Many Russian-speaking citizens from the CIS countries have recently been actively striving to move to Russia and obtain permanent residence status. At the same time, many of them have little idea of what permanent residence in Russia is, what is the specificity of this status, how to obtain it, and how it can be useful. Often this abbreviation in the mass consciousness of people is endowed with some magical properties: one has only to get permanent residence - and all problems will be solved instantly. It is worthwhile to figure out whether this is so and what the employees of the migration services mean by “permanent residence”.
Permanent residence: what does it mean
Most often, permanent residence is remembered when they talk about going abroad. At the same time, not even everyone knows how permanent residence is deciphered. This is an abbreviation for the concept of "permanent residence". It does not have an unambiguous and clear legal definition.
Permanent residence means (in fact, it states a fact) both the status of a citizen of a given country and the status of a foreigner who has legally moved here, legalized his stay here and is not going to leave anywhere.
The interpretation of what it means - permanent residence, and how you can acquire this status, are inextricably linked with the legislation of a particular state. According to Russian legislation, migrants are distinguished:
- temporarily staying in the Russian Federation (entered in a visa-free regime and live with a working patent);
- temporary residents (residence is allowed for a period of three years);
- permanent residents (provided).
What distinguishes permanent residence from RVP, residence permit and citizenship
If the permanent residence of foreigners in Russia is a statement of the fact of residence within the country, then the RVP, residence permit, citizenship are the ways of its legitimation. or RVP legalizes a three-year residence in Russia, binds it territorially to a certain subject of the Russian Federation, and gives the right to apply for the next status - a residence permit (residence permit).
A stamp in the passport, permanent residence in Russia for five years (a residence permit is given for this period with the right to extend) allows you to apply for citizenship of the Russian Federation, and while maintaining your citizenship, enjoy almost all the rights of Russian citizens.
The status of a citizen gives the right to participate in elections, work in the civil service, it also imposes certain obligations to the new homeland.
What gives a foreign citizen the status of permanent residence in the Russian Federation
A foreigner with the acquisition of a residence permit stamp in Russia automatically acquires the status of a permanent place of residence.
This status, first of all, allows you to live freely in any Russian region and enjoy almost all the rights that Russians enjoy. At the same time, he obliges to comply with the laws of this country, respect the traditions and way of life of the indigenous people of Russia. A foreigner holding a residence permit has the right to decide for himself whether to renew his residence permit or apply for Russian citizenship.
Main advantages and disadvantages
Permanent residence of foreign citizens in the Russian Federation with a residence permit has both pluses and minuses. Main advantages:
- no need to renew visas, obtain permits and issue work patents;
- the right to purchase real estate in Russia, live or work in any region of the Russian Federation;
- the right to social services (free education and medicine, pension services, etc.);
- , referenda;
- the right to retain previous citizenship;
- the possibility of unhindered entry and exit from the Russian Federation;
- or to acquire Russian citizenship.
Before leaving for permanent residence in Russia, you should familiarize yourself with the negative points:
- the need to start life from a “new leaf” (this is especially difficult for older people);
- when participating in the State Program for the Resettlement of Compatriots - the need to live in those subjects of the Federation that participate in the program and where there are quotas (often these are regions with unusual or harsh climatic conditions);
- possible problems with employment and housing;
- inability to make a career in the civil service, in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the FSB, etc.;
- inability to participate in national elections (to elect and be elected to elected office).
Permanent residence for a foreigner in the Russian Federation: who can apply
The following categories of foreigners can apply for permanent residence in Russia:
- labor immigrants and other categories of foreigners who have lived legally (with TRP) in Russia for at least a year. These categories of citizens follow the standard path;
- participants of the State Program "Compatriot";
- holders of refugee status;
- family members and relatives of foreigners with a residence permit;
- highly qualified specialists and members of their families;
- those who renounced the citizenship of the Russian Federation. Registration of permanent residence in Russia for Russian citizens who previously had this status takes place in a simplified or general manner;
- persons who have entered into marriage with a citizen of the Russian Federation and have lived in it for at least three years;
- foreigners who graduated from educational institutions on the territory of the Russian Federation;
- citizens recognized as native speakers of the Russian language, etc.
Registration of permanent residence: what documents will be needed
The documents required for permanent residence in the Russian Federation may differ for different applicants for this status. For those foreign citizens who follow the standard path, you will need:
- (2 copies);
- civil / (required for employment);
- 4 photos (35x45 mm);
- confirmation of solvency and availability of funds to ensure living with the family;
- documents for children (children under 18 years old (from 14 years old - and passports), notarized consent of children from 14 to 18 years old to live in the Russian Federation);
- - infections and a certificate of the absence of syphilis, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases;
- , history and fundamentals of the legislation of the Russian Federation (Law No. 74-FZ of 01.01.2015). Men over the age of 65 are exempted from such an exam, women over 60, or those who have a diploma of education received in Russian;
- (3500 rubles).
- application in the prescribed form;
- passport;
- 4 photos;
- documents for the family (, about the birth of children, etc.).
Entry for foreign citizens for permanent residence in the Russian Federation: what you need to consider
For foreign citizens who are going to get permanent residence in Russia, it is important to do everything right from the very beginning. On the website of the Main Department of Internal Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, you can familiarize yourself with the current requirements.
Citizens of Belarus, Ukraine, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan can enter the territory of the Russian Federation using internal passports in 2018.
Citizens of other CIS countries can enter only with international passports. All documents must be valid during the entire expected period of stay in the Russian Federation.
When crossing the border, it is obligatory to fill in the migration card personally and without errors (entry part "A" and exit part "B"). If the visit is made in order to find a job, then “work” should be marked on the map, if visiting relatives - “private”.
