A temporary residence permit

A temporary residence permit in the Russian Federation (TRP) is a document that allows a foreign citizen to legally stay and work in the Russian Federation from 90 days to 3 years.

1. 01Work in the Russian Federation for three years, while earning a pension.
2. 02Work without formalizing a patent under a contract in the region where the TRP was received. You do not need to obtain additional permits, but your income must not be below the subsistence level.
3. 03Use compulsory health insurance (CHI), i.e. see doctors at your local clinic for free.
4. 04Receive budget payments, such as social benefits, maternity payments.
5. 05Register as an individual entrepreneur or legal entity (LLC) to conduct business.
6. 06Cross the border of the Russian Federation without restrictions. Just make sure not to be absent for more than 183 days in a calendar year, or your TRP will be canceled. The only exception is for humanitarian reasons, such as a relative's illness.
7. 07Obtain registration at your place of residence while the TRP is valid.
8. 08Lay claim to a residence permit.

1. 01Notify the Main Directorate for Migration Issues of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation (MDMI MIA of the Russian Federation) when relocating from the region where you obtained your permission.
2. 02Ensure you earn at least the minimum wage or have savings sufficient to cover monthly expenses equivalent to the minimum wage.
3. 03Confirm your residence and income in the Russian Federation every year.

1. 01It’s possible to work only in the Russian Federation where the TRP was issued.
2. 02The total period of time outside the Russian Federation must not surpass 183 days. Exceptions include situations such as illness, death of relatives, or work obligations.
3. 03You are prohibited from obtaining employment in municipal or civil service, organizations associated with state security, serving as a civil aviation commander, or being part of the crew of a Russian ship or warship.
4. 04You are only eligible to serve in the army under a contract basis.
5. 05You are unable to vote nor be elected to public office.
6. 06You are not permitted to issue an invitation for your relatives to enter the Russian Federation.
7. 07You are prohibited from visiting closed administrative-territorial entities (CATEs).

Grounds for obtaining temporary residence permit

1. A Temporary Residence Permit may be issued to a foreign citizen without considering the quota if:

1. 01They were born on the territory of the Russian Federation.
2. 02They were born on the territory of the RSFSR and had USSR citizenship.
3. 03They are declared legally incompetent and are reliant on children who are citizens of the Russian Federation.
4. 04They have at least one parent who is a citizen of the Russian Federation and deemed legally incompetent.
5. 05They are married to a citizen of the Russian Federation.
6. 06They have invested in the Russian Federation an amount specified by the Government of the Russian Federation.
7. 07They have entered military service for the duration of their enlistment.
8. 08They are a participant in the state program for the resettlement of compatriots to Russia.
9. 09They have a child who is a citizen of the Russian Federation.
10. 10They have an adult child, a citizen of the Russian Federation, who has been declared incompetent or limited in legal capacity.

Without a quota, a TRP is also issued to minor children if they receive it together with a foreign parent or at the request of a parent who is a citizen of the Russian Federation.

From January 1, 2023, full-time foreign students can apply for a TRP outside the quota. This temporary residence permit for educational purposes (TRPE) has its own characteristics.

2. TRP according to the quota.

The quota for issuing temporary residence permits in the Russian Federation (TRP) is approved annually by the Government of the Russian Federation and is distributed taking into account the demographic situation, the capabilities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation to accommodate foreign citizens, as well as other criteria established by law.

1. 01Identity card (passport).
2. 02Migration card.
3. 03Migration registration.
4. 04Patent or work permit (if available).
5. 05Employment contract (if available).
6. 06Advance tax payments for a patent (if there is a patent).

1. 01An application for a TRP, in which 2 copies of the prescribed form are to be submitted.
2. 024 photographs (35 x 45 mm, black and white/color, matte). IMPORTANT: applicants who wear glasses must be photographed wearing glasses without tinted lenses!
3. 03A passport of a foreign citizen (preferably an external one, which will be valid for at least 2-4 months while your application is being considered).
4. 04A migration card with a stamp of entry into the Russian Federation.
5. 05Migration registration.
6. 06A receipt for payment of state duty in the amount of 1600 rubles. You can acquire details from the Main Department of Migration Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs or on the government services website. If you opt to pay via the government services’ website, the amount will be reduced by 30%.
7. 07A certificate (TRP level) confirming you have passed the tests of Russian language, Russian history, and legislation of the Russian Federation. Or provide a document of education issued on the territory of the USSR before September 1, 1991, or in the Russian Federation since September 1, 1991, you can take the exam at an accredited educational institution. Please note, there is a fee for the exam. To complete the process, you will require a passport with a notarized translation, a migration card, and registration.
8. 08A medical certificate of the absence of certain diseases (drug addiction and infectious diseases from the established list) and HIV infection. The medical examination is paid by the applicant, certificates are valid for 3 months.
9. 09A notarized translation of a certificate of clean criminal record is required for visa applicants. This document must be personally requested by the applicant in their country of citizenship or consulate, certified by an apostille, and remains valid for 3 months.
10. 10TIN (if available).
11. 11SNILS (if available).

