Minor foreign national

Residence permit for a minor foreign national

The right to submit an application and a set of documents for a residence permit (hereinafter, the residence permit) in the Russian Federation without first obtaining a temporary residence permit also applies to the following categories of foreign nationals:

1. A person under the age of eighteen whose parent (adoptive parent, guardian, or custodian) is a foreign national and permanently resides in the Russian Federation.
2. A person under the age of eighteen who is obtaining a residence permit together with their parent (adoptive parent, guardian, or custodian), who is a foreign national.

Thus, a minor foreign national may obtain a residence permit if their legal representative (parent, adoptive parent, guardian, or custodian) either already holds a residence permit in the Russian Federation or is applying to obtain one. The application for a residence permit for a child is submitted by their representative, either at the same time as the representative’s own application for a residence permit or after the representative has obtained one.

Practical example:

An Estonian citizen who holds a residence permit in Russia (for example, obtained after 12 months of residence under a temporary residence permit) is entitled to apply for a residence permit for their minor child, even if the child does not hold a temporary residence permit.

A family of citizens of Kazakhstan moves to Russia. When applying for residence permits for themselves (for example, on the basis of citizenship), the parents may also apply for residence permits for their minor children at the same time.

Document submission procedure: To obtain a residence permit pursuant to subparagraphs 2 and 3 of paragraph 2 of Article 8 of Federal Law No. 115-FZ of 25.07.2002 “On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation”, the legal representative of the minor foreign national must apply to the territorial office of the Main Directorate for Migration Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia at the place of stay.

Document package
The current list of required documents can be downloaded here

List of documents to apply for a residence permit for a foreign national under the age of eighteen whose parent (adoptive parent, guardian, or custodian) is a foreign national and permanently resides in the Russian Federation.

For a foreign national under the age of eighteen obtaining a residence permit together with their parent (adoptive parent, guardian, or custodian), who is a foreign national

1. Application in 2 copies (printed double-sided).

The application must be completed electronically or by hand in legible block letters, in black, blue, or purple ink, without corrections, blemishes, or unofficial abbreviations. All fields that must be completed are to be filled in.

If the application does not have enough lines, additional information may be provided on a separate sheet attached to the application, in the same format as the details of the corresponding application field, with the applicant’s first name, surname, and patronymic (if any) indicated on the attachment.

If the application is submitted on paper in person to the migration unit, the applicant must sign it in the presence of the official receiving applications. A minor foreign national who has reached the age of fourteen signs the application in the designated field.

If the application is submitted by a legal representative, information about that representative must be provided.

2. Identity document of the foreign national in respect of whom an application for a residence permit or an application to replace a residence permit is being submitted.

3. Migration card and detachable portion of the notification form concerning the arrival of a foreign national or stateless person at their place of stay — migration registration.

4. Birth certificate of the foreign national in respect of whom the application is submitted.

5. Documents confirming changes to the full name.

(Marriage certificate, divorce certificate, or certificate from the Civil Registry Office if the surname has been changed more than once, or a certificate confirming a change of name.)

6. A document confirming the absence of a criminal record or, if applicable, containing information about the offense for which the applicant was convicted.

To be submitted by a foreign national aged fourteen or older; the certificate must be valid for 3 months on the date the application is submitted.

This document is not required from a foreign national who arrived in the Russian Federation under a visa-free regime.

(If applying for a residence permit after a temporary residence permit, this certificate does not need to be submitted again.)

7. A document confirming that the foreign national is able to support themselves and their family members in the Russian Federation at least at the subsistence minimum level, without recourse to state assistance (except for foreign nationals recognized as unable to work), at least 4 regional subsistence minimums (if the certificate is from Sberbank, it must be Form 297).*

* Such documents include:

- certificate of income and personal income tax amounts (formerly Form 2-NDFL);

- pension certificate;

- certificate from the territorial office of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation confirming the award of a pension;

- confirmation of receipt of alimony;

- income certificate for the person supporting the applicant;

- certificate confirming a bank deposit, stating the account number and deposit amount;

- another document confirming receipt of income from activities not prohibited by law or inability to work.

8. Documents confirming that the foreign national does not have drug addiction or infectious diseases that pose a danger to others, as well as a certificate confirming that the applicant does not have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

9. The following are exempt from confirming proficiency in Russian and knowledge of Russian history and the fundamentals of the legislation of the Russian Federation when submitting an application:

    • foreign nationals under the age of eighteen.

10. Identity document of the applicant.

At the time the application is submitted, the document must remain valid for at least the duration of the application review period.

If the applicant is a citizen of the Russian Federation, they must provide, as their identity document, a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation that certifies the identity of a Russian Federation citizen within the territory of the Russian Federation.  

Documents confirming the authority of an adoptive parent, guardian, or custodian (if the application is not submitted by a parent).

11. Personal photographs, 35х45mm – 4 pcs. (matte, black-and-white or color).

Stateless persons must provide two photographs.

12. Receipt for payment of the state duty.

13. A document confirming that the foreign national has residential premises on grounds provided for by the legislation of the Russian Federation, where the right is not registered in the Unified State Register of Real Estate,

- if a foreign national applies for a residence permit more than three years after entering the Russian Federation.

All listed documents must be submitted as photocopies together with the ORIGINALS.

Copies of original documents must be clear, easily legible, and contain all the information presented in the original. Copies must be made on standard A4 sheets and must not be cut with scissors to match the size of the original.

The state service is provided within 4 months.

When documents for a residence permit are accepted, a certificate confirming acceptance of the application for review is issued.

If the application for a residence permit is not accepted, a certificate stating the reason is issued.

    • If documents (passport, birth certificate, etc.) show different spellings of geographical names, documentary confirmation of the renaming may be required. Such a certificate may also be obtained by proxy from the Russian State Library.

All official documents issued by foreign authorities in a foreign language must be legalized, translated, and notarized.

For countries party to the 1961 Hague Convention:

• The original document must be apostilled in the country where it was issued.

• The document and the apostille affixed to it must be translated into Russian.

• The translation must be certified by a notarial endorsement by a notary in the Russian Federation.

  For countries that are not party to the Hague Convention:

• Documents are subject to consular legalization through Russian consular offices abroad or the Consular Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Documents drawn up in a foreign language must be translated into Russian.

If a document is drawn up in several languages and none of them is Russian, a translation from one language chosen by the applicant must be submitted. The accuracy of the translation or the authenticity of the translator’s signature must be notarized in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of the Russian Federation on notaries.

Pursuant to Article 8, paragraph 2, subparagraphs 2 and 3 of Federal Law No. 115-FZ “On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation