Immigration to Russia
involves foreign citizens seeking permanent residence in the territory of the
Russian Federation
. The standard legal
immigration
status obtaining procedure consists of the following time-divided steps: obtaining a temporary
residence permit
; obtaining a permanent residence permit and obtaining
Russian citizenship
.
[1]
Under current law, one can receive
citizenship of Russia
after five years of residence and after passing an exam in
Russian language
,
civics
and
history
. Immigration to Russia is regulated by the
Main Directorate for Migration Affairs
of the
Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russian Federation
.
[2]
Immigration plays an important role in modern Russian demographic processes, accounting for the increase in the population from 2011.
[3]
Anyone who works in Russia for five years and develops fluency in the
Russian language
can become a citizen, provided they have not committed a crime. Almost anyone who is hired by a Russian firm can stay in the country and work indefinitely
[4]
This reflects a policy change, in response to declining birth rates, on the part of the government of
Vladimir Putin
from the more restrictive policy enacted after the 1991
dissolution of the Soviet Union
.
[5]
The large non-Slavic immigrant populations arriving in response to Putin's liberal policy have sometimes encountered
xenophobia
. To counter this, pursuant to Russian hate-speech laws, the Russian state has shut down various anti-immigrant groups, such as the
Movement Against Illegal Immigration
.
Russian-language native-speakers, those married to Russian citizens, highly-qualified specialists, businessmen and refugees are eligible for a simplified immigration procedure. It allows gaining citizenship in 3 years (instead of 5 under the standard procedure) or sometimes skipping temporary or permanent residency.
[6]
Statistics
[
edit
]
Recent trends
[
edit
]
Countries with at least 5,000 persons immigrating each year.
[7]
[8]
Country
|
Gross immigration
|
Net immigration
|
2000
|
2005
|
2010
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
2000
|
2005
|
2010
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
Tajikistan
|
11,043
|
4,717
|
18,188
|
47,638
|
52,676
|
63,467
|
67,929
|
89,553
|
93,333
|
126,840
|
186,560
|
9,885
|
4,283
|
17,494
|
11,362
|
27,288
|
34,639
|
31,028
|
48,374
|
39,424
|
96,609
|
87,264
|
Ukraine
|
74,748
|
30,760
|
27,508
|
194,810
|
178,274
|
150,182
|
137,776
|
161,351
|
143,988
|
122,669
|
148,846
|
39,147
|
18,120
|
21,230
|
146,131
|
118,819
|
47,691
|
14,822
|
64,245
|
52,775
|
64,669
|
27,267
|
Kazakhstan
|
124,903
|
51,945
|
27,862
|
65,750
|
69,356
|
71,680
|
72,141
|
86,311
|
64,494
|
72,668
|
64,382
|
106,990
|
39,508
|
20,533
|
34,767
|
37,130
|
32,736
|
26,516
|
39,166
|
8,440
|
48,317
|
?4,947
|
Kyrgyzstan
|
15,536
|
15,592
|
20,901
|
26,045
|
28,202
|
41,165
|
44,408
|
53,810
|
45,676
|
61,101
|
62,360
|
13,679
|
15,119
|
20,260
|
9,935
