Permanent residence permit in Russia in 2021

What documents are needed for a residence permit in Russia: main list

The sets of papers for different categories of applicants are slightly different. There is a basic package of documents. It is prepared by applicants for temporary residence permits, as well as those who apply for a residence permit in a simplified manner. Foreigners who apply for a residence permit without a temporary residence permit will need to provide one or more certificates, in addition to the main list, depending on the basis for the application. For example, if registration occurs through a parent who is a citizen of the Russian Federation, then the foreigner collects the main package of papers and supplements it with a birth certificate and a copy of the parent’s passport. Below we provide lists of documents for a residence permit in Russia for various reasons.

The main list of certificates and receipts for adult applicants, current for 2021, looks like this:

Document	Requirements
1. Application for a residence permit	2 copies
2. Passport of a foreign citizen	+ notarized translation of passport
3. Photos	4 pieces, 35x45 mm
4. Certificate of income	2-NDFL, 3-NDFL, deposit, other documents
5. Document for the right to use housing in Russia	needed only for those who have lived in the Russian Federation for more than three years and have never left the country during this time
6. Medical certificates	about the absence of infections, HIV, drug addiction
7. Receipt for payment of state duty	5,000 rubles
8. Certificate of presence/absence of criminal record	required from foreigners from visa countries
9. RVP	For those who apply under temporary residence permit

Documents for a residence permit in Russia
In addition to this list, the following may be requested:

notification of migration registration (if there is no registration stamp at the place of residence);
receipt of notification of residence under a temporary residence permit (if the temporary residence permit was received more than a year ago and a notification has already been made);
if there was a change of name, then documents confirming the change are needed (for example, if a woman took her husband’s surname upon marriage, then she will need to add a marriage certificate to the list of documents);
TIN;
marriage/divorce certificate.

We emphasize that not all migration offices strictly follow the established rules and, therefore, in different regions they may require additional papers in addition to those specified in the Regulations. Therefore, before submitting, check the list of documents for a residence permit with your OBM.

Submission of a package of papers and registration of a residence permit occurs through the territorial division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for migration issues. The period for consideration of the petition for those who submit in the general manner is four months .

Statement

You will need to make two copies. A blank form and samples of filling are in the “Forms and samples” section. To successfully apply for a residence permit, you must correctly and competently draw up an application. You can entrust the preparation of the questionnaire to specialists (only verified ones, since some “professionals” make serious mistakes).

Instructions for filling out an application for a residence permit

Elena Voropaeva
28.12.2020

Many foreigners prefer to prepare the application themselves. In this case, you will have to spend a couple of days studying thematic forums, groups on social networks, where people share their experiences and give advice on drawing up a questionnaire. It is impossible to fill out an application without the help of “experienced” or specialists - there are nuances that a foreign citizen is not even aware of. After filling out, double-check everything several times. Check your full name, dates and other data with your passport. Every period and comma must be in its place. If you find an error, prepare a new copy. Questionnaires with corrections will not be accepted.

Print out the completed application form on each side of the sheet.

Example of a statement (taken in the VK group: Department of Internal Affairs of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for Moscow, MMC Sakharovo.)

Passport

Passport of a foreign citizen
More often, the applicant includes a foreign rather than an internal passport in the set of documents for a residence permit. It is imperative to translate all pages of the document (blank ones too) and have the translation notarized.

According to paragraph 53.8 of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs No. 417, the validity of the passport must cover the period of consideration of documents for a residence permit. For example, if you apply through a temporary residence permit, then the Ministry of Internal Affairs will make a decision within 4 months. This means that there must be at least 4 months left before the passport expires.

Photos

To apply for status you will need four photo cards. Stateless persons - two.

Residence permit photo requirements

Elena Voropaeva
08.12.2020

It’s great if the Ministry of Internal Affairs has a photo studio - you don’t have to explain the requirements for images to the photographer. Photo dimensions: 35x45 mm. Migration department employees accept photographs on matte paper. Gloss won't work. Images can be black and white or in color. If you wear glasses for vision, you need to take them off (the lenses of the glasses should be transparent). Head coverings are not allowed in the photo unless they are worn for religious reasons.