If the application also includes minor children who will receive a TRP together with a foreign parent, the following documents must additionally be provided:

• 2 photographs of each minor child specified in the application.
• When entering information about minor children into the application, identification documents of each child included in the application are provided.
• Written consent of a child aged from 14 to 18 years to move to the Russian Federation. The child's signature must be certified by a notary.

When applying for a TRP without considering the quota (based on specific criteria), in addition to the aforementioned documents, it is necessary to provide supporting documents confirming the basis for the application.

How to Apply for Temporary Residence Permit

A foreign citizen has the option to submit documents in person, via the Multifunctional Public Services Center, or through the State Services portal. However, despite the requirement for pre-registration, there is a risk of encountering long queues due to limited time allocated for document acceptance. Consequently, it's possible that documents may not be submitted on the scheduled day.

After submitting the documents, if everything is filled out correctly and a complete package of documents is submitted, the foreign citizen will be issued a certificate. According to the regulations, the period for reviewing the documents is 4 months.

How to check the status of the TRP

If a TRP for a foreign citizen is approved, he will receive an electronic or paper notification by mail. Also, to check the status of the TRP, there is a simple and convenient service from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. To send a request, enter the region in which the foreign citizen submitted the application, date of birth and passport number.

If 4 months have passed since the date of submitting the documents, and the check of the TRP has not yielded any results, contact the Main Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs or the migration center where the documents were submitted in person to find out about the decision.

What to do after Receiving a Temporary Residence Permit

If the TRP is approved, the foreign citizen must be notified by mail (in paper or electronic form). The notification will also indicate when and where to come and receive the TRP stamp in your passport.

After receiving the TRP, the foreign citizen will need to submit fingerprints. This can be done at the same Main Department of Migration Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs where the documents were submitted. First, fill out an application for fingerprinting, after which fingerprints can be submitted on the same day. The procedure is free. Then a note about the TRP will be placed in the international passport or a separate document with permission will be issued.

After this, the foreign citizen will have 7 days to obtain registration at the place of residence. This can be your own property or rented housing, with friends or relatives. If this deadline is not met, a fine will be charged and expulsion from the country is a possibility.

Registration is carried out by the Main Department of Migration Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the place of residence. Required documents are an application, passport, TRP, document confirming ownership of real estate, or a lease agreement. A state fee will need to be paid.

If everything is done correctly, registration can be received on the day the documents are submitted.

One year after receiving your TRP, it will be possible to apply for a residence permit.

Confirmation of temporary residence permit

Each year from the date of receiving the permit, foreign citizens will have 2 months to confirm their income and their residence in the Russian Federation. Otherwise, the TRP may be canceled, or a fine or deportation may be imposed. In confirmation of residence in the Russian Federation, the addresses where the foreign citizen is registered, where he works and the period of work, where and when he left Russia, if any, are indicated.

The notification must be submitted through Russian Post offices, independently to the responsible department of migration or electronically.

To submit a notification you need:

• a completed residence notification form and to provide a foreign passport with a TRP;
• proof of income;
• a detachable part of the previous form of notification of residence (if the notification is not submitted for the first time);
• birth certificate (if the notification is submitted on behalf of the child).

After the documents are checked, if everything is in order, the foreign citizen will receive a torn-off part of the notification of residence form. It is IMPORTANT to keep it safe as it will be required for next year's procedures.

Validity period of the Temporary Residence Permit

The TRP is valid for three years. Extensions are not provided, a new one must be applied for. After the current permit expires, the submission of an application with a complete package of documents for a new permit is needed.

Or, while the TRP is valid, a residence permit or citizenship can be obtained. If the TRP is about to expire, and the foreign citizen has not managed to obtain a residence permit or citizenship, they will have to leave the Russian Federation before the expiration date of the TRP.