|
11,043
|
19,355
|
8,978
|
15,106
|
1,402
|
42,549
|
?6,824
|
Armenia
|
15,951
|
7,581
|
19,890
|
45,670
|
43,929
|
46,898
|
46,442
|
71,984
|
56,511
|
70,078
|
59,533
|
14,432
|
6,961
|
19,192
|
20,533
|
11,993
|
13,999
|
14,358
|
35,109
|
?1,836
|
45,235
|
?10,706
|
Uzbekistan
|
40,810
|
30,436
|
24,100
|
74,242
|
60,977
|
64,073
|
55,378
|
60,796
|
50,188
|
56,808
|
54,035
|
37,724
|
29,841
|
23,266
|
?20,668
|
19,672
|
22,167
|
6,807
|
19,129
|
4,927
|
36,009
|
?8,455
|
Azerbaijan
|
14,906
|
4,600
|
14,500
|
24,326
|
24,109
|
25,602
|
26,690
|
34,619
|
32,135
|
35,209
|
31,773
|
11,719
|
3,326
|
13,389
|
10,660
|
10,439
|
8,599
|
8,737
|
17,005
|
10,894
|
23,659
|
?3,712
|
Moldova
|
11,652
|
6,569
|
11,814
|
34,026
|
32,418
|
31,369
|
30,676
|
26,513
|
22,129
|
27,248
|
23,540
|
9,415
|
5,783
|
11,197
|
17,380
|
14,364
|
9,605
|
7,688
|
5,385
|
3,490
|
16,144
|
2,355
|
Belarus
|
10,274
|
6,797
|
4,894
|
17,741
|
14,590
|
21,282
|
19,045
|
18,428
|
14,536
|
23,120
|
18,824
|
?3,002
|
763
|
1,995
|
4,909
|
2,127
|
11,770
|
7,191
|
6,283
|
?1,403
|
15,424
|
?161
|
Turkmenistan
|
6,738
|
4,104
|
2,283
|
6,539
|
7,242
|
8,734
|
10,509
|
14,632
|
12,930
|
10,449
|
12,133
|
6,062
|
3,979
|
2,178
|
2,320
|
2,418
|
2,873
|
2,951
|
6,198
|
778
|
7,230
|
?3,702
|
India
|
203
|
54
|
110
|
2,894
|
4,768
|
5,622
|
5,032
|
9,588
|
4,506
|
7,132
|
8,275
|
?
|
41
|
93
|
1,282
|
1,421
|
1,437
|
?185
|
4,326
|
?4,779
|
5,007
|
?851
|
China
|
1,121
|
432
|
1,380
|
9,043
|
8,027
|
8,237
|
7,067
|
15,306
|
7,270
|
6,465
|
7,964
|
463
|
?24
|
1,132
|
?778
|
?810
|
637
|
?477
|
6,679
|
?3,764
|
4,248
|
?3,018
|
Georgia
*
Abkhazia
(
disp. status
)
*
South Ossetia
(
disp. status
)
|
20,213
?
?
|
5,497
?
?
|
5,245
814
33
|
7,038
2,267
342
|
6,511
2,261
216
|
6,809
2,357
270
|
6,345
1,975
260
|
6,925
1,429
110
|
5,764
1,217
131
|
6,506
1,190
148
|
6,002
1,262
137
|
18,411
-
-
|
4,806
-
-
|
4,786
732
23
|
3,309
1,272
-282
|
2,294
1,240
83
|
2,586
1,975
180
|
2,031
1,975
96
|
2,840
147
-4
|
1,274
30
14
|
3,838
245
87
|
?196
1,134
39
|
Vietnam
|
182
|
114
|
921
|
4,012
|
3,735
|
3,912
|
3,981
|
6,742
|
6,206
|
5,426
|
5,655
|
149
|
69
|
889
|
1,004
|
394
|
1,194
|
684
|
3,461
|
308
|
3,402
|
?2,564
|
Total
|
359,330
|
177,230
|
191,656
|
598,617
|
575,158
|
589,033
|
565,685
|
701,234
|
594,146
|
667,922
|
730,347
|
213,610
|
107,432
|
158,078
|
245,384
|
261,948
|
211,878
|
124,854
|
285,103
|
106,510
|
429,902
|
61,917
|
Foreign population
[
edit
]
As of May 2022, there are 5.99 million foreigners residing in the Russian Federation (up from 5.66 million in 2021 but down from 10.13 million in 2019), with the vast majority (91%) being citizens of
CIS
countries. Central Asians make up the most numerous group, followed by Ukrainian citizens. Temporary migration from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan increased after a marked decline in 2020-2021. Other
CIS
countries have steadily demonstrated a decrease in the number of migrants.
