Simplification of the procedure for acquiring Russian citizenship

News

On April 24, 2020, the President of the Russian Federation signed Federal Law No.134-FZ dated April 24, 2020 “On Amending the Federal Law “On Citizenship of the Russian Federation” simplifying the procedure for granting Russian citizenship to foreign citizens and stateless persons” (hereinafter referred to as “Federal Law No. 134”).

Will take effect from July 24, 2020

Federal Law No. 134 has amended Federal Law No. 62-FZ “On Citizenship of the Russian Federation” dated May 31, 2002 as follows:

Amendments Basis Categories of foreign citizens affected by the amendments and conditions of application
Renunciation of the existing citizenship is no longer required The requirement that an applicant seeking Russian citizenship must file a declaration of alienage renouncing his or her different citizenship with a competent authority of the relevant foreign country has been rescinded All categories of permanently residing foreign citizens holding permanent resident permits, including foreign citizens who received their permanent residence permits as native speakers of the Russian language
Stateless persons may apply for Russian citizenship ignoring the period of residence and without submitting a proof of income The requirement to stay in the Russian Federation for three years and prove the existence of a legal source of livelihood has been rescinded Adult stateless persons provided that such persons have had USSR citizenship, resided and still reside in the states that were member states of the USSR and did not acquire the citizenship of such states.
Simplified procedure ignoring the period of residence and a proof of income It has been established that foreign citizens and stateless persons residing in the territory of the Russian Federation may apply for Russian citizenship in a simplified manner without proving the period during which they have resided in the Russian Federation and existence of a legal source of livelihood

Categories of permanently residing foreign citizens holding permanent residence permits who:

  • have been married to a citizen of the Russian Federation who has resided within the territory of the Russian Federation for at least 3 years;
  • have been married to a citizen of the Russian Federation residing in the territory of the Russian Federation and have children in such marriage;
  • have at least one parent who is a citizen of the Russian Federation and resides in the Russian Federation;
  • are Russian native speakers;
  • are citizens of the Republic of Belarus;
  • are citizens of the Republic of Moldova;
  • are citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
  • are citizens of Ukraine.
The period of residence for graduates of Russian educational institutions has been reduced

In paragraph «f», part two, Article 14, the words «at least three years» have been replaced with «at least one year»:

… and have worked in the Russian Federation for at least one year in the aggregate before applying for the citizenship of the Russian Federation.

Permanently residing stateless persons and foreign citizens holding permanent residence permits meeting the following three conditions:

  1. they must have received vocational education after July 1, 2002 by completing programs accredited by the government or at educational or scientific organizations of the Russian Federation in its territory; and
  2. they must have worked in the Russian Federation for at least 1 year in the aggregate before applying for the citizenship of the Russian Federation; and
  3. during such period, the Employer paid insurance contributions to the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation in respect of such person.