation Federal Law on citizenship. So, being a foreign national in this scenario, wouldn’t be a problem.
What’s interesting about this is that citizenship through parents is also applicable if you’re born to non-Russian parents, but one of them becomes a Russian citizen, and your family lives in Russia before you’re 16. This prerogative is thought for those families who are moving to Russia so as to help them become citizens together all at once.
6) Russian Citizenship by Naturalization
What you need to know about this process among the rest is that you’ll need to be a resident of Russia. Once you hold at least the Temporary Residence Permit (TRP), the process of obtaining citizenship through naturalization can begin, but keep in mind that it could still take a minimum of 2-2.5 years.
There are some conditions that would make you a candidate for naturalization in Russia, so depending on which–if any–of the following conditions applies to you, you could start this process to receive the citizenship:
Under any of these circumstances, you could apply for naturalization, and (depending on your particular case) you will be required to be in compliance with other documentation like a certificate for high school education that proves the command of the Russian language, or proof of receiving a steady income in Russia.
7) Russian Citizenship through marriage
This way, you could go through the process a little bit faster. Even though you will still be obligated to acquire the Temporary Residence Permit (TRP), you wouldn’t be limited by the annual quota of TRPs that are granted. If that quota has already been met, you can still apply for temporary residence if you are married to a Russian citizen.
Later on, if you have been married to a citizen of the Russian Federation for at least three years, you’ll be able to apply for citizenship through a “simplified” procedure. Meaning? You don’t have to wait those 5 years previously mentioned to start the application procedure. You can begin preparing everything you need right after you’ve obtained the TRP.
There are two institutions that can receive your application once it’s ready to be submitted: your local Federal Migration Service office, or the Russian consular or diplomatic mission located in your home country.
8) Russian Citizenship through investment
How to obtain Russian citizenship: What you need to know
While the image of a cold arctic tundra isn’t totally untrue if you’ll be living in the northern region, Russia does enjoy beautiful summer months. Not to mention, there are parts of the country that are near-tropical. And the green, hilly landscapes that span the entire nation are stunning. If you’re not an outdoorsy person, you may also find the diverse and historic architecture in Russian cities to be interesting and aesthetically pleasing.
Another huge draw for foreigners is the low cost of living in relation to the relatively high salaries paid by international companies operating in the country. In the recent past, startup and tech communities are booming. As such, it’s no surprise that many expats are looking into cementing their ties with the nation in the form of citizenship as they start businesses, seek jobs and simply enjoy the Russian way of life.
This guide will walk you through the most important steps and processes for obtaining citizenship, so you can get started on building your life and business in Russia.
What’s the difference between citizenship and permanent residence?
Ultimately, there isn’t much of a difference between holding a permanent residence permit and a citizenship in Russia. Permanent residents have almost identical rights to natural citizens, and hiring permanent residence permit (PRP) holders may actually be advantageous for Russian businesses over hiring citizens. A PRP is valid for 5 years and can be renewed an indefinite number of times.¹
Unlike a PRP, however, a citizenship never needs to be renewed, and you won’t be faced with the possible loss of your visa. Citizenship also means visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 105 countries with your Russian passport², many of which require visas for American and UK citizens specifically.
Many expats do choose to remain in the country on a PRP rather than apply for citizenship, however. One reason for this is the belief that becoming a Russian citizen means leaving behind your homeland permanently. While this is widely believed to be the case, most expats aren’t required to revoke their citizenship in order to obtain a Russian one, unless their home country doesn’t allow them to hold dual nationality.
Gone are the days with strict travel restrictions inside Russia. However, one slight downside to PRP holders versus Russian citizens is the travel restriction to closed Russian cities and territories, which are often locations that have specific military purposes. If you’re a PRP, you won’t be able to visit these places under any circumstances³. In reality, though, you likely won’t ever need to visit any of these 44 closed cities anyhow. Russian citizens themselves would need to get permissions either by being officially invited to the city by one of its residents or have a government-approved reason to go there⁴. But this restriction is something you probably won’t lose sleep over.
Like many countries in Europe, though, regardless of whether you’re a citizen or not, you’ll need to register where you live in Russia if you reside in a place for over 90 days⁵. If just visiting Russia to begin with, bear in mind that your host will need to register you with the immigration registry if you stay for more than 7 business days⁶.
Can I have a dual citizenship?
