Documents for citizenship of the Russian Federation

Law on Citizenship of the Russian Federation

The rules for obtaining Russian citizenship by birth or naturalization are described in the Federal Law “On Citizenship of the Russian Federation.” Its implementation is monitored by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Children born on its territory automatically become citizens of the Russian Federation. The rest, in order to legally become Russians, must meet the requirements described in the Law, fulfill the conditions for obtaining and take the Oath.

When deciding how to become a citizen, you need to study Art. 13 and 14 of the Law. This will allow you to determine whether you can apply for a simplified procedure or whether you need to receive it on a general basis.

Whichever option the applicant chooses, he must provide:

application (sample application for citizenship);
resident card;
confirmation of the legal source of funds (tax return, employment certificate, pension certificate or other document);
confirmation of an application to renounce another citizenship;
confirmation of language proficiency (certificate of secondary education in the USSR before 09/01/1991, testing certificate).

A complete list of documents for different categories of applicants is described in Presidential Decree No. 1325 of November 14, 2002.

Passports of the Russian Federation

Simplified procedure for obtaining citizenship

The grounds for applying the simplified procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship are specified in Art. 14 Federal Law “On Citizenship of the Russian Federation”. For persons entitled to file a petition on these grounds, the requirements for a period of continuous residence in Russia have been removed. However, with rare exceptions, applicants must have a residence permit.

The following persons may be granted Russian citizenship under a simplified procedure:

having a mother/father who is Russian and living in the Russian Federation;
married to a citizen of the Russian Federation for at least 3 years;
former citizens of the USSR born in the RSFSR;
recognized as native speakers of Russian;
having citizenship of the USSR, living on the territory of one of its former republics, but not accepting its citizenship;
citizens of the Russian Federation who are disabled and have adult children;
having children who are citizens of the Russian Federation (minors or incompetent adults), if the second parent is deceased/limited in legal capacity/recognized as missing, etc.;
who received vocational education in accredited institutions after 2002 and have officially worked in the Russian Federation for at least 3 years;
adopted by Russians;
who became participants in the State Program for the Resettlement of Compatriots and some other categories.

The processing time for applications under the simplified procedure is up to 6 months. The decision to grant citizenship is made by the head of the regional Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The procedure for obtaining in a simplified manner in 2021

Applications and documents for citizenship under a simplified procedure on the territory of the Russian Federation are submitted to the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the place of residence. Outside Russia, they are accepted by embassies and consulates of the Russian Federation.

In addition to the general package of documents for any applicants for Russian citizenship, you must provide evidence of the existence of grounds for applying the simplified procedure:

birth certificate and passport of the parent-citizen of the Russian Federation with a registration mark;
proof of USSR citizenship;
marriage certificate, spouse's passport;
confirmation of disability, birth certificate and passport of the child, a citizen of the Russian Federation;
birth certificate or passport (from 14 years of age) of a minor child, certificate of incapacity of an adult child, death certificate, deprivation of rights of a parent who is a citizen of the Russian Federation;
document confirming education in Russia, work record book, personal account status in the Pension Fund;
certificate of participant in the State Program for the Resettlement of Compatriots;
decision of the commission on recognition as a native speaker of the Russian language.

Details about the package of documents for different categories can be found in Presidential Decree 1325 or in the authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. After submitting the documents, all that remains is to wait for them to be verified and a decision is made.

Obtaining Russian citizenship

Simplified acquisition of citizenship is the registration of Russian citizenship in a short time; from the moment of submitting the application to the registration of Russian citizenship it takes up to 6 months.

This procedure is interesting for those who need to obtain a Russian passport in 2021 in a short or limited time. But to complete the action successfully, it is necessary to fully comply with the requirements and fundamentals of the legal framework.

Main advantages of the procedure:

obtaining a passport occurs in a shortened time;
there is no need to obtain a residence permit.

According to recent changes in the legislative framework, a simplified procedure for obtaining citizenship makes it possible to quickly change your place of residence and become a citizen of another country. The Government of the Russian Federation adopts such legislative acts to simplify the procedure for obtaining a Russian passport as much as possible.

Procedure and grounds for obtaining Russian citizenship in a simplified manner

Legal grounds for obtaining Russian citizenship

To legally become a citizen of the Russian Federation, they resort to the following methods, subject to certain conditions and grounds:

If you marry a Russian citizen or when your parents are residents of the Russian Federation.
Obtaining citizenship under a quota without having family ties. You must live in the Russian Federation, work and pay all taxes. In Moscow and St. Petersburg, a quota must be purchased; its cost for 2021 is about 250,000 rubles. In other cities you can apply for it for free - you just need to get on the waiting list. The duration of the procedure is the same for different cities.
Resettlement program for compatriots. This program is most common for citizens of Ukraine. It is necessary to prove that you and your parents were born in the territory of the former USSR, as well as collect a package of documents and select the region where you are going to live.
Obtaining citizenship by native speakers. The program was activated in 2014, there are many requirements - you and close relatives must be born on the territory of the Russian Federation. A proficiency exam is also required.

