How to Get Russia CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 5 years
- Language
- Test or certificate
- Dual citizenship
- Accepted
- Civic test
- Required, with a test or certificate
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- No income condition in the law
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Accepted in both directionsNew citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship.Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship.
- Available routes
- Naturalisation (residence)Marriage or civil partnershipDescent (citizen parent)Child of a new citizenAdoptionOther family members of citizensFormer citizens (reacquisition)Citizens of specific countriesEthnic or cultural affinityRefugeesStateless personsSpecial achievementsPublic or military service
- Region
- Europe
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024GLOBALCIT baseline, plus 1 later in-force change applied where the data records a new value.
- Last checked
- 5 November 2026
What changed since 2024
- In force
Decree No. 821 tightened simplified acquisition of citizenship and residence; a 2026 law bars foreigners with unexpunged criminal convictions from citizenship.
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. 1 later in-force change in the timeline above takes precedence where it differs.
Naturalisation (residence)
This route covers foreign residents who seek citizenship after living in Russia, subject to the conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
In force, 5 November 2025: Decree No. 821 tightened simplified acquisition of citizenship and residence; a 2026 law bars foreigners with unexpunged criminal convictions from citizenship.
- Residence
- 5 years
Person has been resident in Russia for 5 years uninterrupted, under the permanent residence permit (note: it may take many years before a foreigner qualifies for the permanent residence permit).
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Language
- Required, with a test or certificate
Proficiency in Russian language required.
- Civic knowledge
- Required, with a test or certificate
Person must prove knowledge on Russian history and law via test.
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Person must observe the laws of Russia. Naturalisation can be rejected due to the person's criminal record and participation in anti-state or terrorist activities.
- Income or economic resources
- No income condition in the law
Marriage or civil partnership
This route covers people married to a citizen of Russia, subject to the conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is married to a citizen, lives in Russia, and they have common (adopted) children.
Descent (citizen parent)
Descent from a citizen parent is the basis of this route in Russia. The law of Russia confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in Russia to a citizen.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to two citizens, to a citizen who is his or her sole parent, to a citizen and a stateless, or to a citizen and a foreigner if the child would otherwise become stateless.
Child of a new citizen
For children whose parent becomes a citizen of Russia, the rules below set out what applies.
Transfer to a child
Person has at least one parent who is a citizen of Russia and who lives in Russia.
Transfer to a child
Person is a minor and has at least one parent who is a citizen of Russia.
Child coacquisition
Person is a minor and a parent is acquiring citizenship.
Adoption
Adoption by a citizen of Russia is the basis of this route. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person has at least one adopting parent who is a citizen of Russia and who lives in Russia.
A child and has at least one adopting parent who is a citizen of Russia.
A child or incapacitated person under the guardianship of Russian authorities.
Other family members of citizens
For certain relatives of citizens, former citizens or new citizens of Russia, the rules below set out what applies. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person has relatives in the direct ascending line who were born or permanently resided in the territory of the RSFSR or the territory that belonged to the Russian Empire or the USSR, within (current) the State border of Russia.
Person is a parent of a citizen who resides in Russia.
Former citizens (reacquisition)
For former citizens of Russia, the rules below show when citizenship can be reacquired. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
A foreign citizen or stateless person whose citizenship of Russia has been terminated in connection with an application by their legal representatives, within five years from the date of reaching the age of eighteen years, has the right to submit an application for re-admission to citizenship of Russia.
Citizens of specific countries
Holding the citizenship of a particular country is the basis of this route in Russia. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is a former USSR citizen, was born in the RSFSR.
Foreign citizens and stateless persons who arrived in Russia from states that were part of the USSR and registered at their place of residence in Russia as of November 1, 2002.
Ethnic or cultural affinity
For people with ethnic or cultural ties to Russia, the rules below set out what applies. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person participates in the state programme for support of voluntary resettlement to Russia of compatriots who live abroad, and has registered his/her residence in Russia. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except the rules for ordinary naturalisation)
Refugees
For recognised refugees in Russia, the rules below set out what applies. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is a recognised refugee or is enjoying political asylum in Russia. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except the rules for ordinary naturalisation).
Stateless persons
This route covers stateless people and children who would otherwise be stateless, subject to the conditions below.
Foundlings
Person is found in Russia, is of unknown parentage and under the age 18, and his or her parents are not identified within 6 months since the person is found.
Otherwise stateless (born in country)
Person is born in Russia to foreigners or stateless persons and is not entitled to another citizenship.
Otherwise stateless (born in country)
Person is born in on a Russian flagged (air/water) vessel and is not entitled to another citizenship.
Stateless persons
Person is stateless and has resided in Russia for at least 1 year. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except the rules for ordinary naturalisation). Person is stateless, previously possessed citizenship of the USSR. Stateless person (or their child) who possessed citizenship of the USSR and resided on the territory of Russia on November 1, 2002.
Special achievements
Special achievements, or a national interest in granting citizenship, are the basis of this route in Russia. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person received a higher education degree or a professional degree in Russia after 2002 and worked for a minimum of 1 year in Russia. Person has special merits to Russia or due to his profession, qualifications or for other reasons beneficial to Russia.
Public or military service
For people with public or military service for Russia, the rules below set out what applies. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person has served in the Armed Forces of Russia, other troops or military formations for a period of at least one year. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except the rules for ordinary naturalisation). Veterans of the WW2 who were USSR citizens. Other Veterans of wars before 1992, whose citizenship application has been requested by federal agencies.
Not available in Russia: Birth in the country, Residence during childhood, Very long residence, Investment. This follows the GLOBALCIT coding, with in-force changes applied.
Dual citizenship
Dual citizenship is accepted in Russia for new citizens and for citizens who naturalise abroad.
- New citizens
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship
Compare with neighbours
The period of 5 years set under the law of Russia is also the most common one in Eastern Europe.
Check where Russia sits in the full residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Belarus | 5 years | Required, no test | Citizens abroad only |
 Bulgaria | 5 years | Required, no test | Citizens abroad only |
 Czechia | 5 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Hungary | 8 years | Assimilation only | Accepted |
 Poland | 3 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 Ukraine | 5 years | Required, no test | Not accepted |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 15, 18, 21.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (2026, November 5). How to Get Russia Citizenship. https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/russia/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/russia/">How to Get Russia Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, last checked 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become a Russian citizen?
Ordinary naturalisation in Russia requires 5 years of residence, plus the other conditions in the law. A change in force since January 2024 also affects this: see the timeline above.
Does Russia allow dual citizenship?
Yes. Russia accepts dual citizenship in both directions, as coded in the data.
Do I need a language test for Russian citizenship?
Applicants must provide a language test result or certificate.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Russian citizenship?
Demonstrating civic knowledge through a test or certificate is necessary for Russian citizenship.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Russian citizenship?
There is no obligation to renounce your current citizenship to get Russian citizenship. The law of your current country may have its own rules on this.
Can I get Russia citizenship by marriage?
Yes. Marriage to a citizen is a route to citizenship in Russia. Procedure: discretionary.
Can I get Russia citizenship by descent?
Yes, Russia has a descent route. Procedure: automatic.
Can I get Russia citizenship by investment?
No. The data codes no citizenship-by-investment route for Russia.
Related pages
Also see: Russia passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.