Yes, dual citizenship is recognized in Russia⁷ and there are over a million people who hold Russian citizenship in addition to another passport. It’s important to check your home country’s laws on dual citizenship before you begin your application, however. In many countries that don’t allow dual citizenship, merely applying for a second nationality is just cause to have citizenship revoked.
Many sources on the web claim that a step in the citizenship application process is revoking your previous citizenship⁸. However, rest assured, as long as your home country allows dual citizenship, this isn’t the case. Foreign nationals shouldn’t worry about being able to keep their previous citizenship as they apply for their Russian one.
Ways to obtain Russian citizenship
There are a few ways to gain Russian citizenship, depending on your circumstances. They are generally split into 3 categories⁹:
But, overall, there are a number of different ways many obtain their Russian nationality. Read on to find the different options.
Obtaining Russian citizenship by birth (jus soli) or parents (jus sanguinis)
The first and foremost way you can obtain most any citizenship is by birth. But even if you weren’t born in Russia, but one of your parents is a citizen, you may still possibly be granted Russian nationality⁸.
Under Article 12 of Russian law regarding citizenship there are several points laying out what qualifies you, but they can be summed up under 3 points. You can claim Russian citizenship by birth if any of the following are true⁹:
These conditions are often called jus soli (right of soil) and jus sanguinis (right of blood).
Obtaining Russian citizenship through ancestry (right of lineage)
If you’re a foreign national and you’re over 18, according to article 14 of the Russian Federation Federal law on citizenship of the Russian Federation, you can apply for citizenship under the simplified procedure if at least one of your parents is a Russian citizen and is living in Russia⁹.
If you’re under 18 you can get citizenship in the simplified manner if one of your parents is a Russian citizen and the other parent gives their consent, or when your only parent is a Russian citizen⁹.
Alternatively, citizenship through parents is also applicable if you’re born to non-Russian parents, but one of your parents becomes a Russian citizen and your family lives in Russia before you’re 16 years old. This is called citizenship by lineage, and helps families who are moving to Russia together become citizens all at once.
Obtaining Russian citizenship through marriage
Obtaining Russian citizenship through marriage may allow you to go through the process a bit faster. You do still have to obtain a temporary residence permit (TRP) first, but when you’re married to a Russian citizen the annual quota for granting TRPs doesn’t apply. So even when this quota has been met, you can still apply for, and be granted, temporary residence when you’re married to a Russian citizen.¹⁰
Normally you can apply for Russian citizenship after having lived in the Russian Federation for 5 years since you obtained a TRP. During those 5 years you can’t travel outside of Russia for more than 3 months per year. But if you’ve been married to a citizen of the Russian Federation for at least 3 years, you can apply for citizenship through a simplified procedure. Which means you don’t have to wait 5 years, and can start the procedure straight after you’ve obtained your TRP⁹.
You can submit your application either to your local Federal Migration Service office, or with the Russian diplomatic mission or consular located in your home country. Even though the process might be a bit faster when you’re married to a Russian citizen, it’s not necessarily less work. You should still keep in mind that you have to provide a lot of documents and that the whole process will take some time.
Obtaining Russian citizenship through investment
Obtaining Russian citizenship can be fairly straightforward if you have a business you want to move to Russia, you’re thinking of setting one up on the spot, or you’re simply interested in investing in Russian businesses.
To qualify for citizenship based on investment, you’ll need to fulfill the following requirements¹¹:
Obtaining Russian citizenship through naturalization
Technically there are two types of naturalization processes, “general” and “simplified,” however, despite their names, there’s little difference between the two processes speed or simplicity-wise. Regardless of the name, the simplified process is not simpler. To apply, you’ll need to be a resident of Russia, which means you’ll need to hold a temporary residence permit (TRP) and therefore, the whole process of receiving citizenship through simplified naturalization can still take a minimum of 2-2.5 years⁸.
You can go through the simplified process for naturalization if at least one of the following circumstances applies to you¹²:
Should the circumstances above not apply to you, you’ll need to go through the general process with the following requirements¹³:
How can I apply for citizenship?
Applying for Russian citizenship isn’t easy and you have to keep in mind that in the application package you’ll have to fill in forms that are in Russian, provide documentation which need to be provided in a notarized translation to Russian as well as have been notarized in Russia. You may also have to include results from medical test done by Russian state clinics. Should you not have a high school diploma proving your level of Russian, you will also need to take a test in order to prove your proficiency in Russian.
