Citizenship in Russia

Before applying for citizenship in Russia, it is important to get an idea of what the whole procedure entails and what formalities are required by the authorities in 2026 To acquire Russian nationality, it is important to seek the help of specialists and legal advice provided by our lawyer in Russia who has experience in immigration issues. We are here to guide you throughout the immigration to Russia process.

Changes to the Citizenship Law in Russia

Several years ago, the government amended the Citizenship Act. The changes mention several new categories of people who can obtain Russian citizenship by birth, as well as some modifications to the way in which a person can apply for citizenship by marriage.

If you plan on applying for a Russian passport in the next period, here are some of the most important changes that may affect you:

• the requirements to obtain a Russian passport by marriage are more stringent according to the new rules;
• the rules for simplified citizenship have also been amended.

Another change provides for the difference between dual and multiple nationalities in Russia. The first term refers to a Russian citizen who has obtained the nationality of a country with which Russia signed a dual citizenship agreement. The second one covers Russian citizens who have obtained the nationalities of countries with which Russia has no agreements in this sense.

Our lawyers in Russia can offer more information on these new changes and how they could affect your application. However, they will also help you navigate them, if you plan on applying for a Russian passport.

What are the formalities for citizenship in Russia in 2026?

Foreign citizens who want to apply for Russian citizenship can do so after proving that they have already been in Russia for at least 5 years, with permanent residence. Therefore, the first step towards citizenship in Russia is the acquisition of a Russian permanent residence permit issued for an indefinite period (since November 2019), which comes with several benefits, the same as those of Russian citizens. The Russian General Directorate of Migratory Affairs is the institution that issues this type of document.

Even though there are many citizens who enjoy only having a permanent residence permit in Russia, citizenship comes with additional benefits. Among these, getting full access to social services in Russia, and no need for a visa to enter or exit Russia. Citizenship in Russia is obtained by naturalization, in the case of foreign citizens, or by birth in the case of persons born to parents with origins in Russia.

In Russia, a new citizenship law came into force at the end of 2023. Some of the decisive modifications refer to the naturalization process, acquisition of citizenship by birth, simplified citizenship issuance, citizenship denial, and dual citizenship. Our Russian lawyers can tell you more about the new legislation modifications if you want to apply for a Russian passport.

Interested in how to relocate to Russia in 2026? You can benefit from legal advice offered by our immigration lawyers in Russia. 

Citizenship in Russia by naturalization

The common process of getting Russian citizenship is naturalization. If you want to apply for citizenship through naturalization, you should know that the immigration authorities ask for Russian history knowledge. Two of the main conditions for naturalization are permanent residency for at least 5 years and knowing the Russian language. Candidates must present a valid residence permit and proof they have not lived outside Russia for more than 3 months per year. Here are some of the formalities:

• agree to abide by the Constitution in Russia;
• prove that they have lived in Russia for at least 5 years;
• provide financial information and prove that they can support their family with that money;
• have a basic knowledge of the Russian language.

Citizenship by marriage in Russia

Article 16 -2 in the new Citizenship Law also provides for new conditions to obtain Russian nationality by marriage. The main condition now is for the spouses to have a child together for the foreign parent to be considered for citizenship.

Some of the provisions of the new law entered into effect last year. Starting in January, marriage to a Russian citizen will enable the foreign spouse to obtain a temporary residence permit after 3 years of marriage. After the 3-year residence visa, the foreign spouse must wait another year to apply for permanent residency in Russia.

Please note that the application for temporary residency must be filed in the region where the Russian spouse resides, respectively where the foreign partner has a registered domicile.

Here are a few other aspects to consider under the new law if you plan to apply for citizenship by marriage in Russia:

• the temporary residence permit for the foreign spouse is now issued faster, in about 7 working days;
• to secure this type of permit, foreign life partners must also reside in Russia for a minimum of 180 days in a calendar year;
• the foreign spouse must also submit an annual declaration on the number of days spent outside Russia and on the income/savings made here.

At last, Russian citizenship by marriage can be obtained after 5 years which is the same as naturalization.

If you are considering immigration to Russia on the grounds of marriage, you can consult our local lawyers for more information on the newest changes to the legislation.

Documents required to obtain Russian citizenship by marriage

Here are the papers you need to prepare if you want to apply for citizenship by marriage in Russia:

• the marriage certificate;
• the passports of both spouses;
• the criminal record of the foreign spouse;
• health certificate for the foreign partner;
• information on the income generated in Russia by the foreign spouse;
• proof of passing the Russian language test;
• evidence of the local address in Russia;
• the residence permit;
• proof of payment of the citizenship application fee.

