The Russian government has adopted Decree No. 440 of April 20, 2026, which amends the rules for granting the unified child benefit. Starting April 1, 2027, foreign citizens who have acquired Russian citizenship will be eligible for child payments only after five years of permanent residence in the country from the date of receiving their passport. The new residency requirement applies to benefits for pregnant women and families with children up to the age of 17, provided that need is confirmed.
Important: the new rules will not affect natural-born Russian citizens, residents of Donbas and Novorossiya, participants in the state program for the resettlement of compatriots and their family members, special military operation fighters and their family members, as well as combat veterans. For the above categories, the previous conditions for receiving the unified benefit remain in place: Russian citizenship, permanent residence in Russia, and meeting the need criteria are sufficient.
Frequently asked questions:
-
Who will be eligible for the unified child benefit starting in 2027?
As of April 1, 2027, Russian citizens permanently residing in Russia are eligible for the unified benefit related to the birth and upbringing of a child. For naturalized citizens (foreigners who have obtained a passport), an additional five years of continuous residence as a citizen is required. -
Which categories of citizens are exempt from the five-year citizenship residency requirement?
The new rules will not affect: natural-born Russian citizens; residents of Donbas and Novorossiya who obtained citizenship through recognition; participants in the state program for the resettlement of compatriots and their family members; special military operation participants and their family members, as well as combat veterans. -
When does Decree No. 440 take effect?
Russian Government Decree No. 440 of April 20, 2026, takes effect on April 1, 2027. Until that date, the old rules for granting the unified child benefit apply.
Photo source: https://ru.freepik.com/
For more information, please contact the consultants of the Confidence Group company.
* The texts of the newsletters are intellectual property of Confidence Group, protected by the copyright laws of Russia. The information may not be reproduced in any form whatsoever without linking to this web site or to pages of this website.