In order to make this process as smooth as possible, check with your local office in Russia for specific instructions and requirements for your situation. However, even if you have done your research on official government websites and you have looked through legislations to thoroughly prepare, you may find that they give you entirely different information and requirements in your local office. This is simply how it works in Russia and in order to make sure the officials follow protocol, there are law firms that can help you with the application process¹⁰.
Here is a general outline of the different ways in which you can apply for Russian citizenship:
While the fees around this process vary and will largely be spent on document certification and translation, it’s important to remember that even small costs can add up if you’re making expensive international transfers in order to pay for them.
More resources
All in all, finding good information about the Russian immigration process can be fairly difficult. A good place to start is at your local consulate. If you’re not sure where it is, this site has compiled a comprehensive list of Russian embassies around the world.
For American citizens, the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Washington DC has a plethora of information regarding immigration available online. While the Russian government’s website is a good resource and those who are currently in Russia may have the easiest time accessing the site, it’s not available everywhere.
If you’re not already familiar with money and banks in Russia you’ll want to do a bit of research or, if you haven’t already, make sure to open a bank account in Russia to help cut down on costs.
With that, you’re all set. Good luck on becoming a Russian citizen!
Sources:
¹http://www.timadvisers.ru/images/permanent-residency-in-russia.pdf (May 25, 2018)
²https://www.quora.com/What-would-be-the-benefits-of-having-Russian-citizenship-besides-a-passport-that-can-be-used-to-travel-to-many-countries-without-a-visa (May 25, 2018)
³http://www.atomic-energy.ru/smi/2012/07/30/35162 (May 25, 2018)
⁴https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed_city (May 25, 2018)
⁵http://www.tvoiprava.info/obzory/foreign#TOC—24 (May 25, 2018)
⁶https://russiau.com/registration-visa-russia/#When_is_it_not_mandatory_to_register (May 25, 2018)
⁷https://www.rbth.com/society/2014/08/12/hiding_dual_citizenship_now_a_criminal_offense_in_russia_38929.html (May 25, 2018)
⁸http://77rc.ru/eng/live/russian-citizenship/ (May 25, 2018)
⁹http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/50768e422.pdf (May 25, 2018)
¹⁰http://blog.acg.ru/en/legal-consultancy-support/residency-and-citizenship-privileges-held-by-foreigners-married-to-russian-citizens/ (May 25, 2018)
¹¹http://www.consultant.ru/cons/cgi/online.cgi?req=doc&base=LAW&n=221456&fld=134&dst=1000000001,0&rnd=0.3969648248433135#0 (May 25, 2018)
¹²http://77rc.ru/eng/live/citizenship-simplified-procedure/ (May 25, 2018)
¹³http://77rc.ru/eng/live/citizenship-general-procedure/ (May 25, 2018)
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Russian Citizenship: The Easiest Passport to Get in the World
Russian citizenship is one of the most underrated passports globally for many people, and recently it has become more straightforward to obtain. According to the 2021 Henley Passport Index, which ranks every passport of the world each year, Russia is number 48 out of 110. Having a Russian passport gives access to 110 countries around the globe visa-free or visa on arrival.
There are several ways to get a second passport worldwide, but for qualified professionals, there is probably no country easier to apply for citizenship than Russia in 2021.
Let’s look at exactly why Russia has an easy route to citizenship.
Why is Russian citizenship easy to get?
Let’s face it, Russia is facing a demographic crisis of epic proportions, and the only way the government seems to be addressing the problem is by attracting foreigners to Russia to live and work. The last ten years have seen the Russian government make amendments to the laws that regulate Russian citizenship. Three legislative changes made Russian citizenship more attractive on the world stage and much easier to obtain.
The first significant change granted permanent residence permits to highly qualified specialists working in Russia. Historically, a permanent residence permit based on employment was valid only as long as you had a job. Quite simply, if you quit your job, you lost your permanent residence permit. Now, the Russian government has proposed a bill requiring permanent residence permits for highly qualified specialists to be independent of their employment.
Another change in 2019 created a list of professions, which the Russian government deemed critical to the country’s development. The change allowed Russian employers to hire significantly more foreign workers with reduced bureaucracy. Working in these professions leads to the right to apply for Russian citizenship under a simplified procedure.
The last change came in early 2020 when the Russian government removed the requirement to renounce your existing citizenship to become a Russian citizen. Before this change, many expats may have wanted Russian citizenship, but their need to abandon their current citizenship was a severe barrier. Now, you can have dual citizenship.
