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Obtaining a temporary residence permit in Russia
Updated on June 11, 2024
To begin with, let us define some concepts existing in Russian law.
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 can apply for it (it does not necessarily mean that you will be granted it though - read about it below). It is, as a rule, the first step in acquiring Russian citizenship and is a special stamp in the passport. It cannot be extended – after the RVP is expired, the holder must either apply for a Permanent Residence Permit or leave the country. Or, in some cases, apply for citizenship if he/she has special grounds (we will describe them later).
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.
If a foreigner does not have special grounds to obtain a Temporary Permit / Permanent Permit / citizenship, he/she can apply for a Temporary Residence Permit under the quota approved by the Russian Government; it means that the Government establishes a certain annual amount of temporary permits for each subject of the Russian Federation (each region), and the subject cannot issue more RVPs than determined with the quota (for example, 750 in the Moscow region for 2024), even if there were more applicants. The quota is distributed evenly within a year each month, however, whether to accept an application or not is decided by a special commission. There are criteria that can significantly increase your chance of success – we will list them all later.
In what cases can you get an RVP without taking into account the quota, i. e. guaranteed?
1. You are eligible for a Permanent Residence Permit even without applying for an RVP;
2. You are married to a Russian citizen and have a place of residence in Russia (in the subject of the Russian Federation where your spouse legally resides);
3. You have joined the Russian military – for the period of your service;
4. You are a participant in the State program to assist the voluntary resettlement to the Russian Federation of compatriots living abroad and members of his/her family moving with him/her to the Russian Federation (link);
5. You are a citizen of a state that was part of the USSR and received professional education in a state educational organization of higher education, a state professional educational organization or a state scientific organization located in Russia.
6. You are a citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Moldova or Ukraine;
7. 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;
8. You are a stateless person and have a temporary identity card of a stateless person in the Russian Federation; or you are a stateless person who permanently resided in Ukraine, was recognized as a refugee or received temporary asylum in Russia.
You can file an application for an RVP together with your minor children and legally incompetent wards.
Step-by-step instructions how to get an RVP under a quota:
First you need to get a quota (i. e. get included into the amount of permits issued this year) – this is not a document, your name will be just included into the database of the Ministry of Internal Affairs – and then apply for a temporary residence permit. Accordingly, the order is as follows:
1) Prepare all the paperwork (the list of documents to be provided in given below);
2) Apply for the quota to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (known as MVD), namely to the Directorate for Migration Affairs of the MVD of the region where you are planning to reside.
3) An application is considered within 1 month, and the decision is announced within 6 days – the list of people who have been granted a quota can be found in the same department of the MVD where you applied;
4) Fill out an application for an RVP;
5) Have a medical examination;
6) Pay a state fee;
7) Prepare all the paperwork (the list of documents to be provided in given below);
8) Schedule an appointment at the MVD and file an application for an RVP and the documents. Note that if you got a quota in 2024, it will be not allowed to apply for an RVP in 2025 on the basis of this quota. This is why we recommended to apply for a quota at the beginning of the year;
9) The MVD sends a notice about its decision (positive or negative) by mail or hands you in person. Applications of visa foreign nationals are considered within 4 months, visa-free, 2 months.
10) You come to the MVD to get a permit (a stamp into the passport or a separate document). It is done within 3 working days; for this period, you are given a special certificate. After the stamp is put or a separate permit is ready, you are issued a multiple temporary resident visa, which is valid till the date the permit expires;
11) Do not forget to re-register yourself at your place of residence with new data within 7 working days.
What document must you present to the Directorate for Migration Affairs to apply for a quota?:
o Certificate from a university if you are studying in Russia,
o Diploma if you have graduated from a Russian university,
o Birth certificate of your children if you apply for them too,
o Birth certificate of your relatives if you have relatives that a Russian citizens,
o Proof of income sources,
o Proof of professional qualifications,
o And (or) other relevant documents.
What document must you present to the Directorate for Migration Affairs to apply for an RVP?:
o education document received in Russia - at least 9 classes of school
o 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! It regards all documents regardless of what you apply for and to which Russian authority.
