Changes to residence permits

From 1st November 2019, the Federal Law No. 257-FZ on Amendments to the Federal Law on the Legal Status of Foreign Nationals in the Russian Federation has been in place. It reviews the current conditions for Foreign Nationals seeking Temporary Residence Permit (English: TRP; Russian: РВП) and Permanent Residence Permit (English: PRP; Russian: ВНЖ). The result is a new simplified process that aims to attract investment and to address the declining population.

Favorable changes:

Quicker to gain a residency permit:

There is now an opportunity for eligible foreign nationals to apply directly for the PRP without first applying for a TRP.

Reduced processing time:

The processing time for TRP and PRP has decreased from 6 months to 4 months.

Permanent Residency Permit:

Whilst it was previously only issued for 5 years, the permanent residency permit can now be issued indefinitely. There is now also a six-month penalty waiver to notify the authorities that you are living in Russia; this has been extended from a 2-month period.

Furthermore, foreign nationals living in Russia who have a parent, adoptive parent, guardian or daughter or son who are Russian citizens will no longer need to struggle with the challenge of learning Russian. Fortunately, they won’t need to pass a language, history and legal knowledge exam, which was previously required for all PRP holders.

In addition, teachers and editors are now on the list of highly qualified specialists who can obtain a permanent residency permit and – if desired – Russian citizenship.

How to get a PRP

In order to receive a PRP as a highly qualified specialist, you will require:

• Original ID and its full notarised translation (if you already have one);
• Work permit card;
• Labour contract from your current place of work;
• Employment record booklet detailing your work experience in Russia;
• Criminal record check with apostille from country of citizenship dated no earlier than 3 months before application;
• 2-НДФЛ form for 2019 and 2020 from all the places you worked at during 2019 and 2020;
• СЗИ-6, which contains information about your work experience and states that you have been paying all the applied taxes. The information therein should be identical to the contents of your employment record booklet. Your district’s “multifunctional centre” (МФЦ) must supply the form within one working day.

In order to receive a PRP as a foreign national living in Russia who has a parent, adoptive parent, guardian, or daughter or son with Russian citizenship, you will require:

• Original ID and its full notarised translation;
• Your child’s birth certificate with a stamp of Russian citizenship on the back;
• Criminal record check with apostille from country of citizenship dated no earlier than 3 months before application.

Temporary Residency Permit:

The chances of you getting a TRP may have increased. Some eligible foreign nationals can now apply directly for the PRP, without having to gain a TRP, streamlining the residency process. These nationals include people who were born in the RSFSR and were USSR citizens or have a parent or guardian who is a foreign citizen and has a PRP in Russia and some other personnel. Furthermore, there are now more open spaces to gain a TRP within the annual quota. For other nationals, this should lead to an eased and speedier process of gaining TRP.

Is there a catch?

Permanent Residency Permit:

Although the law states that the permit is indefinite, it also states that the permit should be changed upon reaching the age of 14, 20, 45 years and it should be changed no later than 1 month after reaching the specified age.

Permanent Permit for HQS:

The conditions for indefinite Permanent Residency do not apply to Qualified Specialists and Highly Qualified Specialists. They will only receive PRP’s valid for 3 years, which they will need to renew.

Travelling abroad:

Previously, the period of stay outside of the Russian Federation should not have been more than 6 months continuously. The new law has stricter residency requirements and has cut the period to no more than 6 months in total during the calendar year (from January 1 to December 31).

Cost:

The state duty for both types of Residency permits has increased to 5,000 rubles per application.

If you think any of these could impact you, contact us and we will help you out.