Marriage with a Russian Citizen

I am married to a Russian citizen. Can I apply for a Temporary Residency Permit?
Yes, you can.

Are same sex marriages allowed in Russia?
No. Only marriage between man and women is recognized in Russia. Also, civil marriage is not recognized. Be careful, LGBT propaganda is prohibited in Russia, so you can be deported if you engage in such activities.

How soon can I apply for Permanent Residency after getting Temporary Residency Permit?
You can apply for Permanent Residency 1 year from the moment you got your Temporary Residency Permit.

Can I live with Temporary Residency Permit?
Yes, but only 3 years and you can not extend it, so you better apply for Permanent Residency after 1 year of having Temporary Residency Permit.

I am registered in Moscow, but my Russian wife is registered in Krasnodar. Can I apply for Temporary Residency Permit in Moscow, where I registered?
No, you can not. You have to apply for Temporary Residency Permit only in the region where your spouse is permanently registered. Moreover, you should reside in the same region where your spouse resides.

What is Temporary Residency Permit?
It is a stamp in the passport.

Does it allow me to work without getting work permit?
Yes. However you may work only in the region where Temporary Residency Permit was issued.

What is the processing time for getting Temporary Residency Permit?
It is 4 months.

Can I apply online?
No, only in person.

I need to travel outside of Russia after I submit my application, can I do it?
Sure. There is no restrictions for you.

Is there an interview with immigration officer?
No, there is no interview.

What happens after I am granted Temporary Residency Permit?
You need to Register within 7 days of getting your Temporary Residency Permit at the residency address in Russia.

Do I need to know anything else?
Yes, US Citizen with Temporary Residency Permit has to confirm your residency on the annual basis : you submit a form that has information on the amount of days you spent outside of Russia. Also, you need to provide your income proof for the past year. This can be your Russian bank transactions from employer, or just Russian bank savings account.

Can temporary residency permit be revoked?
Yes, if you stay longer than 180 days outside of Russia, Temporary Residency Permit will be taken away from you.

Can I apply for Russian Citizenship?
After you are married for 3 years, you can apply for Russian Citizenship.

What documents do I need?
- Marriage Certificate. If it was done in the USA, you need to apostille ( go to the Secretary of State. In Georgia I paid $3 per document). Don't forget upon arrival to Russia to translate it. Only in Russia, please remember that we translate and notarize only in Russia.
- Your US Citizen Passport. Your passport you will need to translate in Russia and get it notarized.
- Your wife/husband Russian passport.
- Police check. Done locally in the USA. Make sure to apostille it. Also, remember it is only valid for 90 days in Russia, from the DATE of ISSUE. Don't forget to translate it and notarize it in Russia. ALL translations into Russian we US Citizen does in Russia.
- Medical Examination ( done in Russia)
- Proof of you income : salary from the Russian company or your savings account in the Russian bank.
- Russian Language Test.
- Address Registration of US Citizen in Russia.
- Migration Card ( you get that one on the border when you enter Russia)
- Payment receipt of State Duty for processing your Temporary Residency Permit application.

When I apply for citizenship, what documents do I need?
It is about the same list of documents. Police check you do only once, so, you will not need it anymore. You do need to get your US Birth certificate. Make sure to do apostille. You do translation in Russia.