Part "B" must be kept. This document allows you to stay in the Russian Federation for 90 days every six months (in total for the year - 180 days, but for this you need to leave the Russian Federation and re-enter). Staying without a valid reason for more than 90 days is punishable by a fine - a ban on entry into the Russian Federation for three years.
How to import a personal car into Russia when moving for permanent residence
Importing a car into Russia when moving for permanent residence is quite troublesome and costly. It is possible to import a car without paying customs duties within 18 months after moving to Russia for permanent residence only if:
- production of the transported car back in the USSR (provided that the migrant owned it before 1991);
- transportation of a personal vehicle (one per family) by a participant in the State Program for the Resettlement of Compatriots, if the ownership of the car was registered a year or more before leaving the country of residence.
When exporting a car to cross the border, car insurance (“Green Card”) must be issued.
How to take out personal items
For those foreign citizens who participate in the State program for the resettlement of compatriots and travel to Russia for permanent residence in accordance with Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 142 of 03.03.2007, there are benefits for the transportation of personal property without paying import duties and taxes. 
In addition, all expenses of the settler for rail or sea transportation will be compensated. In other cases, migrants are limited to a limit of 35 kg of things per person: if it is exceeded, a duty will be charged - 30% of the value of the imported cargo.
How to register at the place of residence
Registration at the place of residence is a very important moment in the process of obtaining permanent residence status. In accordance with the Civil Code, the place of residence of a citizen is the place where he permanently resides. For registration, the host party submits an application and copies of passports (of its own and a foreign citizen), a migration card, to the bodies of the Main Internal Affairs Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. See the full list of documents on the website of the Main Department of Internal Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
How to get permanent residence for citizens of Ukraine
Citizens of Ukraine who wish to obtain permanent residence status in Russia have the opportunity to leave for the Russian Federation under the State Program for the Resettlement of Compatriots or on their own. The algorithm of actions in each of these cases will be different.
Thus, the participants of the State Program do not need to obtain a TRP, they immediately receive a residence permit. Those who travel on their own need to take care of migration registration, obtaining and TRP, registration at the place of residence. They will be able to apply for a residence permit only one year after the issuance of the TRP, but no later than 6 months before its completion.
For some categories of Ukrainian citizens, a simplified procedure is possible - for native Russian speakers who have Russian roots, for refugees. We should not forget that moving to Russia for permanent residence does not mean making a secret flight from Ukraine.
It is necessary to arrange a civilized parting, especially since legitimate emigration will allow you to retain Ukrainian citizenship and insure yourself in case of a force majeure situation.
How to get permanent residence for citizens of Kazakhstan
Kazakh citizens enjoy the right to acquire permanent residence and subsequent citizenship of the Russian Federation in a simplified manner. For them, the terms of verification and consideration of documents have been significantly reduced: if the general procedure prescribes the consideration of an application for citizenship within a year, then in this case the period is reduced to three months.
For Kazakhs, establishing the fact of permanent residence on the territory of the Russian Federation for five years is not required. If you have a residence permit, according to a four-party agreement (RF, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan), the period of residence for obtaining Russian citizenship does not play a role.
The amount of state duty for Kazakhs is 2000 rubles. Russian-speaking citizens of Kazakhstan can become participants in the State Program for the Resettlement of Compatriots.
Where can foreign citizens go for permanent residence in Russia
At the initial stages of obtaining permanent residence in the Russian Federation, the choice of place of residence for foreign citizens is often limited. Participants of the State program (if they wish to receive benefits and enjoy benefits) initially have the right to settle only in those subjects of the Federation that participate in the program. 
For foreigners who independently go from obtaining a TRP to a residence permit, the choice of a region for living is limited by the allocated quotas, and the quotas for the most favorable regions for living are small.
Obtaining a residence permit in Russia allows a foreign citizen to choose the region of residence at his own discretion.
This does not mean that a migrant will be welcome everywhere. Well-paid work is scarce and the competition for it is very high, in big cities there are problems with housing, not to mention high prices.
The choice of place of residence will be influenced by such factors as the availability of job vacancies and housing, relatives or acquaintances, opportunities for children to study, and climatic conditions.
Read more information about what influences the choice of place of residence and in which regions are more favorable conditions for migrants, in order to have a more complete picture,.
Is it possible to go to the Crimea for permanent residence
Crimea (especially the South Coast) has always attracted the attention of those wishing to settle by the warm sea. Theoretically, any foreigner who has received a residence permit in the Russian Federation can leave for Crimea for permanent residence. In practice, this is quite difficult to do. Moving to permanent residence in Crimea is often problematic, even if you do not take into account the existence of quotas. In 2017, only 1,500 quotas were opened for the entire Crimea.
This is due, first of all, to the difficult political and legal situation on the peninsula. The "legal collapse", in which thousands of citizens from the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the CIS countries found themselves (closed state registers, fraud in the sale of real estate), led to the fact that persons with permanent residence in Crimea cannot obtain a residence permit from the migration authorities Ukraine. There are no prospects for resolving this situation in the near future.
Given the economic turmoil, international sanctions, problems with water and other negative factors, one should not hurry with the final move to permanent residence here.
Obtaining Russian citizenship after a residence permit
The final act of the process of legalizing the status of permanent residence is the renunciation of previous citizenship and the acquisition of Russian. In a standard situation (if you do not use benefits or a simplified procedure), the right to obtain Russian citizenship comes after five years of residence on a residence permit.
In this case, a foreigner applies for Russian citizenship to the department of the Main Department of Internal Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the place of residence (the place where he was registered is recognized as the place of residence of a citizen), submits the necessary documents (with confirmation of law-abidingness, payment of all due taxes, financial viability) and pays the state duty .