Do not cut the photo immediately and do not paste it into the form. If there are errors in the application form, it may not be accepted, so the photo is usually pasted in immediately upon submission after the inspector checks the application.

Certificate confirming income

There are many questions and disagreements on this point. If it is not possible to provide 2-personal income tax, then a reliable and proven option is to make a bank deposit.

The deposit must confirm the availability of money for the period of consideration of the application, that is, in most cases - for four months. Therefore, the deposit amount must cover four subsistence minimums.

However, deposits are not accepted in all regions. Therefore, you can confirm your income with a 3-NDFL certificate, a dependent. All income verification options.

Documents on housing ownership

Only those foreigners who have lived in the Russian Federation for three years are provided. If you have traveled abroad within three years, then this paragraph does not apply to you.

Medical certificates

The list of documents when applying for a residence permit contains the same medical certificates that were required for a temporary residence permit. Residence permit documents must include a certificate of HIV freedom.

This is what a HIV negative certificate looks like

You also need a certificate with notes from different doctors confirming the absence of serious infectious diseases (including syphilis, tuberculosis, coronavirus).

Medical report

The third document is a certificate from a psychiatrist-narcologist.

Certificate from a psychiatrist-narcologist

Are the results of the medical examination that you took to obtain a temporary residence permit suitable? Unfortunately no. The validity period of the certificates is 3 months. For a residence permit you need to visit doctors again.

Document on knowledge of Russian language

Applying for a residence permit requires that the migrant confirm his knowledge of the Russian language. Foreigners who received education in the USSR before the age of 91 or in the Russian Federation present the corresponding document. This could be, for example, a certificate of secondary education or a university diploma.

The rest have to take an exam that includes three areas: Russian, history, and law. Foreign citizens undergo a similar exam when taking the temporary residence permit. But the residence permit level is a little more complicated. After passing the test, the foreigner receives a certificate, which he presents as proof of language knowledge. Learn more about the exam.

This is what the certificate that is issued based on the exam results looks like

You do not need to present either a certificate or educational documents:

men over 65 years of age;
women over 60 years old;
citizens of Belarus;
Russian speakers;
highly qualified specialists;
participants of the State program;
applicants who apply for a residence permit for relatives who are citizens of the Russian Federation.

State duty

Payment (5,000 rubles) is usually made through Sberbank. When filling out receipts for payment of state duties, bank employees often make mistakes.

Be sure to check the correct spelling of your name, address, type of document, country that issued the passport, etc.

What is permanent residence in Russia

During the Soviet era, this concept had a different meaning. “Getting permanent residence” meant purchasing a regular stamp in the passport for everyone who entered the Soviet Union. But in 2021, the term is interpreted differently.

Permanent residence is an abbreviation for “permanent residence.” But it is not identical and not analogous to the concepts of temporary residence permit or residence permit. Registration of documentation confirming the rights to permanent residence provides its owner with much more rights and opportunities compared to the above-mentioned documents.

This is a completely different status, which makes it possible to turn an ordinary migrant into an almost full member of Russian society.

A considerable number of people continue to use such an archaic phrase as “permanent registration”. Often this is a simple registration at the place of residence, and the concept of “registration” became obsolete in the early nineties.

Placing a registration stamp in the Russian Federation

Documents for a residence permit for a parent, a citizen of the Russian Federation

The main list according to paragraph 31 of the Regulations (Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs No. 417) looks like this:

Application (2 pieces);
Photos - 4 pieces;
Passport + music translation;
The applicant's birth certificate, which contains information about the parent + copy or notarized translation;
Certificate of income;
Medical examination results;
Documents for housing - if you have not left Russia for more than three years;
Receipt for payment of state duty;
Certificate of criminal record - for visa countries.

In addition to this list of documents for a residence permit, the following is usually required:

parent’s passport - original and a copy of pages with marks (the passport is not listed in the list of documents in the Regulations).

Foreigners who have a mother or father with a Russian passport do not take the Russian language exam and generally do not confirm knowledge of the language in any way. This is stated in paragraph 9 of part 5 of article 15.1 of Federal Law No. 115 “On the legal status of foreign citizens in Russia.”

Read more about obtaining a residence permit for a parent.

