Migration in the Russian Federation: A Country Profile 2008 - EU ...

stay, 15 temporarily reside, and permanently reside in the Russian Federation. The
number of temporary residence permissions (for a period of three years) is allocated
by quota. 16 Residence permits are issued for a five-year period with possible
extension. Prior to the receipt of a residence permit, a foreign citizen is obliged
to live in the Russian Federation for at least one year on the basis of a temporary
residence permit.
Forced migrants may seek, according to the Law of the Russian Federation,
temporary refuge, refugee status, or displaced person status. 17
Simplified procedure sfor the acquisition of nationality is in force between
the Russian Federation and the Republics of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
18 In addition, separate categories of immigrants may also obtain Russian
citizenship through a simplified procedure. 19
Permanent residence status
The number of people issued residence permits in 2006 totaled 16,699. As
of October 2007 this figure was 12,217.
15 The period of a foreigner’s temporary stay in the Russian Federation is defined by the validity period of his/her
visa. Temporary stay that does not require a visa but the duration of stay should not be longer than 90 days.
16 Quotas are distributed among subjects (regions) of the Russian Federation. Quotas are not extended to individual
categories of foreign citizens. A quota of 140,790 for part-time residence has been approved for the
year 2008.
17 The status of forced migrants can be given to internal migrants as well as to Russian citizens who are forced
to leave the place of their residence outside of Russia.
18 Federal Law of 2 January 2000, No. 18-FL.
19 These include foreign citizens and stateless persons who have at least one parent with Russian Federation
citizenship and living in the territory of the Russian Federation; who had the citizenship of the USSR; who had
resided or is residing in the former republics of the USSR and did not receive the citizenship of these republics
and thus remain stateless persons; who are citizens of the former republics of the USSR; who had received
professional or higher education in the educational institutions of the Russian Federation after 1 July 2002;
who were born in the territory of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and had citizenship of the
former USSR; who are married to the citizen of the Russian Federation for at least three years; and who are
not capable of working and have a legally capable son or daughter over the age of 18 who are citizens of the
Russian Federation. (The Federal Law on Amendments to the Federal Law on the Citizenship of the Russian
Federation, 11 November 2003, No. 151-FL).
20 Migration in the Russian Federation: A Country Profile 2008