Russian citizenship

Basis, terms and procedure of acquisition and cancellation of the Russian Federation citizenship are specified by the Federal Law «On the Citizenship of the Russian Federation», dated May 31, 2002 No 62-FL and Decree on the Consideration Procedure of the Russian Federation Citizenship Issues, approved by the President of the Russian Federation on November 14, 2002, registration No 1325.

 According to the Section 32 of the Federal Law «On the citizenship of the Russian Federation» Russian Federation citizenship applications should be submitted at the place of an applicant’s permanent residence by:

• persons, who live outside the Russian Federation and do not have place of residence on its territory — to the Russian Federation diplomatic mission or consular institution abroad;
•  persons, who live in the Russian Federation — to the territorial division of the Federal Migration Service.

Application for the citizenship change in favor of children or disabled persons should be submitted by their parents or legal representatives at the place of an applicant/child/disabled person’s permanent residence. 

Application for the Russian Federation citizenship should be made in writing, composed at the established form and submitted by an applicant personally. Application form and required data list, as applied to the concrete grounds of acquisition and cancellation of the Russian Federation citizenship, are specified by Decree on the Consideration Procedure of the Russian Federation Citizenship Issues.

Application for the acquisition or cancellation of the Russian Federation citizenship, including determination of the Russian Federation citizenship on the application of concerned parties, who live outside the Russian Federation, is liable to consular fee in accordance with the Russian Federation legislation.

Diplomatic missions and consular institutions of the Russian Federation are authorised to:

1. formalize the citizenship by the right of birth, adoption and other legal grounds as specified by the Russian Federation legislation;
2. formalize the citizenship in respect of persons who are not obliged to meet the requirements of inhabitancy on the territory of the Russian Federation as specified by the Russian Federation legislation;
3. to formalize renunciation of the citizenship in respect of persons who live outside the Russian Federation and do not have place of residence on its territory; 
4. to formalize cancellation of the citizenship decisions which were made earlier in accordance with sections 22 and 23 of the Federal Law «On the Citizenship of the Russian Federation»

Grounds and terms of the Russian Federation citizenship acquisition are stated in Chapter II of the Federal Law «On the Citizenship of the Russian Federation».

Child acquires the Russian Federation citizenship by the right of birth if on the date of his birth:

1. both (or single) of his parents are citizens of the Russian Federation (irrespective of the child’s place of birth);
2. one of his parents is a citizen of the Russian Federation and the other one is stateless person/considered to be untraceable or his location is unknown (irrespective of the child’s place of birth);
3. one of his parents is a citizen of the Russian Federation and the other one is a foreign citizen, on condition that the child was born on the territory of the Russian Federation or if otherwise he will be a stateless person;
4. both (or single) of his parents, living on the territory of the Russian Federation, are foreign citizens or stateless persons on condition that the child was born on the territory of the Russian Federation and the state, whose citizens are the child’s parents, does not admit him to its citizenship.

Applications for acquisition of the Russian Federation citizenship, submitted by foreign citizens or stateless persons, who are more than eighteen years old, legally capable and live outside the Russian Federation, are considered in the Russian Federation diplomatic missions and consular institutions through simplified procedure if these citizens and persons:

1. have at least one parent, a citizen of the Russian Federation, who lives on the territory of the Russian Federation;
2. had the USSR citizenship, lived and still live in the USSR former member states, did not acquire the citizenship of these states and as a result turn out to be stateless persons;
3. have citizenship of the USSR former member states, received secondary or higher professional education in the Russian Federation educational institutions after July 1, 2002 (mastered full educational program on the territory of the Russian Federation).

Russian Federation diplomatic mission or consular institution can admit to the Russian Federation citizenship through simplified procedure:

1. a child, whose (one) parent has the Russian Federation citizenship, — upon application of this parent and if consent to the acquisition of the Russian Federation citizenship is given by the other parent. Such consent is not required if the child lives on the territory of the Russian Federation;
2. a child, whose single parent has the Russian Federation citizenship, — upon application of this parent;
3. a child or legally incapable person, over whom trusteeship or tutelage is established, — upon application of the trustee or tutor, who have the Russian Federation citizenship.

Grounds and terms of the Russian Federation citizenship cancellation are stated in Chapter III of the Federal Law «On the Citizenship of the Russian Federation».

Grounds and terms of children’s citizenship change in respect of their parents, trustees and tutors, as well as legally incapable persons, are stated in Chapter V of the Federal Law «On the Citizenship of the Russian Federation».

Consideration of applications and decision taking, concerning acquisition and cancellation of the Russian Federation citizenship through simplified procedure, are performed by Russian Federation diplomatic missions and consular institutions within six months, starting from the date of application and submission of all necessary and duly finalized documents.

Diplomatic mission or consular institution, which accepted the application, informs an applicant about the final decision within one month since the date when it was taken. Corresponding letter is sent to the address, indicated in the application.