Documents for a Russian residence permit for a child citizen of the Russian Federation

List of papers according to paragraph 31 of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs No. 417:

Application in two copies;
4 photos;
Passport and its notarized translation;
Birth certificate of the child, which contains information about the parent + copy;
Income confirmation;
Medical certificates;
Document on the right to use housing in the Russian Federation - for applicants who have lived in Russia continuously for three years;
Receipt for payment of state duty;
Certificate of criminal record - for those arriving on a visa.

In addition to this list you may be asked to:

passport of a minor, using which the parent applies for a residence permit (if the child is already 14 years old) + a copy of the pages with marks;
a document confirming the child’s registration (if the minor is not yet 14 years old) - Form 8.

It is not necessary to show educational documents, a certificate or other papers confirming knowledge of the Russian language in accordance with Part 5 of Article 15.1 of Federal Law-115 “On the Legal Status...”.

Obtaining a residence permit for a child who is a citizen of the Russian Federation.

Advantages and disadvantages of residence permit

Applying for permanent residence means gaining almost all the rights and freedoms characteristic of citizens of the Russian Federation:

It is legal to reside in the territory of the Russian Federation, without the burdensome obligation to carry out registration or renew a residence permit or temporary residence permit.
Enter and exit the country at any time, without paying attention or thinking about the absolutely unnecessary bureaucratic fuss, as well as the terms and rules of the residence qualification.
Take advantage of social protection and privileges characteristic of citizens of the Russian Federation.
Within the limits of the law, qualify for free medical care.
Become the founder and head of your own business and even get a loan for the development of your enterprise.

For a foreigner, possession of a residence permit provides access to the opportunities provided by obtaining Russian citizenship (except for a few exceptions). However, the following options are missing:

have voting rights (maximum at a low regional level);
hold a high position in specialized organizations;
nominate your candidacy for elections.

In addition, a foreigner has no right to become:

civil aviation employee, in particular a pilot;
a member of the crew of a military and even a civilian ship;
you will not be able to make a career in the Ministry of Internal Affairs;
and it is unlikely that you will ever be called up for military service in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Documents for residence permits for Belarusians

The mandatory list of documents for a residence permit for citizens of Belarus is given in paragraph 40 of the Regulations:

Application in two copies;
Photos - 4 pieces;
Passport of a citizen of the Republic of Belarus + notarized translation;
Income;
Medicine;
State duty - 5,000 rubles;
A housing document is needed if a Belarusian has lived in Russia for the last three years and has never traveled outside its borders.

Applicants from Belarus will not have to confirm their Russian language. This is stated in Article 15.1 of Federal Law-115 “On the legal status...”.

Instructions for obtaining a residence permit for Belarusians.

The meaning of the address for a residence permit

Registration at the place of residence provides the foreigner with a permanent residence address, which will be confirmed by a package of documents that certify the identity of the migrant.

In circumstances where there is no residence permit, such a situation may well lead to negative consequences.

Often, illegal migrants and people who have managed to obtain official labor status who violate migration rules regarding their permanent residence address are often afraid of the consequences of their actions. Such violations threaten deprivation of a residence permit, deportation, as well as a ban on entry into the Russian Federation.

Documents for a residence permit according to NNR

The list of documents for a residence permit for Russian speakers is given in paragraph 32 of the Regulations:

Application - you need to prepare two copies of the application form;
Photos - 4 pieces, standard requirements (listed above in this article);
Passport + translation of the passport certified by a notary;
Medical examination;
Certificate of criminal record - if you arrived on a visa;
Receipt for payment of state duty.

In addition to this list they ask for:

decision on recognition of a narcotic drug: original + copy;

Native speakers of the Russian language are not required to confirm knowledge of the Russian language, income, and are also not asked to present a document on the right to use residential real estate in the Russian Federation.

Documents for residence permit by birth in the RSFSR

The official list is contained in paragraph 28 of the Regulations:

Statement;
Four photographs;
Passport and music translation;
Birth certificate, which was issued in the RSFSR. If there is no certificate, then a passport of a citizen of the USSR, sample 1974, where the RSFSR is written in the “Place of Birth” line;
Income documents;
Documents for housing - for those living in the Russian Federation for more than three years without leaving;
Certificates of passing a medical examination;
A document confirming knowledge of the Russian language;
State duty;
A certificate of presence/absence of a criminal record is required if the applicant arrived from a country with which Russia has a visa regime.

