There are 2 types of Russian residency which a foreigner can obtain - temporary and permanent. This article lists their rights and obligations. Permanent residency can only be obtained after holding temporary residency.
A temporary residence permit (TRP) gives foreign citizens the right to reside in Russia before obtaining a permanent residence permit. This type of permit takes about 6 months to acquire and is valid for 3 years, although it must be renauthenticated every year. A TRP can be issued to a foreign citizen following requirements established by the federal government .
A temporarily residing foreign citizen cannot change the place of residence within the region where he or she obtained the TRP. To work outside your region, you must obtain a work permit.
To exit Russia, you should apply for a single exit/entrance visa each time you leave, and you may not be outside Russia for a duration of 3 months at any one time.
Since 2015, new immigration laws were passed in Russia which make obtaining a work or residency permit harder for the majority of expats.
Anyone applying for such a permit must demonstrate their competency in Russian language, history and legal framework. This must be ratified by an accredited institution.
There does remain however a variety of potential expats who are exempt from this:
Apart from the new legislation, applicants must also meet one of the following requirements if they are not subject to the quota for temporary residence permits:
When applying for temporary residency in Russia, you must include the following documents:
After having had a TRP for at least two years, you can apply for a permanent residence permit. This should be done at least 6 months prior to the TRP expiring. It is issued for 5 years and can be extended limitlessly It gives you the right to work in Russia without a work permit and to travel in and out of Russia without a visa.
Just as with the TRP, the permanent residence permit must be reauthenticated annually. You cannot be out of the country for longer than 3 months, however unlike with the TRP you are not required to obtain an exit visa.
In addition to the documentation required for a TRP, an applicant for a permanent residence permit must provide confirmation of their TRP and the following documentation for any children under the age of eighteen:
For children aged fourteen to eighteen, applicants must provide their children’s consent to reside in Russia, notarised by them.
Your application will be accepted or denied within 6 months.