Do I need to know Russian to apply for Russian citizenship?
Yes, you MUST pass a Russian language test to apply for Russian citizenship. Depending on the route you take to gain Russian citizenship, you also may have to take exams on the Russian language, history, and law.
Why You Should Consider Russian Citizenship
There are many advantages to Russian citizenship common to all citizenships, like visa-free travel access, voting rights, and ease of movement. Russia offers many other benefits for a potential business owner and aspiring professionals. In 2020 and 2021, US News & World Report rated Russia the best country to start a career. The World Bank ranked Russia number 28 in the world for ease of doing business in 2020.
Let’s look at the three most accessible routes to Russian citizenship in 2021.
Getting Russian Citizenship by Working in Russia
The easiest route to Russian citizenship for most people is just getting a job in Russia.
Russia created a highly qualified specialist work visa in 2002. The only requirement to be considered a highly qualified specialist is a job offer from a Russian employer paying over two million rubles ($26,000) per year. For certain professions, the salary requirement is only one million rubles ($13,000) per year.
There are significant advantages to having a highly qualified specialist visa. There are tax benefits, and the visa is valid for three years instead of 1 with a typical Russian work visa.
Arguably, though, the most significant advantage of being a highly qualified specialist is that you may immediately apply for a permanent residence permit valid for three years. You can renew it indefinitely as long as you keep your job. Once you have a permanent residence permit, after three years, you may apply for Russian citizenship.
But for English teachers, it gets even better still. English teachers are also part of the list of 135 “qualified specialist” professions, which the Russian government deems essential to the country’s continued economic and cultural development. The Russian government allows people working these jobs to apply for a permanent residence permit after six months of work in Russia. After one year, you can then apply for Russian citizenship.
If you know of another country with an easier route to citizenship than that, let us know in the comments!
Even working in a white-collar job in Russia has a direct route to Russian citizenship after three years.
You MUST pass a Russian language test to apply for Russian citizenship in either case.
Getting Russian Citizenship through Marriage
One of the most common ways to get Russian citizenship was through marriage to a Russian citizen. Until 2020 though, you had to renounce your existing citizenship. Even the most hardened critics of the United States or Europe know that renouncing their American or European citizenship would have many personal ramifications as Russian citizens cannot travel freely to the US or Europe. This requirement was a significant barrier for most foreigners in Russia wishing to obtain Russian citizenship.
With this requirement to renounce prior citizenship gone, many foreigners are seriously considering Russian citizenship. Many are already able to apply because they have lived in Russia for years married to a Russian spouse.
Strangely, the time it takes to apply for Russian citizenship based on marriage can be much longer than as an English teacher in the right circumstances.
If you are married to a Russian citizen, you may apply for a temporary residence permit. For more information on the process, check out our guide to temporary residence permits in Russia, the most comprehensive available in English.
After one year on a temporary residence permit, you must apply for a permanent residence permit. Currently, there are discussions to eliminate the temporary residence permit.
Once you have been married for three years and living in Russia for three years, you may apply for Russian citizenship.
You MUST pass exams on the Russian language, history, and law when applying for residence permits based on marriage. You MUST also pass a Russian language test to apply for Russian citizenship.
Getting Russian Citizenship through your Russian Child
If you have a child with Russian citizenship, it is straightforward to apply for Russian citizenship, but you must meet a few requirements.
If you live in Russia, have a Russian child, and a Russian spouse, you may apply for Russian citizenship.
If you only have a Russian child (younger than 18) and are not married to a Russian citizen, you may apply for a permanent residence permit. A significant positive aspect for many foreigners applying for a permanent residence permit based on their child is that you do not have to take the Russian language, history, and law exams.
If you have an adult child, you may apply for Russian citizenship directly regardless of other circumstances.
You MUST pass a Russian language test to apply for Russian citizenship.
Conclusion
We hope you see that it is not hard at all to get Russian citizenship in 2021. No one is talking about how easy Russia has made it to get Russian citizenship, which is good. Despite its (undeserved) reputation in the West, Russia is a country to consider living and working. You can find a wealth of information on Expatriant about living and working in Russia based on years of experience.
We regularly advise clients on the best way to acquire Russian citizenship; if you are interested in a consultation, please reach out to us on our contact page.
For information on all of the legal means to stay in Russia, check out our Ultimate Guide to Legal Residence in Russia.