Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of January 4, 2024 No. 10 “On the admission to citizenship of the Russian Federation of foreign citizens who have entered into a contract for military service in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation or military formations, and members of their families” has significantly simplified the procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship for foreigners who entered into a contract for military service during the special operation.
“To establish that foreign citizens who have entered into a contract for military service in the Russian Armed Forces or military formations during a special military operation have the right to apply for citizenship of the Russian Federation,” the decree says.
The contract must be concluded for a period of at least one year. The contract must be concluded for a period of at least one year. If the foreigner is already fighting, then the term will be counted.
It is clarified that the provisions of the decree also apply to family members of such fighters - spouses, children, parents.
Military personnel with relevant applications have the right to contact any territorial body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia of their choice. It is explained that those who have served will also be able to obtain a Russian passport more easily.
“Persons discharged from military service, as well as members of their families, can submit an application for admission to Russian citizenship to the territorial body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia at their place of residence or place of stay, and in their absence, at the place of their actual residence in Russia. Consideration of applications on admission to Russian citizenship and decisions on them are made within a period not exceeding one month (if it is necessary to clarify the circumstances indicating the existence of grounds for rejecting such applications, this period may be extended, but not more than 3 months)" - explained the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Preferences for admission to citizenship are also provided for by another presidential decree signed at the beginning of the year. In particular, benefits will be received by citizens of Ukraine who do not have citizenship of another state, and stateless persons born and permanently residing in Crimea and Sevastopol, who left the specified territories before March 18, 2014, as well as their children, spouses and parents (regardless of citizenship). From now on, it will be easier for citizens of Ukraine, as well as stateless persons who have a document confirming the right to stay (residence) in the Russian Federation, who permanently resided on the territory of Ukraine, as well as their close relatives, to become Russians.
Another preferential category for admission to Russian citizenship was foreign citizens and stateless persons who “themselves or their relatives in a direct ascending line, or adoptive parents or spouses were subjected to illegal deportation from the territory of the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, as well as their relatives in a direct descending line” .
Citizens of Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen and Syria who were born on the territory of the RSFSR and previously had USSR citizenship, as well as their children, including adopted children, spouses and parents, will also be able to obtain a Russian passport without any special worries.
In addition, the procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship will be simplified for orphans and children left without parental care, incompetent persons who are citizens of Ukraine or stateless persons permanently residing on the territory of Ukraine.
The processing time for applications for citizenship for these categories of persons will be up to three months. This period may be extended if additional checks are necessary.
“To establish that foreign citizens who have entered into a contract for military service in the Russian Armed Forces or military formations during a special military operation have the right to apply for citizenship of the Russian Federation,” the decree says.
The contract must be concluded for a period of at least one year. The contract must be concluded for a period of at least one year. If the foreigner is already fighting, then the term will be counted.
It is clarified that the provisions of the decree also apply to family members of such fighters - spouses, children, parents.
Military personnel with relevant applications have the right to contact any territorial body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia of their choice. It is explained that those who have served will also be able to obtain a Russian passport more easily.
“Persons discharged from military service, as well as members of their families, can submit an application for admission to Russian citizenship to the territorial body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia at their place of residence or place of stay, and in their absence, at the place of their actual residence in Russia. Consideration of applications on admission to Russian citizenship and decisions on them are made within a period not exceeding one month (if it is necessary to clarify the circumstances indicating the existence of grounds for rejecting such applications, this period may be extended, but not more than 3 months)" - explained the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Preferences for admission to citizenship are also provided for by another presidential decree signed at the beginning of the year. In particular, benefits will be received by citizens of Ukraine who do not have citizenship of another state, and stateless persons born and permanently residing in Crimea and Sevastopol, who left the specified territories before March 18, 2014, as well as their children, spouses and parents (regardless of citizenship). From now on, it will be easier for citizens of Ukraine, as well as stateless persons who have a document confirming the right to stay (residence) in the Russian Federation, who permanently resided on the territory of Ukraine, as well as their close relatives, to become Russians.
Another preferential category for admission to Russian citizenship was foreign citizens and stateless persons who “themselves or their relatives in a direct ascending line, or adoptive parents or spouses were subjected to illegal deportation from the territory of the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, as well as their relatives in a direct descending line” .
Citizens of Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen and Syria who were born on the territory of the RSFSR and previously had USSR citizenship, as well as their children, including adopted children, spouses and parents, will also be able to obtain a Russian passport without any special worries.
In addition, the procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship will be simplified for orphans and children left without parental care, incompetent persons who are citizens of Ukraine or stateless persons permanently residing on the territory of Ukraine.
The processing time for applications for citizenship for these categories of persons will be up to three months. This period may be extended if additional checks are necessary.