Russian Citizenship for Indians

Various requirements for Russian citizenship need to be met to become the nation's citizen officially. To understand the requirements, it is essential to know there are the following ways to get Russian citizenship:

Russian Citizenship By Birth

Russian Citizenship By Naturalisation - Common Process

Russian Citizenship By Naturalisation - Simplified Process

Russian Citizenship By Restoration of Citizenship for Former Citizens

Russian Citizenship By Birth

To acquire Russian citizenship by birth, the following criteria need to be met which are:

Both parents of the child should be Russian citizens, and if the single parent, then only parent.

If the other parent is stateless and one parent is a Russian citizen.

If the child is born in Russia, one parent is a foreign citizen, and the other parent is a Russian citizen.

If the child is born outside Russia and hasn't acquired citizenship of a foreign country, and if one parent is a foreign citizen and the other parent is a Russian citizen.

If both the parents of the child are foreign nationals and the child is born in Russia and hasn't been granted citizenship.

If a child is in Russia without parents and after 6 months remains parentless.

Russian Citizenship By Naturalisation - Common Process

For foreign nationals who want to acquire Russian citizenship by investment or any other way, naturalisation is the most straightforward process. Below are the criteria that need to be met for Russian citizenship for Indians.

Applicants or Individuals need to hold a permanent residence permit in Russia.

Applicants need to live in Russia on PR for at least 5 years, and the period of residing outside Russia should not be more than 3 months in a year.

Applicants need to abide by the Russian constitution.

Applicants must have renounced their former citizenship to acquire citizenship. However, for acquiring Russian dual citizenship, the home country should also have the same citizenship rule.

Applicants must have a good hold over the Russian language.

Individuals or applicants have sufficient legal proof of subsistence for themselves and their families for residing in a country.

For individuals who are in a country for refugee status, their permanent residency can last up to 1 year.

For individuals who are highly qualified professionals, their PR status can lessen up to 1 year.

Russian Citizenship By Naturalisation - Simplified Process

There are other criteria for foreign nationals who want to acquire Russian citizenship through the naturalisation process. Below are the eligibility criteria for the same:

Applicants must have at least one Russian parent.

Applicant who was a former USSR citizen but has not taken the citizenship of a USSR country.

Applicants who are former USSR citizens and have received vocational, higher or secondary education in Russia after 2002.

Applicants who were born in Soviet Russia and have former USSR citizenship.

Individuals or applicants married to Russian nationals for at least three years.

Disabled applicant who has a capable child who is a Russian citizen.

Disabled applicants who are from the former USSR country.

An applicant who is from the former USSR country but has been legally residing in Russia since 1 July 2002.

All the veterans of World War 2 who were citizens of the former USSR.

Disabled child who has a legal guardian who is a Russian citizen.

Russian Citizenship By Restoration of Citizenship for Former Citizens

All former Russian citizens who have given up their citizenship voluntarily and want to be reinstated after three years of residence in Russia.

Some of the prominent benefits of acquiring citizenship in Russia for Indians are:

World-Class Education- The country has reasonable literacy rates, and it houses plenty of universities and educational institutions that offer top-class education to all its citizens.

Accommodation Options- Another perk of having Russian citizenship is access to a wide variety of accommodation options in the country, such as international compounds, city apartments and more. That too at very reasonable rates. The cost of living in Russia is comparatively lower than in the United States.

Natural Resources- The passport holder of Russia will not only have access to its territories but also natural resources for building or establishing new businesses in the country.

Dual Citizenship- Dual citizenship is not for everyone in Russia. In some exceptional cases, the Russian government allows dual citizenship, such as for Tajikistan or Turkmenistan under their particular treaty. Individuals or citizens who have acquired citizenship in another country before the 2002 laws can maintain dual citizenship.

Visa-free Travel- Individuals who have Russian citizenship can travel freely in Russian territory, plus they can also travel visa-free in 89 countries of the world, which are Argentina, Belarus and more.

The proper document submission is required for Russian citizenship for Indians. The list of documents are mentioned below:

Original copy of passport.

Copy of birth certificate.

Copy of marriage certificate.

Proof of residence in the country.

Copy of personal residence card.

Certification of Russian language proficiency test.

Proof of livelihood and income in the country.

Application to renunciate home country citizenship

Other than documents, there is a set of procedures that need to be followed for acquiring citizenship in Russia for Indian nationals. Below are the steps for the same.

Step 1: To start the citizenship process, head to the regional office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and collect all the relevant forms for citizenship application.

Step 2: Next, fill out all the forms correctly and submit them to authorities along with all the necessary documents.

Step 3: After submitting the document, pay the citizenship application fees and collect the payment receipt.

Step 4: Next, wait for an official decision. The processing of applications may take time, depending upon the citizenship application request. The authorities might conduct interviews to verify command over language and knowledge about the country.

