The Ministry of Internal Affairs explained obtaining Russian citizenship using a simplified procedure

It will become easier for children and graduates of Russian universities to obtain citizenship

The details and subtleties of the implementation of the new law “On Citizenship of the Russian Federation” were discussed on Friday at a round table in the Parliamentary Gazette by representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, officials and politicians.

Let us recall that now there are two procedures for obtaining Russian citizenship by a foreigner: general and simplified. Under the general procedure, the main condition is that a foreigner has lived in Russia for 5 years and speaks Russian, knowledge of the history and legislation of the Russian Federation.

The simplified procedure is different in that it is not necessary to comply with the condition of residence in Russia for 5 years.

So who can obtain citizenship in a simplified manner? The head of the Main Directorate for Migration Issues of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Police Lieutenant General Valentina Kazakova spoke about this at the meeting:

“A simplified procedure is possible for those persons who have close family ties in the territory of the Russian Federation: parents, children – citizens of the Russian Federation living in the country. For those persons who themselves or their ancestors were born on the territory of the RSFSR or the Russian Empire. A very important addition – within today’s boundaries. That is, if the ancestors or the persons themselves were born on the territory of Crimea, the new subjects are also subject to the new law.”

Also a significant change is the possibility of acquiring citizenship for children who were born in mixed marriages in a family living abroad. The new law has simplified this procedure, and now, without the consent of a parent who is a foreign citizen, upon the application of a parent who is a citizen of the Russian Federation, a child can acquire Russian citizenship.

University graduates – those foreign citizens who have studied on the territory of the Russian Federation, know Russian, have adapted, integrated – will also be able to acquire Russian citizenship. And excellent students generally do not have to work for a year after graduating from a university in the Russian Federation, but immediately after completing their studies receive citizenship. The procedure has also been simplified for participants in the state program to assist the resettlement of compatriots from abroad. “Now it is enough to have a program participant’s certificate; there is no need to draw up additional documents in the form of a temporary residence permit or residence permit,” Kazakova said.

It is noted that this list can be expanded. Now the President of the Russian Federation will be able, by his additional decrees, to determine the categories that will be able to obtain Russian citizenship in a simplified manner. This will not require any changes to the law itself. Active work on such a decree, for example, is already underway in relation to citizens of Ukraine, Moldova and Kazakhstan. “This was done so that we could respond more flexibly to the changes that are taking place in the world,” noted Valentina Kazakova.