Russian Citizenship Law: Acquisition, Naturalisation, and the 2024 Amendments

Russian citizenship law is governed by Federal Law No. 62-FZ of 31 May 2002 on Citizenship of the Russian Federation, the Constitution (Articles 6, 61–63), and international treaties. The law has undergone significant amendments, including the comprehensive reform of 2024 that simplified acquisition procedures for certain categories of applicants. Russian citizenship law reflects the country’s post-Soviet identity, its demographic challenges, and its geopolitical priorities, including the protection of the rights of Russian speakers and compatriots abroad.

Constitutional Foundations

Article 6 of the Constitution establishes the fundamental principles of Russian citizenship: citizenship is uniform and equal regardless of the grounds of acquisition; every citizen has all rights and freedoms and bears equal obligations; a citizen cannot be deprived of citizenship or the right to change it. Article 61 provides that a citizen cannot be expelled from the Russian Federation or extradited to a foreign state. Article 62 provides that a citizen may hold dual citizenship (dvoynoye grazhdanstvo) in accordance with federal law or an international treaty, but dual citizens are considered solely as Russian citizens on the territory of Russia. The constitutional principles establish the framework for a citizenship law that is inclusive in its acquisition provisions while maintaining the primacy of Russian citizenship on Russian territory.

Acquisition by Birth

Citizenship by birth occurs on the principle of jus sanguinis (citizenship by descent) combined with elements of jus soli (citizenship by birth on the territory). A child born to two Russian citizens acquires Russian citizenship regardless of the place of birth. A child born to one Russian citizen and one foreign citizen acquires Russian citizenship if the child is born on the territory of Russia or if the child would otherwise be stateless. A child born to two foreign citizens acquires Russian citizenship if the child is born on the territory of Russia and the parents’ states do not grant the child their citizenship (prevention of statelessness). A child found on the territory of Russia whose parents are unknown acquires Russian citizenship if the parents do not appear within six months.

Naturalisation (Procedure of Admission to Citizenship)

Naturalisation (priyom v grazhdanstvo) in the general procedure requires the applicant to meet several conditions. The applicant must be at least 18 years old and legally capable. The residence requirement is five years of continuous residence in Russia from the date of obtaining a residence permit (vid na zhitelstvo), with the period of residence reduced to one year for certain categories (highly qualified specialists, refugees, native speakers of Russian). The applicant must undertake to observe the Constitution and laws of Russia, must possess a lawful source of income, must have renounced foreign citizenship (subject to exceptions), and must demonstrate proficiency in the Russian language. The language proficiency requirement is satisfied by passing the state examination in Russian as a foreign language, by presenting a diploma from an educational institution confirming education in Russian, or by being recognised as a native speaker of Russian (nositel russkogo yazyka) by a special commission.

Simplified Procedure for Russian Speakers

The native speaker of Russian (nositel russkogo yazyka) procedure, introduced in 2014, provides a simplified path to Russian citizenship for persons who are fluent in Russian and whose ancestors lived permanently on the territory of the Russian Federation (or of the Russian Empire or the USSR). The applicant must be recognised as a native speaker of Russian by a commission established by the Federal Migration Service (now the Ministry of Internal Affairs). The commission conducts an interview to assess the applicant’s command of Russian and reviews documents confirming the applicant’s family connection to Russia. The native speaker procedure does not require five years of residence or the renunciation of foreign citizenship. The procedure was developed as part of the policy of supporting compatriots abroad and facilitating the return of ethnic Russians and Russian speakers to Russia. The procedure has been used extensively by residents of Ukraine, the post-Soviet states, and other countries with significant Russian-speaking populations.

