State Program for the Resettlement of Compatriots to the Russian Federation
State Program for the Resettlement of Compatriots to the Russian Federation
State Program for the Resettlement of Compatriots to the Russian Federation
The State Program to assist the voluntary resettlement to the Russian Federation of compatriots living abroad is a large-scale project aimed at the return of people with cultural and historical roots in Russia. The program has been in effect since 2006 and is intended to assist compatriots in moving to a new place of residence in the Russian Federation.
Compatriots are understood to be persons born in one state, living or having lived there, and possessing common linguistic, historical, cultural heritage, traditional and customary ties, as well as the direct-line descendants of such persons.
Compatriots abroad (hereinafter, “compatriots”) include:
- citizens of the Russian Federation permanently residing outside the territory of the Russian Federation.
Persons and their descendants residing outside the territory of the Russian Federation are also recognized as compatriots if they generally belong to peoples historically residing in the territory of the Russian Federation, as well as persons who have freely chosen spiritual, cultural, and legal ties with the Russian Federation and whose direct-line ancestors previously lived in the territory of the Russian Federation, including:
- persons who held citizenship of the USSR, reside in states that were part of the USSR, and acquired citizenship of those states or became stateless persons;
- people originating from (emigrants from) the Russian State, the Russian Republic, the RSFSR, the USSR, and the Russian Federation, who held the corresponding citizenship and became citizens of a foreign state or stateless persons.
The State Resettlement Program provides for two main ways to participate: the general procedure and repatriate status.
To participate under the general procedure, an applicant must confirm a cultural or ethnic connection to Russia and may resettle in one of the regions participating in the program.
Repatriates are a special category of compatriots entitled to a simplified resettlement procedure. Repatriates are granted expanded rights: the ability to choose any region for resettlement (including the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg), exemption from the requirement to demonstrate knowledge of the Russian language, history, and fundamentals of the legislation of the Russian Federation when applying to participate in the Program, and the right to obtain a residence permit without first obtaining a temporary residence permit.
Old Believers participating in the State Program for the Resettlement of Compatriots are exempt from a number of mandatory requirements when acquiring Russian Federation citizenship, provided they meet the established conditions.
In particular, they are not required to take examinations in the Russian language, Russian history, or the fundamentals of the legislation of the Russian Federation.
This requires a written petition from the Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus' of the Russian Orthodox Old-Rite Church. Another condition is resettlement for permanent residence in the regions of the Far Eastern Federal District under the State Program for the Resettlement of Compatriots.
It is important to note that this simplified procedure applies both to the Old Believers themselves and to their family members participating in the resettlement process.
This measure is intended to support Old Believer communities and preserve their cultural heritage in the regions of the Russian Far East.
Participation in the State Program for the Resettlement of Compatriots offers extensive opportunities for people wishing to move to the Russian Federation for permanent residence. First and foremost, the Program provides comprehensive relocation support: reimbursement of expenses for transporting personal belongings, payment of travel expenses and settlement allowances (for participants under the general procedure), as well as assistance with employment.
In addition, participants are entitled to simplified processing of a temporary residence permit, residence permit, and citizenship of the Russian Federation, which significantly speeds up the process of regularizing their status in the country.
Equally important are the social guarantees provided both to Program participants and to their family members. These include access to free education for children, assistance with employment, and the opportunity to engage in business activities without additional restrictions.
Participation in the State Program for the Resettlement of Compatriots offers significant advantages when clearing personal belongings through customs. Program participants and their family members resettling in the Russian Federation for permanent residence are entitled to import personal property duty-free without limits on value or weight, including used vehicles purchased before entering the territory of the Russian Federation (subject to the established conditions).
In addition, the Program provides for reimbursement from the federal budget of expenses for obtaining a visa and paying the state duty for processing documents that determine legal status in the Russian Federation. All this makes participation in the Resettlement Program a socially and economically sound decision for starting a life in Russia.
Other materials on this topic:
Frequently Asked Questions about the State Resettlement Program
Compatriot or Repatriate: Key Similarities and Differences
Regions participating in the State Resettlement Program
Guides and road maps for specific regions
