Putin simplified the procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship by foreign contractors

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law according to which foreigners who have entered into a one-year contract for service in the Russian Armed Forces will be able to obtain Russian citizenship in a simplified manner. The document was published on the Internet portal of legal information.

The following changes are made to the law “On Citizenship of the Russian Federation”:

“Foreign citizens who have entered into a contract for service in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, other troops or military formations for a period of at least one year, have the right to apply for admission to the citizenship of the Russian Federation without complying with the conditions provided for in clause “a” of part one of this article, and without presenting a residence permit,” the document says.

Previously, in order to obtain Russian citizenship, foreigners had to conclude a five-year contract. Appropriate changes have been made to the article “On military duty and military service” on the terms of service.

The State Duma adopted a law on a simplified procedure for obtaining citizenship on September 21. The amendments will allow foreign military personnel to apply for Russian citizenship without the need to obtain a residence permit, as well as without the need to live in the Russian Federation continuously for five years from the date of obtaining a residence permit. According to the legislation in force before that, it was necessary to serve under a military contract for at least three years. Also, the period of the first contract, which can be concluded with the Ministry of Defense by a foreigner entering the service as a soldier, sailor, sergeant and foreman, is also reduced to one year.