Russian Residency: Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed perhaps the most radical decree yet, allowing foreign nationals and stateless persons to apply for temporary residence in Russia—a strategic response to ongoing tensions with Western countries. According to an announcement made by the Russian news agency TASS, this will reach out to those who, it declares, share what it calls “traditional Russian spiritual and moral values.”
This new decree considerably breaks ground compared with previous immigration practice by simplifying the procedure for applying for residency. Notably, it removes compulsory requirements to pass a test in the Russian language, history, or laws. It removes the traditional quotas that limited the number of temporary residence permits that could be issued at any one time, hence opening this up to a wider range of applicants.
If you don’t fall within those categories under the new decree and you would like to relocate to Russia, there are two types of residence permits applicable:
Temporary Residence Permit Details
Temporary and permanent. The temporary residence permit is the stepping stone towards permanent residency, after which one can acquire citizenship.
Types Available: Employment, study, family reunification, medical purposes.
Processing Time: Approximately 20 days.
Validity Period: 3 years.
Required Documents
Valid passport
Clean criminal record
Medical certificates
Negative HIV test
Permanent Residency Details
Permanent residency can be applied for after having a temporary residence permit for two years.
Validity: It is valid for 5 years but can be renewed as many times as one wants.
Benefits: Permanent residents can work without additional permits and travel freely not needing new visas.
Required Documents
Valid passport
Proof of income and accommodation
Health insurance
Basic knowledge of the Russian language
Who Can Apply in 2024?
The revised criteria identify those people who can be granted residence permits under the new policy. Those who are exempt from the Knowledge Day requirement of Russian language, history, and laws are:
Persons below 18 years or above 60
Students of foreign citizenship studying in institutions in Russia
Specialists in high-demand fields
Those having family ties with the former Soviet Union
The new residency policy will give pride of place to those people who have felt alienated by Western neoliberalism and make Russia more attractive to those with similar value systems rooted in tradition.