Step 5: Once you get approval, start applying for a Russian passport.

The citizenship request of Russia was rejected due to various reasons. Some of them are listed below:

Incomplete Application Form - One of the significant reasons for the rejection of Russian citizenship for Indians is the incomplete submission of the application form. All the citizenship documents need to be filled in carefully. If the official found that the details in the application form are missing then they can reject the Russian citizenship request.

Forged Document Submission - Many individuals who want to acquire Russian citizenship create a list of forged documents. If, at any stage, the immigrant official finds out that the submitted documents are forged, then they will reject the citizenship request. Further, officials can also take strict action against the applicant.

Financial Instability - One of the main criteria for getting Russian citizenship is proof of income or financial stability. If the applicant fails to prove that they have a sufficient fund and proper way of livelihood in the country then the official can reject the application.

Language Certification - To get citizenship in Russia, individuals need to attain proficiency in written and verbal Russian language. If the applicant fails to pass the language test of the country then the application can get rejected. There are many online and offline courses available for applicants to learn Russian to pass the proficiency test.

Poor Moral Conduct - Lastly, if the applicant has poor moral or cultural conduct in the country during their stay, then it can affect the citizenship request. Any criminal or law-abiding activity during your stay or any previous criminal record can affect the citizenship process.

Here are the details of the Russian high commission and consulate in India.

Russia is an underrated tourist destination that is filled with exciting culture, fantastic architecture and delectable food. The nation has a very long history. Some of the interesting facts about Russia are listed below:

The longest railway in the world, which is 5772 miles and extends from Moscow to Vladivostok, lies in Russia.

The country is home to literature. Various authors, such as Vladimir Nabokov, Leo Tolstoy, and Ivan Turgenev, etc are from Russia. In their honour, the country has various literature museums.

It is the country that has 12 active volcanoes. However, the one which attracts so many tourists is Kamchatka volcano point.

Siberia is a city in Russia that contributes to 77% of the land area, but only 20% of the Russian population lives here because the weather here is very extreme and harsh.

It is a country that has many superstitions such as giving flowers in odd numbers only or not wearing clothes inside out and more.

The world-renowned and popular game Tetris originated in Russia in 1984 by Alexey Pajitnov.

54% of the total Russian population are females while males are 46% in the country. The gap in population is due to World War 2 when 25 million Russian soldiers died.

As per the reports, 20% of the entire world's trees lie only in Russia.

The country is home to the coldest village, Oymyakon, where the average temperature can go up to -58 degrees Fahrenheit.

Alaska used to be part of Russia, but in 1897, Russia sold Alaska to the United States for only 7.2 million dollars.

Russia is the only country after France in the world that has 11 time zones.

Lake Baikal in Siberia is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world as per the water volume.

Folk dancing is an integral part of Russian culture. The famous folk dance is Khorovod.

When it comes to cultural norms, there are some do's and don't in Russia, which are:

Smiling is rare in Russia; people don't usually greet others with a smile. It is considered weird behaviour in Russia.

Lunch is a big deal in Russia, so to eat like a Russian, try ordering a 3-course meal.

While visiting someone else's house, it is best to take off your shoes as it is considered an imperative gesture.

Another thing is always to come bearing gifts while showing up at someone else's house, as it is considered a polite gesture towards the host.

It is advisable not to argue with older adults in Russia, who are titled with Russian babushka, as they hold a lot of respect and power.

While drinking outside, if you don't want another glass, then it is best to keep your glass half full.

It is strictly prohibited to take pictures of government buildings or military sites.

Even if it is cold outside, it is best to remove your gloves while shaking hands, as it is considered polite.

In Russian culture, it is considered wrong to exchange money during the nighttime.

It is best to learn some essential Russian language words to converse with the locals.

While visiting Russia for a short visit, having international travel insurance with medical cover is necessary as per federal law since medical care in the country can be very expensive for foreign nationals.

Besides this, by buying travel insurance online, individuals can protect their financial assets in case of an emergency in foreign nations.

From flight cancellation coverage to medical evacuation to loss of luggage, there are various inclusions under the travel insurance policy. However, it is advisable for tourists visiting foreign nations to always compare travel insurance plans based on coverage and premium.

Tata AIG's international travel insurance plan starts at ₹40.82 per day. Not just this, there are various offerings such as medical evacuation, accidental death and more for the customers based on their requirements.

Russia is definitely a suitable option for individuals who are looking for stable employment and the best education. Not just this, the government is also making citizenship procedures easier for highly qualified immigrants.

There is also a way to become a Russian Citizen by Marriage; however, applicants need to be married for 3 years. In short, there are multiple ways to acquire Russian citizenship. However, the best possible way is to go through the naturalisation process.

But before applying for citizenship in Russia for India, it is best to check the eligibility criteria.