Requirements for the applicant

Requirements mean:

live on the territory of the Russian Federation;
official registration at the place of residence;
have a permanent source of income;
renounce having foreign citizenship;
speak Russian at a high level.

These are the main requirements put forward for persons wishing to obtain Russian citizenship in 2021.

List of documents in 2021

Prepare all the necessary documents to go through the procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship in 2021 as soon as possible.
Based on the law, documents for obtaining citizenship in a simplified manner in 2021 include:

passport;
a document confirming the right to reside in the Russian Federation
photos;
application for citizenship;
information about what source of income is available;
a certificate confirming passing the Russian language proficiency exam;
documents of relatives who are citizens of the Russian Federation, marriage or birth certificates;
receipt of payment of state duty.

The process of forming a package of documents should be approached with maximum responsibility; each item on the list must be fulfilled.

Stages of obtaining Russian citizenship in general order

To obtain Russian citizenship on a general basis you must:

enter the territory of the Russian Federation;
register with migration authorities;
obtain a temporary residence permit;
obtain a residence permit;
live in Russia continuously for at least 5 years;
apply to the Ministry of Internal Affairs;
wait for a positive decision to be made (if rejected, you can apply again after a year);
take the Oath;
get a Russian passport.

Stages and deadlines for obtaining Russian citizenship

Border crossing

When crossing the Russian border, foreigners must fill out a migration card, which must indicate the real purpose of the visit. This could be work, study, tourism or private. Those who plan to work in Russia are subsequently required to obtain a work permit (for visa-free countries) or a patent (for visa-free countries).

The information indicated in parts A and B of the card must be identical. Instructions for filling are indicated on the reverse side. The migration card has a unique number, so it is impossible to fill it out in advance. The border guards keep one part of the MK and give the other to the foreigner.

You must always carry your migration card with you along with your passport. Only it confirms the legality of a foreigner’s stay in Russia. The MK specifies both the date of entry into Russia and the date by which it is necessary to leave its territory. The validity of a migration card is extended upon receipt of a patent, admission to an educational institution, or the presence of other legal grounds.

Registration

Foreigners arriving in Russia with the support of the host party (hotel, individual, organization) must register with the Department of Internal Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, through multifunctional migration centers or by sending a notification by mail. Children register according to the same rules as adults. Migration registration can be carried out at the place of residence or place of stay.

Guests from EAEU member states are exempt from the need to register within 30 days throughout the Russian territory, with the exception of Moscow and St. Petersburg. Citizens of countries that have not joined the EAEU must register for migration within 7 days. Ukrainians are allowed to stay in Russia without registration for up to 90 days, and Tajiks only 15 days.

Confirmation of registration is the issued tear-off counterfoil. When leaving the country, the foreigner gives it away along with the MK. This is equivalent to deregistration. Arriving in Russia again, a foreign citizen must re-register.

Registration of a temporary residence permit

You can legally stay in Russia for up to 3 years by obtaining a temporary residence permit. It indicates a specific subject of the Russian Federation and a foreigner cannot independently change his place of residence outside its borders. The temporary residence permit is not extended, that is, within 3 years the foreigner must take steps to obtain a residence permit or leave Russia.

To submit a temporary residence permit, pre-registration is provided by telephone, in person at the migration department or online.

Providing a temporary residence permit is a paid service. The state duty for it is 1600 rubles. Payment must be made before receiving the RVP. This can be done through the bank or the Unified Portal.

You can check the readiness of the temporary residence permit on the website of the Main Directorate for Migration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Documents for temporary residence permit

You can submit an application for a temporary residence permit both to the migration department in Russia at the place of intended residence, and outside it to a diplomatic institution. When thinking about how you can get a temporary residence permit in a specific region/city, you need to take into account that they are issued within the established quotas.

To obtain a temporary residence permit you must provide:

application with 35x45 mm photographs pasted on both sides (black and white or color);
passport or other legal identification;
a certificate of no criminal record from the country of permanent residence (not older than 3 months);
certificate of absence of drug addiction, dangerous infectious diseases, HIV infection;
confirmation of knowledge of the Russian language, history of the Russian Federation and the fundamentals of legislation.

For children and incapacitated persons, documents are submitted by their parents or guardians. In this case, a birth certificate, a certificate of incapacity, and a passport of the legal representative are added to the main package of documents.

Applicants for temporary residence permits without taking into account the quota must additionally provide:

birth certificate on the territory of the former RSFSR;
passport of the incapacitated parent-citizen of the Russian Federation and the applicant’s birth certificate;
the passport of the child, a citizen of the Russian Federation, his birth certificate, a certificate of incapacity for work of the applicant;
marriage certificate and passport of the Russian spouse;
contract with the Russian army;
certificate of state program participant.

Registration of a residence permit

Obtaining a residence permit allows a foreigner to legally live in Russia, as well as freely leave its territory and return. Before applying for a residence permit, you must live in Russia for at least a year on the basis of a temporary residence permit. Citizens of Belarus, as well as stateless persons from Turkmenistan and some other categories of foreigners can skip the stage of temporary residence.