The 2024 Amendments

Federal Law No. 138-FZ of 28 April 2024 introduced comprehensive amendments to the citizenship law, representing the most significant reform of Russian citizenship legislation since 2002. The amendments simplified citizenship acquisition procedures for several categories of applicants, including participants in the special military operation in Ukraine and their family members, holders of residence permits in Russia for more than one year, and graduates of Russian educational institutions with a diploma of higher education. The amendments also reduced the residence requirement for certain categories from five years to three years. The 2024 amendments introduced new grounds for the termination of citizenship, including the commission of certain crimes (discrediting the armed forces, public calls for sanctions against Russia, extremism, terrorism) and the conduct of activities incompatible with Russian citizenship (participation in undesirable organisations, foreign military service, violation of military registration obligations). The amendments also established procedures for the revocation of citizenship acquired by decision of authorised bodies, distinct from the deprivation of citizenship by birth. The 2024 amendments reflected the government’s emphasis on demographic policy, national security, and the integration of residents of the territories acquired in Ukraine.

Dual Citizenship

Russian law permits dual citizenship (dvoynoye grazhdanstvo) but subject to significant restrictions. Article 62 of the Constitution provides that dual citizenship is permitted if provided for by federal law or an international treaty. The Citizenship Law provides that holders of dual citizenship are considered solely as citizens of the Russian Federation on the territory of Russia, and they must fulfil all obligations of Russian citizenship (including military service, tax obligations, and civil obligations). Dual citizens may not hold certain public offices (including the Presidency, positions in state security bodies, and positions requiring access to state secrets). The law on dual citizenship requires dual citizens to notify the Ministry of Internal Affairs of their foreign citizenship or permanent residence abroad within 60 days of acquiring foreign citizenship or permanent residence. Failure to notify is subject to criminal liability under Article 330.2 of the Criminal Code (up to 200,000 rubles fine or up to 400 hours of compulsory community service). The notification requirement was introduced as a national security measure, to enable the state to monitor dual citizens and to ensure that foreign allegiances do not conflict with state security.

Revocation of Citizenship

The revocation of citizenship (prekrashcheniye grazhdanstva) is governed by Articles 18–24 of the Citizenship Law. The Constitution prohibits the deprivation of citizenship (Article 6), but the Citizenship Law distinguishes between the deprivation of citizenship acquired by birth and the revocation of citizenship acquired by admission (naturalisation). Citizenship acquired by birth may not be terminated except by voluntary renunciation (vystupleniye iz grazhdanstva). Citizenship acquired by naturalisation may be revoked on grounds including: the presence of false information or forged documents in the application; the commission of certain crimes (terrorism, extremism, discrediting the armed forces); and the conduct of activities incompatible with citizenship. The 2024 amendments expanded the grounds for revocation to include public calls for sanctions against Russia, participation in undesirable organisations, and foreign military service. The revocation of citizenship is effected by decision of the President (for general grounds) or the Ministry of Internal Affairs (for specific grounds). The revocation of citizenship has significant consequences, including the loss of the right to reside in Russia, the loss of social benefits, and the potential for deportation.

Citizenship and Migration Policy

Russian citizenship law is closely linked to migration policy. The State Programme for the Voluntary Resettlement of Compatriots Living Abroad, established in 2006, facilitates the migration of persons of Russian descent and Russian speakers to Russia and their acquisition of Russian citizenship. The programme provides financial assistance, support with housing and employment, and a simplified procedure for obtaining citizenship. The Compatriots Programme has been expanded and revised, with a focus on attracting highly qualified professionals, entrepreneurs, and persons with technical skills. The programme has been particularly active in attracting residents of Ukraine, Central Asian states, and other post-Soviet countries. The citizenship law also provides for the acquisition of citizenship by investors and entrepreneurs, though the investment thresholds are high and the procedures are less developed than in some other countries.

Significance

Russian citizenship law has evolved from the relatively restrictive framework of the 2002 law to a more complex and differentiated system that reflects the government’s demographic, geopolitical, and security priorities. The 2024 amendments significantly simplified acquisition procedures for certain categories while expanding grounds for revocation. The treatment of dual citizenship reflects the tension between the constitutional permission of dual citizenship and the practical concern for national security and state control. The citizenship framework continues to evolve in response to demographic challenges, migration flows, and the changing geopolitical context. The effectiveness of the citizenship law in achieving its objectives — including demographic growth, the protection of compatriots, and the integration of migrants — remains subject to ongoing debate.