How to obtain status for those born in the RSFSR.

Documents for residence permit by profession from the list

The list is given in paragraph 35 of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs No. 417:

Application - 2 pieces;
Photos - 4 pieces;
Passport of a foreign citizen + notarized translation;
Document on the right to use residential premises in the Russian Federation - if the applicant has lived in Russia for the last three years and has never left the country during this time;
Certificates with the results of the medical examination;
Confirmation of knowledge of the Russian language;
Certificate of criminal record/no criminal record - only for citizens from visa countries;
Receipt for payment of state duty;
Employment (or civil) contract: original + copy or work book, which shows work activity and length of service: original + copy (you can simply provide a copy of the work book, but then it needs to be certified by the employer).

Another document (it is not specified in the Regulations, but inspectors usually require it):

a certificate from the Pension Fund in the SZI-ILS form, which confirms the presence of length of service and deductions for the period required for applying for a residence permit.

Read more about registration by profession.

Application forms and samples

Application for a residence permit (1656 Downloads) Application for a residence permit for a child (488 Downloads) Appendix No. 1 to the application for a residence permit (Information about changes in personal data) (370 Downloads) Appendix No. 2 to the application for a residence permit (Information about close relatives of the applicant ) (630 Downloads) Appendix No. 3 to the application for a residence permit (Information on employment) (333 Downloads) Application for the issuance of a duplicate residence permit (84 Downloads) Application for replacement of a residence permit (1157 Downloads) Application for correction of typos and (or) errors ( 95 Downloads) Application for refusal to receive the state service of residence permit (68 Downloads) Sample application for issuing a residence permit (5639 Downloads) Sample application for issuing a residence permit for a child (186 Downloads) Sample application No. 1 to the application for issuing a residence permit (468 Downloads) Sample application No. 2 to the application for a residence permit (699 Downloads) Sample application No. 3 to the application for a residence permit (270 Downloads) Sample application for the issuance of a duplicate residence permit (85 Downloads) Sample application for the correction of typos and (or) errors (82 Downloads) Sample application for refusal to receive the state service of residence permit (One Download) Form of annual notification for residence permit (1583 Downloads) Sample of annual notification for residence permit (1215 Downloads) Standard test for residence permit (1336 Downloads) Sample of standard test on the history of Russia (1650 Downloads) Sample of standard test for basics of Russian legislation (One Download)

Documents for residence permit by education and honors diploma

List for applicants who graduated from a university in the Russian Federation with honors (according to paragraph 26 of the Regulations):

Application - 2 copies;
Photos - 4 jokes, 34 x 45 mm;
Passport + translation of all pages of the passport, certified by a notary;
Certificate of income;
A document for housing in Russia - for those who have been in the Russian Federation for more than three years and have never traveled abroad during these three years;
Medicine;
A document confirming knowledge of the Russian language (in this case, it is enough to present a diploma of graduation from a Russian university);
Certificate of presence or absence of a criminal record - if you arrived without a visa, then such a certificate is not needed;
State duty;
Bachelor's, specialist's, master's diploma and supplement + copy.

These documents for residence permit by education are not specified in the Regulations, but they are often required:

a copy of the state accreditation certificate that was valid at the time of receiving the diploma. A copy of the document must be certified by the university;
a copy of the license that was active at the time of receiving the diploma (with an attachment if available) - it must also be certified by the educational institution.

Residence permit in Russia permanent or temporary

Until November 2021, the residence permit was issued for 5 years, and after the expiration of the specified period it had to be renewed. In 2021, a residence permit will be issued without an expiration date. An exception applies to highly qualified foreign specialists and members of their families: they receive a residence permit for the period of validity of the work permit.

Receiving a document imposes certain obligations on you, for example, an annual notification to the Main Directorate of Migration Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs that the foreigner actually continues to reside on the territory of the Russian Federation.

If we mean a situation where a foreigner receives rights similar to those possessed by native residents of Russia, then you need to understand that we are talking about obtaining Russian citizenship, or as most ordinary people say permanent residence in Russia.

Residence permit in the Russian Federation