Obtaining a permanent residence permit in Russia

Updated on July 3, 2024

Let us remind you that:

Temporary Residence Permit / TRP (Разрешение на временное проживание / РВП, in Eng. RVP) refers to a residence permit issued for 3 years. Any foreign national legally staying in Russia may apply for it. It is, as a rule, the first step in acquiring Russian citizenship and is a special stamp in the passport or, rarer, a separate document. It cannot be extended – after the Temporary Permit expires, the holder must either apply for a Permanent Residence Permit or leave the country.

Permanent Residence Permit / PRP (Вид на жительство / ВНЖ, in Eng. VNZh) is an termless residence permit, which is usually obtained after a Temporary Residence Permit. It is usually the second step in obtaining Russian citizenship, and is a booklet resembling a passport. In five years, a Permanent Residence Permit holder is eligible for citizenship.

The holder of a Russian residence permit (whether temporary or permanent) remains a citizen of his/her country!

A permanent residence permit can be obtained if a foreigner has been living in Russia on a Temporary Residence Permit at least 12 months (we recommend you read our article devoted to this topic here); that is, you can apply for a VNZh in 8 months after obtaining an RVP – your application will be considered 4 months. Thus, be sure to apply for the VNZh no later than 4 months before the expiration of the RVP!

In what cases can you get a permanent residence permit without getting an RVP?:

• You were born in the USSR and were a citizen of the USSR;
• You are under the age of 18 and your parent (adoptive parent / legal caregiver / guardian) who is a foreign national permanently resides in Russia;
• You are under the age of 18 and apply for a VNZh together with your parent (adoptive parent / legal caregiver / guardian) who is a foreign national;
• Your parent (adoptive parent / legal caregiver / guardian) or child is a Russian citizen AND permanently resides in Russia;
• You are over 18 years old, but are legally incompetent, and apply for a VNZh together with your parent (adoptive parent / legal caregiver / guardian) who is a foreign national;
• You are over 18 years old, but are legally incompetent, and your parent (adoptive parent / legal caregiver / guardian) who is a foreign national permanently resides in Russia;
• You or your relatives in direct ascending line / spouse were illegally deported from the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic;
• You are a highly qualified specialist or a family member of a highly qualified specialist;
• You have been working as a qualified specialist (do not confuse with highly qualified specialists) at least 6 months;
• You have pursued higher education in Russia (fill time) and obtained a diploma “with honors” (at least 75% of “excellent” marks, no “satisfactory” marks);
• You lost Russian citizenship, but reside in Russia;
• You lost Russian citizenship because the decision on the granting of Russian citizenship was cancelled, but you reside in Russia (the exception is if you have committed certain criminal offenses);
• You are a finalist or winner of an all-Russian competition held by the organization "Russia is the Land of Opportunities" (“Россия - страна возможностей”)
• You are an information technology specialist and work for an accredited information technology organization (with the exception of organizations with status of a technology-innovative special economic zone resident), or his/her family member (spouse, children (incl. adopted children), spouses of children, parents (incl. adopted), spouses of parents, grandparents and grandchildren);
• You have invested in Russia, for example, you bought real estate worth at least 50 mln rubles in Moscow, at least 20 mln in the Russian Far East, and 25 mln in other regions.
• You are a citizen of Kazakhstan, Moldova or Ukraine;
• You are moving to Russia for permanent residence in accordance with international treaties of the Russian Federation on regulating the resettlement process and protecting the rights of migrants;
• During the period of the Special Military Operation, you entered into a contract for military service in the Armed Forces of Russia or military formations for one year, or you are a member of such a serviceman’s family, including in the event of the death of the serviceman. Family members of the serviceman are his spouse, children (incl. adopted ones), parents (incl. adopted ones).

How to apply for a Permanent Residence Permit:

1) Get tested for HIV, syphilis, tuberculosis and hepatitis B and C, as well as for drugs in the body. It may only be done in some accredited hospitals. The documents from a hospital are valid during one year;
2) Pass a Russian proficiency test (in some cases, it is not required, click here to learn more);
3) Pay a state fee (6,000 rubles) and apply for a Permanent Residence Permit through gosuslugi.ru or to the local department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD). You will be invited to the MVD; the officers will check the details of the documents with the application, if necessary, take your fingerprints and inform you when your residence permit is ready;
You must pay the state fee and visit the MVD department within 15 calendar days after the invitation; otherwise its issuance will be refused;
4) Obtain your Permanent Residence Permit. Do not forget to register at your place of residence again under the new document;

What documents are required?

• Application for a Residence Permit, 2 copies
• Passport (or another proof of identity) and visa (for citizens of countries with a visa regime with Russia) / Temporary Residence Permit;
• Registration card with the current residential address;
• Migration card issued by the customs when you were entering Russia;
• 4 photographs 3.5×4.5 cm;
• Medical certificate;
• Proof of the availability of housing, for example a rental agreement or documents on ownership, if the foreigner has not left Russia for 3 years;
• No criminal record certificate - for applicants over 14 years of age, if they do not have a temporary residence permit (РВП), incl. educational (РВПО), and if they arrived from a visa country. For instance, if you came from Australia, but already presented a no criminal record certificate when applying for an РВП, you will not have to provide it again to get a Permanent Residence Permit.
• An income document confirming the ability to support yourself and your family within the regional subsistence level during the period of your residence permit. For example:
- certificate from place of work
- declaration of income from business activities
- proof of receipt of child support
- proof of a bank deposit
Disabled foreigners can provide a pension certificate or proof of their incapacity for work due to disability
• Proof of proficiency in Russian. This may be:
- Russian Language, Russian History and Fundamentals of Russian Law Proficiency Certificate. To obtain it, take an exam at one of the approved organizations education
- document received in Russia - at least 9 classes of school
- school certificate or diploma issued in the USSR
However, men who have reached the age of 65, women who have reached the age of 60, participants in the State program to assist voluntary resettlement in the Russian Federation, and citizens of Ukraine or Belarus as well as minor children and legally incompetent wards of the applicants are not supposed to provide it.

Before applying, all documents in a foreign language must be translated by a certified translator and then notarized! A document issued in a foreign country must be preliminarily apostilled or legalized in the country where it was issued!

IMPORTANT: Every year a Permanent Residence Permit holder must notify the Ministry of Internal Affairs about his/her residence in Russia – at least 6 months a year in the country. If you violate this and some other conditions, the residence permit may be canceled.

Read more about the RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES of a Permanent Residence Permit holder here.



Should you have any questions or you are in need of legal aid in Russia, do not hesitate to contact us:
Tel: +7 909 961-19-09
Email: legalsolutions@inbox.ru
Visit us: Moscow, Zubovskiy bulvar, building 4, room 308