Russian Citizenship for Indian - Requirements & Eligibility

The prospect of obtaining Russian citizenship is becoming a more enticing option for many Indians. Whether for work in energy and IT, education at World Class Russian universities, or personal connections, Russian citizenship is a legal process that can be followed in a structured manner. If you are wondering about Russian citizenship for Indians, this article will show the various immigration options, eligibility, and requirements that you have to meet. 

Main Routes to Citizenship of the Russian Federation

There are a few ways an Indian citizen can apply for citizenship in Russia. The most common is the General and Simplified procedures.

1. The General Procedure (Standard Path)

This is the most common and the process that takes the longest. The main procedures and requirements for citizenship in Russia under this procedure are as follows:

• Residence Permit: As a prerequisite to the general procedure, you must first obtain a temporary residence permit and then a permanent residence permit (vid na zhitelstvo).

   

• Continuous Legal Residence: You must have continuously resided in Russia with a permanent residence permit for at least five years. This period can be reduced in specific circumstances, which we will explore in the simplified procedure.

   

• Valid Source of Income: You have to prove that you have a secure and legitimate source of income, and that you will be able to support yourself and any dependents and not be a burden on the state.

   

• Openly Renouncing Indian Citizenship: One of the core preconditions of obtaining Russian citizenship is openly renouncing your current citizenship. This is quite strict with only a few exceptions but, for the purposes of this discussion, it is likely to be an unavoidable requirement for Indian applicants. You will have to formally surrender your Indian passport at the local Indian Embassy or Consulate located in Russia.

   

• Russian Language Skills: You have to prove proficiency in the Russian language (most likely by taking a test of your speaking, reading, and writing skills), which will determine your ability to integrate into society.

   

2. The Simplified Procedure (Fast-Tracked Path)

This option allows for a significant decrease in the residency requirement and is available to certain applicants. Russian citizenship for Indians via a simplified procedure would typically entail the following:

• Marriage to a Russian Citizen: If you are married to a Russian citizen and live together in Russia for a minimum of three years, you can apply without waiting the required five-year period.

   

• Parents are Russian Citizens: If one or more of your parents are a Russian citizen and reside in Russia.

   

• Former USSR Citizens: Individuals who were citizens of the USSR and/or born in the RSFSR of Russia.

   

• Highly Qualified Specialists and Investors: Though not a direct guarantee, certain professional qualifications accompanied by significant investments into the Russian economy may yield faster simplified procedures.

   

• Political Asylum or Refugee Status: Holders of political asylum may have a simplified option to citizenship as well, though this is a specific legal designation.

It is essential to determine which simplified category you may fit and plan your subsequent application for citizenship in Russia accordingly.

Criteria and Requirements for Applying for Russian Citizenship

Aside from the specified criteria for the pathway, all applicants must satisfy some common requirements. These are the fundamental eligibility conditions for Russian citizenship:

• Binding to the Russian Constitution: You will be required to agree to obey the Russian Constitution and laws.

   

• Russian Language Exam: As previously noted, this is required. You will undertake a Russian Language Exam at an approved educational level.

   

• Familiarity with Russian History and Laws: A fairly recent addition to the requirements for Russian citizenship is an exam review of the basic Russian history and knowledge of basic law.

   

• No Criminal Record: You must not be found guilty of serious crimes in any country, including India. During the application process, your background will be checked.

   

• Lawful and Continuous Residence: Your whole time in Russia throughout the eligibility period must be lawful and continuous. Excessive time absent from Russia may reset the time on your continuous residence requirement.

   

Application Procedure for Russian Citizenship for Indians

The procedure is administrative and will take care to be accurate to the detail:

• Step 1: Check eligibility. Make sure you fulfill all of the needs for your chosen pathway (General or Simplified).

• Step 2: Collect documents. This includes passport, residence permit, proof of income, marriage certificate (if applicable), birth certificate, proof of language abilities (in most cases only speaking), and history/law test certificates.

• Step 3: Renunciation of Indian citizenship. You will need to begin the renunciation process with the Indian authorities as this is a main requirement for Russian citizenship.

   

• Step 4: Submit application. The application will be submitted to the Main Directorate for Migration Issues of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (GUVM MVD) in the region you are residing in Russia.

   

• Step 5: Wait for a decision. It can take anywhere from three to six months to process for the simplified procedure, potentially a year for the general procedure.
  
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Conclusion 

For Indians, securing Russian citizenship is a serious obligation which requires a strong degree of integration and assimilation into Russian society. With proper planning and an understanding about what it means to gain Russian citizenship, this daunting dream is possible for eligible Indian applicants.