[9]
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as of November 2021, there were 5.5 million migrants in Russia. Of these, 819,600 were in the country illegally.
[10]
In the first quarter of 2021, 1345 migrants were deported, more than in the same period last year. The number of deported migrants increased in Russia.
Foreign residents from the
CIS
in Russia:
[9]
Country of origin
|
Population (2022)
|
2021?2022
change
|
Uzbekistan
|
1,626,308
|
+435,674
|
Tajikistan
|
1,262,695
|
+453,529
|
Kyrgyzstan
|
681,165
|
+58,122
|
Ukraine
|
597,051
|
-57,869
|
Belarus
|
428,239
|
-134,722
|
Armenia
|
280,520
|
-67,160
|
Kazakhstan
|
228,142
|
-35,349
|
Azerbaijan
|
215,481
|
-83,600
|
Moldova
|
76,645
|
-56,230
|
Foreign residents in Russia:
[11]
2019
Country of origin
|
Number of foreign citizens with residence permits
[12]
|
Australia
|
97
|
Austria
|
132
|
Azerbaijan
|
96,501
|
Albania
|
35
|
Algeria
|
334
|
Angola
|
13
|
Argentina
|
104
|
Armenia
|
90,659
|
Aruba
|
6
|
Afghanistan
|
4300
|
Bangladesh
|
154
|
Bahrain
|
2
|
Belarus
|
34,748
|
Belgium
|
142
|
Benin
|
29
|
Bermuda
|
2
|
Bulgaria
|
1439
|
Bolivia
|
36
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina
|
529
|
Brazil
|
174
|
Burkina Faso
|
2
|
Burundi
|
10
|
United Kingdom
|
490
|
Hungary
|
151
|
Venezuela
|
56
|
Vietnam
|
13,133
|
Gabon
|
2
|
Haiti
|
5
|
Guyana
|
2
|
Gambia
|
3
|
Ghana
|
57
|
Guatemala
|
7
|
Guinea
|
46
|
Guinea-Bissau
|
12
|
Germany
|
2632
|
Honduras
|
1
|
Greece
|
1336
|
Georgia
|
21,142
|
Denmark
|
70
|
Dominica
|
2
|
Dominican Republic
|
35
|
Egypt
|
1262
|
Zambia
|
14
|
Zimbabwe
|
3
|
Israel
|
1807
|
India
|
1074
|
Indonesia
|
49
|
Jordan
|
434
|
Iraq
|
581
|
Iran
|
359
|
Ireland
|
53
|
Iceland
|
11
|
Spain
|
346
|
Italy
|
1117
|
Yemen
|
328
|
Cape Verde
|
521
|
Kazakhstan
|
86,358
|
Cambodia
|
2
|
Cameroon
|
136
|
Canada
|
155
|
Kenya
|
17
|
Cyprus
|
51
|
Kyrgyzstan
|
24,625
|
China
|
8576
|
Colombia
|
80
|
Comoros
|
2
|
Congo
|
69
|
DR Congo
|
33
|
North Korea
|
143
|
South Korea
|
597
|
Costa Rica
|
6
|
Ivory Coast
|
54
|
Cuba
|
327
|
Kuwait
|
9
|
Laos
|
18
|
Latvia
|
3347
|
Lesotho
|
3
|
Liberia
|
1
|
Lebanon
|
227
|
Libya
|
65
|
Lithuania
|
4025
|
Luxembourg
|
1
|
Mauritius
|
12
|
Madagascar
|
17
|
North Macedonia
|
170
|
Malawi
|
1
|
Malaysia
|
8
|
Mali
|
9
|
Maldives
|
1
|
Malta
|
10
|
Morocco
|
281
|
Mexico
|
66
|
Mozambique
|
9
|
Moldova
|
54,826
|
Mongolia
