How to get Russian citizenship

October 4, 2023

Here I will share with you 8 immigration programs on how US citizen can get Russian citizenship the fastest way.

First way to get Russian citizenship for American is to participate in the Golden Visa Program. You invest in Real Estate in Russia around $210 000 (In Moscow the number is higher – around $515 000). It will take you 6 years to secure citizenship. This is what you do. You invest money. After 1 year you get Permanent Residency. After that you wait 5 years, keep your investment for this time, and you apply for Russian Citizenship. The cool part of this program is that family members will get permanent Residency too. That includes: spouse, children, parents, spouse’s parents, grandparents and grandchildren. For more information on Golden Visa Program you may want to read here.

The fastest way to get Russian citizenship is to join Russian military. So, if you sign a contract with Russian military for one year, after 1 year you get Russian citizenship.  Under this program your spouse, children and parents can get Russian citizenship too. So, there you have it – 1 year and you and your loved ones are citizens of Russia. For more details on MIlitary path to citizenship you may read here.

If you are young, and don’t have a family, perhaps the next program will work for you. It is Study at the Russian university. Russia has 741 universities and the tuition is cheap and education is good. So here is a path for citizenship for a student. You enter one of Russian universities. It can be in English, it does not matter. You have to graduate with Red Diploma (with honors). After graduation you apply for Permanent Residency.  After you got your Permanent Residency – get an official employment and work for 1 year in that position. After 1 year – apply for Russian citizenship. For more information read here.

Some of you ask me if US citizen has to give up his American Citizenship when you get Russian one. There is no such requirement in Russia. You keep your American citizenship.

Next way you can get citizenship is through employment program. So, the professions are IT specialists, geology and mining workers, journalists, mechanics of aircrafts, farming and agricultural workers, engineers, medical personnel, pharmacists, teachers, construction workers, electrical equipment and others. So this is what you need to do. You find an employment opportunity; you reach out to the employer. He makes work permit and visa for you. You come to Russia, you start working. After 6 months of official employment you apply for permanent residency. After 12 months of official employment you apply for Russian citizenship. There you have it. You get citizenship after one year with this program. If you are interested in this program and the list of full professions you may want read here for more details.

Next program involves having a Russian parent, so if you don’t have one, you skip this part. You come to Russia and apply in the same region where your parent lives. You apply for Permanent Residency. After you get it, you can apply immediately for Russian citizenship. Read more on this program here.

Next program involves having a Russian child or adopted Russian child. You come to Russia and you can apply for Permanent Residency right away based on your child-Russian citizen. If you are married to a Russian citizen remember that the marriage has to be at least one year. If it is, you may apply for Russian citizenship right after you get Permanent Residency. Read more details here on this immigration program.

Next program is related to you if you are married with Russian citizen. You apply for Temporary Residency Permit. Get it.  Remember that same sex marriages and civil marriages are not recognized in Russia. You wait one year after you received your Temporary Residency Permit and you apply for Permanent Residency.  After you are married for 3 years, you can apply for Russian Citizenship. Get more details on this program here.

The next immigration program involves you setting up your company in Russia. Get a tourist visa and come to Russia. While in Russia set up your LLC. You don’t have to hire a director- Russian citizen. There is no such requirement. So, set up your company LLC, get work permit for your company for one of the following positions: Veterinarian, Veterinary gynecologist, Veterinarian of the reproductive zone, Veterinary therapist, Veterinarian-epizootologist, Agroengineer, Agronomist, Agrochemist, Veterinary and sanitary doctor, Veterinary and sanitary expert, Specialist in animal science, Technologist of the food and processing industry, Technologist of production and processing of agricultural products,Tractor driver-combine harvester, Tractor driver-driver of agricultural production, Tractor operator, Hydro – meliorator, Milking Machine Operator, An employee in the field of veterinary medicine, Specialist in the field of agricultural mechanization, Specialist in aquatic bioresources and aquaculture. After 6 months of employment, apply for permanent residency. After 12 months of employment, apply for Russian citizenship. There you have it. You are a Russian citizen; you can even buy agricultural land now if you are interested in farming. Read more details on this program here.