Residence permit based on a temporary residence permit

A residence permit – document issued to a foreign citizen confirming his right to permanent residence in the Russian Federation, as well as the right to free entry and exit from the Russian Federation.

The grounds for obtaining a residence permit in the Russian Federation are specified in Art. 8, 115 FL of July 25th, 2002 "On the legal status of foreign citizens on the territory of the Russian Federation".

The most common basis for obtaining a residence permit in the Russian Federation is its receipt in the general manner, on the basis of a previously obtained temporary residence permit.

Who can apply for a residence permit on the basis of a temporary residence permit (in the general order)

A residence permit in the general procedure can be issued by a foreign citizen who has lived in the Russian Federation for at least 1 year on the basis of a temporary residence permit. At the same time, an application for a residence permit is submitted no earlier than 8 months after the first year of residence in the Russian Federation on the basis of a temporary residence permit and no later than 4 months before the expiration of the temporary residence permit.

A residence permit is issued to a foreign citizen regardless of age. In other words, when submitting a separate package of documents for a minor foreign citizen, he is issued a separate residence permit.

At the same time, a foreign citizen who has not reached the age of 16 can be included in the residence permits of his parents (legal representatives) at their request on the basis of an application drawn up in free form. When entering information about a child in parents residence permit (legal representatives), a photograph of the child is pasted into the residence permit, regardless of his age.

A residence permit is an identity card only if it was issued to a stateless person.

Processing time for issuing a residence permit on the basis of temporary residence permit

The processing time for issuing a residence permit on the basis of temporary residence permit is about 4 months from the date of submission of documents. Please note that there is a preliminary appointment for the submission of documents, which can be extended for a period of several days to several months.

Validity period of residence permit on the basis of temporary residence permit

A residence permit on the basis of temporary residence permit is issued without limitation of validity, except for a residence permit for a highly qualified specialist and his family members, which is issued for the duration of the work permit issued to the specified highly qualified specialist. Previously issued five-year residence permits are valid until they expire. After that, you can apply for a new termless document.

It is very important to take into account that the stay of a foreign citizen outside the Russian Federation for more than 6 months in total during a calendar year entails the cancellation of a residence permit, except in cases where it is impossible to leave the territory of a foreign state due to circumstances related to the need for emergency treatment, a serious illness of this foreign citizen or with the death of his close relative who lived at the time of death in a foreign state, as well as cases of a foreign citizen being outside the Russian Federation due to official necessity.

Who can be an applicant

A foreign citizen or stateless person who has lived for at least 8 months during the 1^st year of residence in the Russian Federation on the basis of temporary residence permit.

Rights of a foreign citizen with a residence permit in the Russian Federation

Any foreign citizen who has a residence permit gets almost all the rights of citizens of the Russian Federation:

·         freely enter the territory of the Russian Federation and leave the country;

·         move from region to region, freely change place of residence within the Russian Federation without notifying the Ministry of Internal Affairs (only registration at a new place of residence is required);

·         legally work in any region of the Russian Federation without obtaining a patent for work and work permit;

·         register your company or individual entrepreneur;

·         receive a pension, pension payments are accrued on the same terms as for Russian citizens;

·         obtain a compulsory medical insurance policy and use the services of state medical institutions free of charge;

·         issue invitations for the entry of other foreign citizens into the territory of the Russian Federation;

·         get a Russian driver's license and pass exams at the traffic police in the same manner as citizens of the Russian Federation who applied to any convenient traffic police department;

·         purchase and permanently register a car with the traffic police (in the case of HQS - for the duration of the residence permit).

What rights can’t get a foreign citizen with a residence permit

A foreign citizen with a residence permit, unlike a Russian citizen, can’t do the following:

·         to vote and be elected in regional elections;

·         serve in the army or navy of the Russian Federation;

·         run for public office;

·         leave the country for a total of more than 6 months a year.

In addition, a foreign citizen with a residence permit may face deportation if he commits certain offenses.

Where to apply

To obtain a residence permit, the applicant must apply to the territorial division for migration issues at the permitted place of temporary residence.

