Permanent residence permit in Russia

Updated 21 August 2026

Let us remind you that:

Temporary Residence Permit (Разрешение на временное проживание / РВП, Eng. RVP) refers to a residence permit issued for 3 years. It is, as a rule, the first step in acquiring Russian citizenship and is typically a special stamp in the passport. It cannot be extended – when the RVP is about to expire, the holder must either apply for a Permanent Residence Permit or leave the country. Or, in some cases, apply for citizenship if they have special grounds.

There is also the concept of a "temporary residence permit for education" (разрешение на временное проживание в целях получения образования) - this is a special type of residency that you can consider as a "stepping stone" for moving to Russia, but that is not the topic of this article.

Permanent Residence Permit (Вид на жительство / ВНЖ, in Eng. VNZh) is a residence permit issued without a fixed term (with some exceptions), which is typically obtained after a Temporary Residence Permit. It is usually the second step in obtaining Russian citizenship, and is a booklet resembling a passport or an electronic biometric card. In five years, a Permanent Residence Permit holder is eligible for citizenship.

Note that 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 for at least 12 months (we recommend you read our article devoted to this topic here). The processing time for an application may vary depending on the applicant's category, but it is generally 4 months. That is, you can apply for a VNZh after 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 studied under an educational temporary residence permit and graduated from your institution (then you can apply for a VNZh within 3 years)
• You were born in the RSFSR and were a citizen of the USSR;
• Your parent (adoptive parent / guardian or custodian) or adult child is a Russian citizen AND permanently resides in Russia;
• Your child, born (adopted) in a marriage with a Russian citizen permanently residing in Russia, is also a Russian citizen and permanently resides in Russia.
• You have relatives in the direct ascending line who were born or permanently resided in the RSFSR or in the territory that belonged to the Russian Empire or the USSR, within the State border of the Russian Federation.
• 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 12 months;
• You have pursued higher education in Russia (full-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 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 IT specialist and work for an information technology organization (with the exception of organizations with status of a technology-innovative special economic zone resident), or a member of such a specialist’s family (spouse, children or adopted children), spouses of children, parents (incl. adopted), spouses of parents, grandparents and grandchildren);
• You have invested in Russia, e. g., you bought real estate worth at least 50 million rubles in Moscow, at least 20 million in the Russian Far East, and 25 million in other regions.
• You are a citizen of Kazakhstan, Moldova, Belarus 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 1 year, or you are a member of such a serviceman’s family, incl. in the event of the death of the serviceman. The family members of the serviceman are their spouse, children, or parents.
• You are a repatriate under the State Program for Assistance to the Voluntary Resettlement to the Russian Federation of Compatriots Living Abroad, or you are a family member of such a foreigner.
• You live with a Russian citizen child and have lived in a partnership with his/her other parent (also a Russian citizen) for at least 3 years, they all permanently reside in Russia and you live with them (in this case, you need to prove in court you live as a family);
• You are the only parent of a Russian citizen child permanently residing in Russia.

A separate ground for obtaining a VNZh is specified in the recent Decree No. 883 - read more here.
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Your minor children and incapacitated wards can obtain a permanent residence permit together with you.

How to apply for a Permanent Residence Permit:

1) Get tested for HIV, syphilis, tuberculosis and leprosy, as well as for toxicology screening for prohibited substances. It may only be done in some accredited clinics. The documents from a clinic 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 (currently 30,000 rubles), unless a statutory exemption applies, and apply online through Gosuslugi or in person at the local migration unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD). If you apply online through the Gosuslugi portal, you will usually be required to visit the relevant Ministry of Internal Affairs office within the period stated in the electronic notice, often within 15 days, to present the original documents and complete any required biometric procedures. Failure to attend may result in the online procedure being terminated.
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) or Temporary Residence Permit;
• Registration card with the current residential address;
• Migration card issued by by border guards when you were entering Russia;
• 4 photographs 3.5×4.5 cm;
• Medical certificate (by the way, starting September 1, 2026, the results of medical examinations will be transmitted to the Ministry of Internal Affairs electronically);
• Proof of the availability of housing, for example a rental agreement or documents on ownership, when a foreigner applies after the expiration of 3 years from the date of entry into Russia;
• No criminal record certificate - for applicants over 14 years of age, if they do not have a temporary residence permit, incl. educational, 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 RVP, 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
Foreigners who are legally recognized as unable to work 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 an authorized state educational institution
- document received in Russia - at least 9 classes of school
- school certificate or diploma issued in the USSR
However, some applicants are exempt from this requirement - read more about it here.

Before applying, all documents in a foreign language must be translated and then notarized. As a rule, a document issued in a foreign country must be preliminarily apostilled or legalized - learn more here.

Please note that 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 this and other RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES of a Residence Permit holder here.

IMPORTANT: Presidential Decree No. 821 of 2025 sets additional requirements related to military service for certain men aged 18–65 applying for a VNZh. Applicants covered by these rules must provide a Russian military service contract for at least one year, proof of discharge on grounds specified in the decree, or an official decision confirming that they are unfit for service. There are exceptions, incl. for citizens of Belarus. These rules are temporary, but no end date has been set, so it is not yet known when they will stop applying. Check whether these requirements apply to your case before submitting your application.



Should you have any questions or you are in need of legal help in Russia, do not hesitate to contact us:
Tel: +7 909 961-19-09
Email: legalsolutions@inbox.ru
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