Please note that if issued in another country, the marriage certificate must be translated into Russian and apostilled. Our Russian lawyers can assist in this endeavor.

Simplified citizenship in Russia

Until recently, the Russian authorities provided a faster way to obtain citizenship which covered foreign investors. Under the new law, the following rules have been enabled:

• securing a Russian passport through this means is available to descendants of people who lived in the USSR or the Russian Empire;
• simplified citizenship remains available to citizens of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Moldova regardless of residence period (Presidential Decree No. 962 of 18 December 2023).

This does not mean persons from any of these countries can no longer apply for Russian passports, and citizens of Ukraine also have simplified routes under separate presidential decrees. If you are interested in immigration to Russia and come from any of these states, we recommend relying on our local lawyers.

There is also a simplified pathway for citizenship by marriage: that of having a child with the Russian spouse. However, it is important to note that this will allow the foreign partner to skip the temporary application process. This way, he or she may file directly for permanent residency.

According to the new law, adult foreigners who have at least one Russian parent are also allowed to go through the simplified citizenship process, meaning they do not need to apply for temporary residency first. They are eligible for permanent residency directly. The main advantage of being a permanent resident is the possibility to work in any region of Russia without having to apply for a work permit. Our law firm in Russia can provide extensive information about the requirements of the new Citizenship Law and how it affects applicants.

Below is a video presentation about the formalities of getting citizenship in Russia:

Russian citizenship by birth

Russian nationality can be obtained by citizens who have parents with origins in Russia. Those who were born outside the borders of the Russian Federation, but whose parents were born in this country, can apply for citizenship by birth in Russia. It is enough for only one parent to be born in Russia to be able to apply for Russian nationality.

Several categories of applicants have been added to the list of people who can obtain citizenship by birth in Russia. Among them are children born to foreign or stateless parents on a ship flying the Russian flag.  They will now be subject to Article 13-2 in the Citizenship Act which provides for the new pathway to securing a Russian passport. They do not need to demonstrate their knowledge of Russian law and history, nor do they need to reside in the country for 5 years.

The process is quite simple, but to have the guarantee that the application will not be rejected, it is recommended to seek the help of a lawyer from Russia, with experience in immigration issues. We are here to offer you all the support and legal advice you need to have the proper solutions for immigration to Russia.

Does Russia accept dual citizenship?

According to the Constitution of the Russian Federation and more precisely Article 62 and Article 6, Russian dual citizenship is allowed, but there are also clear conditions in this case. A formal dual-citizenship treaty exists with Tajikistan (as well as Abkhazia and South Ossetia). Otherwise, other foreign citizens who want to obtain citizenship in Russia have not been required to renounce their original citizenship since 2020.

On the other hand, Russian citizens who obtain foreign citizenship in another country do not have to give up their first nationality. However, they are obliged to notify the Russian General Directorate of Migratory Affairs. More about Russian dual citizenship and formalities for 2026 can be offered by our specialists who can also help you relocate to Russia.

The passport index ranked the Russian passport 43rd as the most powerful in the world. Having this passport means you already are a Russian citizen with full electoral rights and the right to work in any Russian state body.

Regaining lost citizenship in Russia

People who were once Russian citizens, but have lost their nationality, can have it reinstated. The main requirement is for them to apply for residence permits and live here for a minimum period of 3 years.

You can rely on our Russian law firm if you are in this situation and want to regain citizenship.

Foreign workers in Russia

In 2025, Russia increased the number of foreign people it granted work visas to, particularly those from Bangladesh and India.

According to the Ministry of Interior data reported by a media outlet, Russian authorities granted 56,500 work licenses to Indian nationals last year, up from 36,200 in 2024. The number of residence cards issued to Bangladeshi laborers more than tripled from 2,800 to 9,300 in the previous year. The number of permits for Uzbek citizens grew 5 times to 2,300, while those issued to Tajik citizens nearly tripled to 263. Also, the number of permits for Turkmen nationals increased more than 2.5 times to 25,000. With the number of permits granted to Chinese nationals increasing by around 50% to 92,000, China continued to be the biggest source of foreign labor.

Want more information about citizenship in Russia in 2026? You can contact our law firm in Russia and find out how you can be legally assisted.