A document issued in a foreign country must be preliminarily apostilled or legalized in the country where it was issued. Learn more about apostilles here.
What increases your chance of being granted a quota:
✓ You have worked in Russia at least 6 months totally each year within the next 3 years;
✓ You have studied in a Russian state educational organization of higher education, a state professional educational organization or a state scientific organization by an intramural (очное обучение) or mixed intra- and extramural program (очно-заочное обучение) at least 1 year;
✓ You have a specialty or profession in demand on the labor market in your region, and have relevant work experience;
✓ You have a legal source of funds;
✓ You have an education and (or) qualification obtained in a foreign country and recognized in Russia in accordance with international treaties of the Russian Federation and in accordance with Russian law;
✓ You have a relative(s) that are Russian citizens or foreign nationals permanently residing in your region (such as full and half brothers and sisters, grandparents, grandchildren, cousins, uncles and aunts);
✓ You own a real estate property (properties) in the region.
What decreases your chance of being granted a quota:
- You have an unspent or unexpunged conviction for committing a crime in Russia or abroad;
- You have been held administratively liable within a year in accordance with Russian law.
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
Visit us: Moscow, Zubovskiy bulvar, building 4, room 308
To begin with, let us define some concepts existing in Russian law.
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 can apply for it (it does not necessarily mean that you will be granted it though - read about it below). It is, as a rule, the first step in acquiring Russian citizenship and is a special stamp in the passport. It cannot be extended – after the RVP is expired, the holder must either apply for a Permanent Residence Permit or leave the country. Or, in some cases, apply for citizenship if he/she has special grounds (we will describe them later).
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.
If a foreigner does not have special grounds to obtain a Temporary Permit / Permanent Permit / citizenship, he/she can apply for a Temporary Residence Permit under the quota approved by the Russian Government; it means that the Government establishes a certain annual amount of temporary permits for each subject of the Russian Federation (each region), and the subject cannot issue more RVPs than determined with the quota (for example, 750 in the Moscow region for 2024), even if there were more applicants. The quota is distributed evenly within a year each month, however, whether to accept an application or not is decided by a special commission. There are criteria that can significantly increase your chance of success – we will list them all later.
In what cases can you get an RVP without taking into account the quota, i. e. guaranteed?
1. You are eligible for a Permanent Residence Permit even without applying for an RVP;
2. You are married to a Russian citizen and have a place of residence in Russia (in the subject of the Russian Federation where your spouse legally resides);
3. You have joined the Russian military – for the period of your service;
4. You are a participant in the State program to assist the voluntary resettlement to the Russian Federation of compatriots living abroad and members of his/her family moving with him/her to the Russian Federation (link);
5. You are a citizen of a state that was part of the USSR and received professional education in a state educational organization of higher education, a state professional educational organization or a state scientific organization located in Russia.
6. You are a citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Moldova or Ukraine;
7. 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;
8. You are a stateless person and have a temporary identity card of a stateless person in the Russian Federation; or you are a stateless person who permanently resided in Ukraine, was recognized as a refugee or received temporary asylum in Russia.
You can file an application for an RVP together with your minor children and legally incompetent wards.
Step-by-step instructions how to get an RVP under a quota:
First you need to get a quota (i. e. get included into the amount of permits issued this year) – this is not a document, your name will be just included into the database of the Ministry of Internal Affairs – and then apply for a temporary residence permit. Accordingly, the order is as follows:
1) Prepare all the paperwork (the list of documents to be provided in given below);
2) Apply for the quota to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (known as MVD), namely to the Directorate for Migration Affairs of the MVD of the region where you are planning to reside.
3) An application is considered within 1 month, and the decision is announced within 6 days – the list of people who have been granted a quota can be found in the same department of the MVD where you applied;
4) Fill out an application for an RVP;
5) Have a medical examination;
6) Pay a state fee;
7) Prepare all the paperwork (the list of documents to be provided in given below);
8) Schedule an appointment at the MVD and file an application for an RVP and the documents. Note that if you got a quota in 2024, it will be not allowed to apply for an RVP in 2025 on the basis of this quota. This is why we recommended to apply for a quota at the beginning of the year;
9) The MVD sends a notice about its decision (positive or negative) by mail or hands you in person. Applications of visa foreign nationals are considered within 4 months, visa-free, 2 months.