Validity period of residence permit:

5 years for most foreigners;
3 years for recognized native speakers of Russian;
for the period of validity of a work permit for a highly qualified specialist;
for the period of validity of the certificate of participant in the state program for refugees.

The state fee for providing a residence permit is 3,500 rubles. The residence permit can be extended. The state duty for this is also 3,500 rubles. The decision to grant a residence permit is made within 15 days to six months, depending on the category of the applicant.

You can check the readiness of the residence permit on the website of the Main Department of Migration Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Documents for residence permit

Applicants for residence permit must provide:

statement;
4 photographs (color, black and white), two of which are glued to each side of the application;
passport;
proof of legal sources of income not lower than the subsistence level or a certificate of
disability;
document on the right to residential premises;
certificate of absence of drug addiction, infectious diseases, HIV infection;
a certificate or other document confirming knowledge of the history of Russia, the fundamentals of legislation, and the Russian language.

Parents submit documents for children. Their package includes the birth certificate of the minor and the passport of the person submitting the documents.

Those recognized as native speakers of the Russian language must submit an application to renounce the citizenship of another country. You can find out about the features of document packages for other categories of applicants on the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.

Citizenship

Having lived in Russia for several years on the basis of a residence permit, a foreigner may decide to extend it or submit an application for citizenship. By choosing the last option, he receives all the social guarantees available to citizens of the Russian Federation.

Documents for obtaining citizenship

Applications for granting citizenship on a general basis are submitted only to the territorial bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the place of residence.

In addition to the mandatory package of documents, you can provide:

a petition from a federal body for a person with high achievements in science, culture or a rare profession;
certificate of asylum for political reasons or recognition as a refugee.

The territorial body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reviews the documents and studies the applicant’s motives. The results of the check are sent to the Main Directorate for Migration Issues of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and further to the Commission on Citizenship Issues under the President for a final decision.

Documents for obtaining Russian citizenship

Procedure and deadlines for obtaining Russian citizenship in a simplified manner

Stage 1 – cross the border of the Russian Federation. When entering the Russian Federation, visa documents are issued. When going through the border control procedure, a migration card is issued, where the fact of entry is noted.

Stage 2 – arrival is registered. Within 7 days, the migrant must note the fact of his arrival to the relevant authorities.

Stage 3 – obtaining a temporary residence permit. This document confirms the migrant’s right to stay in the Russian Federation for a long period of time. You can submit documents for registration of a temporary residence permit to the Federal Migration Service, in addition to other documents.

Stage 4 – obtaining citizenship. When the previous stages are completed, the following conditions are met - pass an exam on knowledge of the Russian language, show legal sources of income, pay the state fee and renounce citizenship in other countries.

Ukrainians

Based on Article 3 of Law of the Russian Federation No. 243, the new procedure for simplified acquisition of citizenship came into force in September 2017. According to the law and innovations, Ukrainians do not have to contact the Migration Service of Ukraine and obtain consent. A Ukrainian who wishes to become a citizen of the Russian Federation should write an application stating the renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship. This is a replacement for the certificate that was previously received from the Ukrainian authorities.

As for citizens of Crimea, they can also obtain Russian citizenship under a simplified system, however, based on the law, three conditions must be met:

persons undertake to fully comply with all provisions of the Constitution and the legislative framework of the Russian Federation;
there is a legal source of income;
they renounced all existing citizenships in favor of Russian citizenship.

Belarusians

The legislative framework of the Russian Federation provides for obtaining Russian citizenship under a simplified system, within 4-5 months. This opportunity is provided to all citizens of Belarus. The main nuance of this process is that Belarusians receive a RR series passport - it is issued to those people who intend to live abroad.

Children receive Russian citizenship automatically, together with their parents. Belarusians can enjoy certain benefits - they only need to register on the territory of the Russian Federation; a migration card is not required.

Citizens of Kazakhstan and Armenia

Citizens of Kazakhstan and citizens of Armenia can also obtain citizenship using a simplified system in 2021. For citizens of Kazakhstan, the conditions specified above are met, however, another basis is obtaining higher education in the Russian Federation before 2002. Citizens of Armenia are also offered to take advantage of all the conditions and grounds indicated above.

Russian citizenship for Ukrainians

In connection with military operations in the eastern regions of Ukraine, the Russian authorities have developed a procedure for recognizing their residents as refugees. It involves a simplified registration procedure, since many arrive with a minimum package of documents. The leadership of regions that actively accept Ukrainians is recommended to register them without work books or documents on marital status.

After registration and verification of documents, refugee status is issued, allowing temporary residence for 3 years. In the regions there are quotas for such temporary residence permits. First of all, permits are granted to those who were former citizens of the USSR, who entered service in the Russian Army, and who are married to a Russian man/woman.

Passports of Ukraine and the Russian Federation

Since 2015, Ukrainians whose native language is Russian have been given the right to register in the resettlement program. This allows you to apply for a simplified procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship.