A situation in which a person decides to change his civil status is no longer uncommon in the modern world. This issue is quite clearly regulated by the immigration legislation of all countries of the world. And yet, changing citizenship is a complex and troublesome process for an immigrant, raising many questions. Taking into account the increased interest in Russia on the part of foreign citizens in recent years, the country's legislative bodies have provided for various options for acquiring Russian citizenship, thanks to which, in addition to the standard procedure, some categories of immigrants have the opportunity to obtain Russian citizenship in a simplified manner.

Foreigners who have firmly decided to move to the Russian Federation for permanent residence are most interested in the question of how to properly legalize themselves and how to quickly obtain Russian citizenship. Indeed, these issues deserve the closest attention. Since not all categories of foreign citizens can count on accelerated acquisition of Russian citizenship, most immigrants will have to strictly comply with all the conditions and requirements set forth by the Russian immigration law for quite a long period.

Many visitors from the countries of the former Soviet Union seek to obtain Russian citizenship in a simplified manner. The advantage of this status is undeniable. By becoming Russian citizens, they can:

  • Live freely in Russia.
  • Apply for employment in government agencies and government departments.
  • Participate in the political life of the country.
  • Receive all benefits and benefits provided for by the Russian social security law.
  • Receive free education and medical care.

However, the procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship not only provides the immigrant with freedom and rights, but also imposes certain obligations on him. As in any state, in Russia, when considering applications for the assignment of Russian citizenship in 2019, preference is given to persons who meet certain criteria and have:

  • Financial independence.
  • Permanent residence in the Russian Federation.
  • Unlimited legal capacity.
  • Knowledge of the Russian language and cultural traditions of the country.
  • Good education and high professional qualifications.

Grounds for obtaining Russian citizenship in a simplified manner

For the first time at the legislative level, the question that in Russia it is possible to obtain Russian citizenship in a simplified manner was raised in 2014. Then the procedure for implementing this opportunity was fixed by Federal Law 62 “On Citizenship of the Russian Federation,” which was amended accordingly.

Currently, the Russian immigration law provides for the acquisition of Russian citizenship in a simplified manner in 2019 for several categories of foreign citizens. Moreover, regardless of category, they are all required to know the Russian language well and have a permanent residence permit in the Russian Federation.

Russian citizenship can be granted under a simplified procedure to persons whose relatives lived on the territory of the Russian Empire or the USSR. To facilitate the resettlement of Russian-speaking compatriots, who are today citizens of former Soviet republics, to their historical homeland, a special federal program has been developed and is actively used in Russia.

Applicants should be aware that only immigrants who have renounced their current citizenship of the country from which they arrived in the Russian Federation can apply for Russian citizenship in a simplified manner. This rule does not apply to situations in which an applicant for a simplified acquisition of Russian citizenship cannot officially renounce current citizenship due to the fact that:

  • Relevant agreements have been concluded between the countries.
  • There are reasons of an irresistible nature, independent of the desire of the applicant.

It is much easier for persons who have grounds to apply for Russian citizenship in a simplified manner to legalize themselves in Russia and obtain a residence permit. They do not need to obtain a temporary residence permit in the Russian Federation.

What grounds does the immigration law provide for foreigners who want to gain citizenship of the Russian Federation in a simplified manner? The time frame for obtaining Russian citizenship is reduced, and the procedure is simplified if a foreign citizen:

  1. Has at least one parent - a citizen of the Russian Federation.
  2. Previously, he had citizenship of one of the Soviet republics, but after the collapse of the USSR he did not receive citizenship of any of the countries.
  3. He was born on the territory of the RSFSR.
  4. Married to a citizen of the Russian Federation for at least 3 years.
  5. He is incompetent, but has a capable child - a citizen of the Russian Federation.
  6. Has a child with Russian citizenship, subject to the absence of a second parent, his death or deprivation of parental rights.
  7. Has incapacitated children - citizens of the Russian Federation.
  8. He received a professional education at a Russian university and has been working in the Russian Federation for more than 3 years.
  9. For 3 years, he has been carrying out business activities on Russian territory with annual revenue of at least 10,000,000 rubles per year.
  10. He is an investor.
  11. Belongs to the category of highly qualified specialists, to whom a simplified form of obtaining Russian citizenship is applied.
  12. He is recognized as a native speaker of the Russian language and has a permanent residence permit on Russian territory.

  1. Compatriots living abroad for whom a resettlement assistance program is being implemented at the federal level.
  2. WWII veterans who previously held Soviet citizenship.
  3. Disabled persons who arrived from the former republics of the USSR to visit relatives and were registered at their place of residence in 2002 on the territory of the Russian Federation.
  4. Citizens of Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

Requirements

Russian legislation puts forward a number of requirements for applicants seeking to obtain Russian citizenship in a simplified manner. Before applying for citizenship, a foreign person should make sure that he meets all the conditions put forward to him, namely:

  • Has a residence permit.
  • Permanently registered on Russian territory.
  • Has sufficient financial resources to ensure his/her residence in the country.
  • Is not a citizen of another state.
  • Speaks Russian at the required level and is familiar with the history and legislation of the country.

Procedure

The procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship in a simplified manner involves several interconnected successive stages.

Entry into the territory of Russia

  • To do this, you must comply with the visa requirements established by law, and after crossing the border, fill out the migrant card properly.
  • Within a week, the arriving foreigner must register for migration at the place of Russian registration by contacting the relevant territorial department of the Main Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation (FMS).
  • Submit documents to the GUVM (FMS) for registration of a temporary residence permit, which gives the right to live and work on Russian territory in the region of registration for 3 years. Citizens of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are exempt from issuing a temporary residence permit on the basis of an agreement concluded between the states. All other applicants are required to submit the following documentary package:
    • International passport.
    • Two photographs 3.5x4.5 cm in black and white or color.
    • Migration card with arrival stamp.
    • A document confirming payment of the state duty in the amount of 1600 rubles.
    • Certificate from a medical institution confirming the absence of dangerous infections and HIV diseases.
    • Certificate of knowledge of the Russian language.

The period for consideration of the application is 60 days, after which the applicant is notified of a positive or negative decision. The main problem in obtaining a temporary residence permit is the annual quota. If quotas for the current year have expired, documents will not be accepted for consideration. In this case, the foreigner will have to leave the country after the visa expires and try again in the next calendar year.

However, this rule also has exceptions. Quotas are not required to obtain a temporary residence permit for foreigners who:

  • Married to a Russian citizen.
  • They serve in the Russian army under contract.
  • They are resettled as compatriots and are subject to a resettlement assistance program.
  • They have incapacitated parents with Russian citizenship.
  • They are investors.
  • They were born in the USSR and were citizens of this state.

Registration of a residence permit

A residence permit gives a foreigner the rights of a Russian citizen, with some exceptions. Before obtaining Russian citizenship, he cannot:

  • Officially participate in the political life of the country.
  • Hold positions in government agencies and departments.
  • Build a military career in the Russian army.
  • Pilot civil aircraft.
  • As rights, a foreigner gets the opportunity to:
    • Move freely around the country.
    • Leave the Russian Federation.
    • Find a job in Russian companies without obtaining a work permit.
    • Study.
    • Receive free medical services.
    • Receive an old-age pension.

To obtain a residence permit, a foreigner should contact the territorial office of the Main Directorate for Migration and Migration (FMS) at the place of residence. This document is issued for a period of 5 years and can be renewed an unlimited number of times. To obtain a residence permit you need to submit:

  • Two copies of the application.
  • Four photographs.
  • International passport.
  • A copy of the RVP stamp.
  • Information about the availability of money in a bank account.
  • A medical certificate confirming the absence of infections, drug addiction and the HIV virus.
  • Certificate of knowledge of the Russian language, history and fundamentals of legislation.
  • Documents on ownership or rental of housing.
  • Receipt for payment of state duty in the amount of 3,500 rubles.
  • Documents confirming the right to receive a temporary residence permit without taking into account quotas, if it was applied.

The decision to issue a residence permit is made by GUVM employees within six months. This deadline should be taken into account when submitting your application.

Submission of documents for Russian citizenship

This stage is the final one. In case of a positive decision, the foreigner becomes a citizen of the Russian Federation with all the rights and obligations that the new status imposes on him. There are no quotas for the acquisition of citizenship by the government of the country.

Required documents

Regardless of whether a foreigner requests a new civil status in the general manner or expects to obtain Russian citizenship in a simplified manner, he should submit a package of relevant documents to the Ministry of Internal Affairs:

  • Two copies .
  • Four photographs.

  • A photocopy of the existing residence permit.
  • Photocopies of marriage and birth certificates.
  • Diploma or certificate of education received.
  • Renunciation of current citizenship.
  • Medical certificate of health.
  • A copy of the pension certificate.
  • Confirmation of payment for the state fee.
  • Certificate from the registry office in case of change of personal data.
  • Certificate of successful passing of the exam in the Russian language, basic legislation and history of Russia.