10) You come to the MVD to get a permit (a stamp into the passport or a separate document). It is done within 3 working days; for this period, you are given a special certificate. After the stamp is put or a separate permit is ready, you are issued a multiple temporary resident visa, which is valid till the date the permit expires;
11) Do not forget to re-register yourself at your place of residence with new data within 7 working days.
What document must you present to the Directorate for Migration Affairs to apply for a quota?:
- Questionnaire application, 2 copies (see it here);
- Passport (or another proof of identity) and visa (for citizens of countries with a visa regime with Russia);
- Registration card with the current residential address;
- Migration card issued by the customs when you were entering Russia;
- Proof of the data indicated in the questionnaire application, if any:
o Certificate from a university if you are studying in Russia,
o Diploma if you have graduated from a Russian university,
o Birth certificate of your children if you apply for them too,
o Birth certificate of your relatives if you have relatives that a Russian citizens,
o Proof of income sources,
o Proof of professional qualifications,
o And (or) other relevant documents.
What document must you present to the Directorate for Migration Affairs to apply for an RVP?:
- Application for an RVP, 2 copies (see for adults: and for children / wards);
- 2 photographs 3.5×4.5 cm (for stateless persons, 5 pcs.);
- Medical certificate proving the absence of HIV-infection, tuberculosis, syphilis, and viral hepatitis B and C;
- Medical certificate proving the absence of addictive and psychotropic substances in the body (for foreigners over 13 years of age);
- No Criminal Record Certificate from your country of nationality / permanent residence. It can be obtained in your country of nationality / permanent residence or at the consulate of your country, and must be issued no earlier than 3 months before the date of submission;
- Passport (or another proof of identity) and visa (for citizens of countries with a visa regime with Russia);
- Registration card with the current residential address;
- Migration card issued by the customs when you were entering Russia;
- State fee payment receipt – at the moment the fee is ₽1600; beginning from July 1, 2024, it is ₽1920. Please specify the bank details of the Directorate for Migration Affairs where you are going to apply in advance if you do not pay through gosuslugi.ru;
- Proof of Russian language, Russian history and fundamentals of Russian law proficiency. This may be:
o education document received in Russia - at least 9 classes of school
o 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.
- If you have multiple citizenships, a proof of your residence outside the country of your citizenship, for example, a residence permit. Such a document is needed for each of the citizenships, except for the one you indicate as the main one in the application.
Before applying, all documents in a foreign language must be translated by a certified translator and then notarized! It regards all documents regardless of what you apply for and to which Russian authority.
A document issued in a foreign country must be preliminarily apostilled or legalized in the country where it was issued. Learn more about apostilles here.
What increases your chance of being granted a quota:
✓ You have worked in Russia at least 6 months totally each year within the next 3 years;
✓ You have studied in a Russian state educational organization of higher education, a state professional educational organization or a state scientific organization by an intramural (очное обучение) or mixed intra- and extramural program (очно-заочное обучение) at least 1 year;
✓ You have a specialty or profession in demand on the labor market in your region, and have relevant work experience;
✓ You have a legal source of funds;
✓ You have an education and (or) qualification obtained in a foreign country and recognized in Russia in accordance with international treaties of the Russian Federation and in accordance with Russian law;
✓ You have a relative(s) that are Russian citizens or foreign nationals permanently residing in your region (such as full and half brothers and sisters, grandparents, grandchildren, cousins, uncles and aunts);
✓ You own a real estate property (properties) in the region.
What decreases your chance of being granted a quota:
- You have an unspent or unexpunged conviction for committing a crime in Russia or abroad;
- You have been held administratively liable within a year in accordance with Russian law.
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
Visit us: Moscow, Zubovskiy bulvar, building 4, room 308
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