Compatriots Resettlement Program in Russia

Updated 28 October 2026.

Russia’s State Programme for the Voluntary Resettlement of Compatriots Living Abroad helps people move to Russia permanently. It offers immigration advantages and, depending on the route and destination, financial assistance.

WHO QUALIFIES AS A COMPATRIOT AND CAN APPLY?

The main categories:

• Russian citizens living abroad. You hold Russian citizenship and live permanently outside the Russian Federation.

• Former Soviet citizens and their descendants. You were a Soviet citizen, live in a former Soviet republic and became a citizen of that country or stateless. Direct descendants of such people may also qualify.

• Emigrants and their descendants. You or a direct ancestor emigrated from Russia, the USSR or an earlier Russian state, held the corresponding citizenship or subject status, and became a foreign national or stateless.

• People with historical ethnic ties to Russia. You live abroad and belong to one of the peoples historically living in Russia, or are a direct descendant of such a person.

• People with direct ancestors who lived in Russia. A direct ancestor previously lived in Russia, and you have freely chosen to maintain spiritual, cultural and legal ties with Russia.

WHO QUALIFIES FOR THE SPECIAL REPATRIATE ROUTE?

"Repatriates" are compatriots who meet additional conditions and choose the special route. It is possible if at least one of the following applies:

• You are a Russian citizen who was living permanently abroad on 24 February 2022.

• You formally renounced Russian citizenship voluntarily.

• You previously held Soviet citizenship and were born or lived permanently in the Russian Soviet republic (RSFSR), or in former Soviet territory within the state borders of the modern Russian Federation.

• You have a direct ancestor with the required connection. That ancestor must have been born or lived permanently in the RSFSR, or in territory formerly belonging to the Russian Empire or USSR within the state borders of the Russian Federation, and must have held the corresponding citizenship or subject status. A direct ancestor can be a parent, grandparent, great-grandparent or an earlier ancestor.

Below, we will discuss the advantages that come with participating in the program specifically as a repatriate.

CAN FAMILY MEMBERS JOIN?

The following relatives may be included as family members — and they do not have to qualify independently as compatriots:

• Spouse
• Children, incl. adopted and children under guardianship / trusteeship
• Parents, incl. foster parents, and stepparents
• Minor or legally incapacitated siblings, and those siblings’ minor children, including adopted children and children under guardianship / trusteeship
• Grandparents
• Minor grandchildren

DO YOU NEED TO SPEAK RUSSIAN?

Applicants applying from abroad under the ordinary route need enough Russian for everyday spoken and written communication. This can be demonstrated through accepted education documents or an interview with an authorised commission.

There are exemptions from providing language evidence: compatriots who currently hold, or previously held, citizenship of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova or Ukraine, and people who qualify for the repatriate categories.

CHOOSING A REGION AND THE RIGHT ROUTE

Under the ordinary route, you choose a region participating in the programme. Each region sets its own selection criteria, which may concern qualifications, work experience and local demand for particular occupations.

Repatriates can settle in any Russian region, incl. Moscow and St Petersburg, without ordinary regional selection requirements. However, most ordinary relocation payments are unavailable under this route, although regions may provide their own assistance.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN BENEFITS?

Depending on the route and destination, support may include reimbursement of travel and moving expenses, settlement payments, etc. Participants and their family members can also work without a separate work permit or employment patent.

The programme provides a route to Russian citizenship without the usual five-year residence requirement. Participants do not necessarily need to obtain a temporary or permanent residence permit first. But citizenship still requires a separate application and compliance with the applicable requirements, including language, Russian history and basic law requirements, unless exempt.

HOW DO YOU START?

First, you need to contact the Russian consulate in your country and request its current document checklist. If you are already in Russia, you can check with the local Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) migration department whether your immigration status allows you to apply there.

You will need identity documents, family records and evidence supporting your eligibility. Depending on your route, education and employment records may also be required. Documents in a foreign language need certified Russian translations; foreign documents may also need an apostille or consular legalisation.

Approved applicants receive a participant certificate, with programme status granted for five years. After moving, you need to complete the required migration formalities and register with the migration authorities as a programme participant.


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