The simplified procedure for obtaining citizenship for minor children provides for some nuances:

  • A child over 14 years of age must give his or her consent to change citizenship.
  • For a child under 14 years of age, the other parent must give consent.

When creating the package, it should be taken into account that all photocopies of the required documents handed over to employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs must be translated into Russian and certified by a notary.

Are exams necessary?

Knowledge of the Russian language is a prerequisite for acquiring Russian citizenship, regardless of whether it is through the regular or simplified system. To help prepare foreigners for passing tests, special educational centers began operating throughout the country in the fall of last year. Checking the current level of language proficiency is a paid service and will cost the applicant approximately 5,000 rubles.

  • Migrants who received education in Russian schools or universities, as well as in educational institutions of the Soviet Union.
  • Male applicants over 65 years of age.
  • Female applicants over 60 years of age.
  • Migrants from countries where Russian is the official language.

In addition, in order to obtain Russian citizenship, the applicant must pass not only a language exam, but also demonstrate his knowledge of the basics of Russian legislation, as well as the history of the country.

Registration cost

An important role in the question of how to obtain Russian citizenship is played by the amount of expenses that the applicant will have to bear. It is from the totality of these expenses that the final cost of registration will be formed:

  • Translation of documents into Russian.
  • Notarized confirmation of the authenticity of documents.
  • Photo studio services.
  • Checking your current level of Russian language proficiency.
  • Payment for a medical report.

The applicant also needs to pay the state fee for consideration of the application for citizenship, which currently amounts to 3,500 rubles. In addition, when planning to acquire Russian citizenship in a simplified form or in a general manner, the applicant should provide for the costs of compulsory residence in Russia for 5 years for himself and his family members.

Terms of consideration

The time it takes for an applicant to complete the procedure for acquiring Russian citizenship directly depends on the method of obtaining it.

  1. It will take a year to obtain Russian citizenship according to the standard scheme. It is during this time that the appropriate decision will be made.
  2. The law allows up to 6 months to obtain Russian citizenship in a simplified manner. This issue is dealt with by the territorial bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.
  3. For participants in the federal program to assist the resettlement of compatriots, the processing time for an application is most often about 3 months.

While waiting for a decision, you should also take into account that the applicant is informed by mail. Therefore, the total period from the moment of filing the application to receiving the result may extend for another month.

Russian citizenship for residents of Ukraine

Today, Russian legislation provides for citizens of Ukraine a procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship in a simplified manner. The program for simplified acquisition of Russian citizenship applies to:

  • Refugees who left Ukrainian territory due to the difficult political situation and the presence of a threat to health and life.
  • Residents of the territory of Crimea.

In addition, the fact that today residents of Ukraine are not required to provide an advance renunciation of their current citizenship helps speed up the process. However, immigrants who wish to become Russian citizens must attach to the set of documents their own guarantee of renouncing Ukrainian citizenship in the future.

Persons applying for refugee status are required to submit a corresponding application within 24 hours from the moment of crossing the border. Based on their status, immigrants are provided with a one-time financial benefit and temporary housing.

In addition, refugees are provided with food and medical care. Their minor children have the opportunity to attend school or kindergarten. And adult family members are provided with assistance in finding employment.

Reasons for refusal

When planning to become a Russian citizen, an immigrant should also think about the fact that his application may be denied. What are the main reasons for making a negative decision? Practice shows that the main obstacle on the path to Russian citizenship can be the revealed facts about it. that an immigrant:

  • Encroaches on a change in the political system in the country and threatens its security.
  • He took part in military conflicts against the armed forces of the Russian Federation or terrorist actions.
  • Conducted campaigning activities, calling for a violation of the integrity of the Russian Federation.
  • He was subjected to deportation from Russian territory.
  • Provided knowingly false information about himself.
  • Serves in the intelligence or security agencies of a foreign state.
  • Has an outstanding criminal record or is wanted.
  • Serving time in prison.

Most often, refusal by the authorities is motivated by the provision of false information about the applicant. If a negative decision is received, an immigrant can file an appeal, but practice shows that the chances of successfully changing the situation in this case remain minimal.

To exercise their right to appeal, the applicant must request a copy of the document describing the reasons for the refusal and file a complaint with the UN. Based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a citizen of any state has the right to demand restoration in court of his violated rights.

However, the UN is the final authority. First of all, a foreigner has the opportunity to appeal the refusal received in Russian federal judicial authorities.

When deciding to move to Russia and become a citizen of this country, an immigrant should carefully study the legislation in order to assess the existence of grounds giving the right to Russian citizenship in a simplified manner. Questions about citizenship are traditionally complex from a legal point of view, so experts advise seeking help from professionals.