List of documents for obtaining a residence permit on the basis of temporary residence permit

·         Application for the issuance of a residence permit in accordance with Annexes No. 1 or 2 to the Administrative Regulations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation for the provision of public services for the issuance of a residence permit to foreign citizens and stateless persons, the replacement of residence permit for foreign citizens and stateless persons in the Russian Federation, approved by order Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia dated June 11^th, 2020 No. 417 (hereinafter referred to as the Regulations) in two copies.

·         Four personal photos. Stateless persons submit two photos.

·         Applicant’s identity document.

·         A document confirming the ability of a foreign citizen to support himself and his family members in the Russian Federation within the subsistence level, without requesting for state assistance (with the exception of foreign citizens recognized as disabled).

·         Documents confirming that the foreign citizen does not have drug addiction and infectious diseases that pose a danger to others, provided and approved by the federal executive body authorized by the Government of the Russian Federation, as well as a certificate confirming that the applicant does not have a disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV infection).

·         A document confirming the knowledge by foreign citizen of the Russian language, knowledge of the history of Russia and the fundamentals of the legislation of the Russian Federation.

·         A document confirming the absence of a criminal record or, if available, containing information about the crime for which the applicant was convicted. It is presented by a foreign citizen who has reached the age of fourteen. The specified document is not submitted by a foreign citizen who arrived in the Russian Federation in a manner that does not require a visa.

Necessity to apply for a visa after obtaining a residence permit

A foreign citizen who has received a residence permit in the Russian Federation, enters the country in a visa-free regime.

Notifications of confirmation of residence in the Russian Federation

A foreign citizen permanently residing in the Russian Federation is obliged, within 2 months after the expiration of the next year from the date of receipt of a residence permit, to submit a notice of confirmation of his residence in the Russian Federation to the territorial body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia at his place of residence (in his absence, at the place of stay) . In addition, after each 5th year of permanent residence in the Russian Federation, the notification must be submitted by a foreign citizen only in person.

Confirmation of knowledge of the Russian language, knowledge of the history of Russia and the fundamentals of the legislation of the Russian Federation

One of the conditions for obtaining a residence permit in the Russian Federation for foreign citizens is to obtain confirmation of knowledge of the Russian language, knowledge of the history of Russia and the fundamentals of the legislation of the Russian Federation.

Testing must be passed by all foreign citizens who wish to obtain a residence permit, with the exception of preferential categories and who do not have the status of "native speaker of the Russian language".

Who does not need to be tested to confirm knowledge of the Russian language, knowledge of the history of Russia and the basics of the legislation of the Russian Federation

The legislation establishes the following list of persons who are not required to undergo testing:

·         disabled foreign citizens and stateless persons;

·         minor foreign citizens and stateless persons (children under the age of 18);

·         men over 65 and women over 60 (retirement age);

·         participants of the program of resettlement of compatriots;

·         foreign citizens and stateless persons who have received the status of a native speaker of the Russian language;

·         HQS;

·         citizens of Belarus.

Medical examination for obtaining a residence permit

Foreign citizens wishing to obtain a residence permit must undergo a mandatory medical examination in any medical organization from the list of approved organizations in the relevant region of the Russian Federation.

Medical examination of foreign citizens and stateless persons is carried out in order to confirm the presence or absence of drug addiction and infectious diseases that pose a danger to others.

The list of infectious diseases that pose a danger to others and are the basis for refusal to issue or cancel a residence permit is as follows:

·         tuberculosis;

·         leprosy (Hansen's disease);

·         syphilis;

·         HIV;

·         COVID-19.

Registration at the place of residence / migration registration

After obtaining a residence permit, within 7 working days it is necessary to submit an application for registration to the territorial subdivision of the Main Department of Internal Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia at the location of the residential premises.

Fingerprint registration of foreign citizens

A required condition for obtaining a residence permit is fingerprint registration by all foreign citizens who have reached the age of 6 years.

Based on the result of the procedure, a fingerprint card is issued to those persons who entered the Russian Federation after December 21^st, 2021.