|
478
|
Myanmar
|
6
|
Namibia
|
1
|
Nepal
|
79
|
Niger
|
11
|
Nigeria
|
287
|
Netherlands
|
209
|
Nicaragua
|
13
|
New Zealand
|
22
|
Norway
|
60
|
United Arab Emirates
|
7
|
Oman
|
5
|
Pakistan
|
324
|
Palestine
|
261
|
Panama
|
13
|
Paraguay
|
6
|
Peru
|
80
|
Poland
|
950
|
Portugal
|
45
|
Rwanda
|
5
|
Romania
|
121
|
Saudi Arabia
|
12
|
Seychelles
|
3
|
Senegal
|
17
|
Saint Kitts and Nevis
|
1
|
Serbia
|
2326
|
Singapore
|
4
|
Syria
|
3629
|
Slovakia
|
181
|
Slovenia
|
413
|
United States
|
1153
|
Somalia
|
4
|
Sudan
|
104
|
Tajikistan
|
144,222
|
Thailand
|
133
|
Taiwan
|
20
|
Tanzania
|
12
|
Togo
|
3
|
Tunisia
|
364
|
Turkmenistan
|
7150
|
Turkey
|
4607
|
Uganda
|
12
|
Uzbekistan
|
135,447
|
Ukraine
|
270,400
|
Uruguay
|
5
|
Philippines
|
93
|
Finland
|
205
|
France
|
689
|
Croatia
|
152
|
Central African Republic
|
1
|
Chad
|
9
|
Montenegro
|
240
|
Czech Republic
|
176
|
Chile
|
32
|
Switzerland
|
101
|
Sweden
|
152
|
Sri Lanka
|
69
|
Ecuador
|
56
|
Estonia
|
1410
|
Ethiopia
|
10
|
South Africa
|
57
|
Jamaica
|
4
|
Japan
|
206
|
Stateless persons
|
8157
|
Total
|
1,046,056
|
Naturalisations in Russia
[
edit
]
2021
Country of origin
|
Number of naturalised persons
[13]
|
Australia
|
19
|
Austria
|
9
|
Saint Kitts and Nevis
|
1
|
Azerbaijan
|
30,791
|
Albania
|
13
|
Algeria
|
90
|
Angola
|
9
|
Argentina
|
17
|
Armenia
|
46,931
|
Afghanistan
|
1,411
|
Bangladesh
|
51
|
Belarus
|
24,539
|
Belgium
|
17
|
Benin
|
12
|
Bulgaria
|
309
|
Bolivia
|
9
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina
|
144
|
Brazil
|
45
|
Burundi
|
2
|
United Kingdom
|
99
|
Hungary
|
27
|
Venezuela
|
19
|
Vietnam
|
1,947
|
Gabon
|
2
|
Haiti
|
4
|
Mauritius
|
4
|
Guyana
|
1
|
Gambia
|
1
|
Cape Verde
|
1
|
Hong Kong
|
1
|
Ghana
|
19
|
Guatemala
|
3
|
Guinea
|
9
|
Costa Rica
|
4
|
Guinea-Bissau
|
4
|
Germany
|
481
|
Madagascar
|
9
|
Malta
|
3
|
Greece
|
183
|
Georgia
|
5,076
|
Denmark
|
16
|
Dominican Republic
|
10
|
Egypt
|
414
|
Iceland
|
10
|
Zambia
|
5
|
Israel
|
466
|
India
|
159
|
Indonesia
|
2
|
Jordan
|
127
|
Iraq
|
159
|
Iran
|
137
|
Spain
|
48
|
Italy
|
226
|
Yemen
|
111
|
South Ossetia
|
184
|
Kazakhstan
|
49,862
|
Cameroon
|
55
|
Cambodia
|
1
|
Canada
|
69
|
Kenya
|
5
|
Cyprus
|
6
|
Kyrgyzstan
|
19,241
|
China
|
83
|
Colombia
|
31
|
Congo
|
31
|
DR Congo
|
15
|
North Korea
|
5
|
Portugal
|
11
|
South Korea
|
11
|
Ivory Coast
|
26
|
Cuba
|
98
|
Laos
|
1
|
Myanmar
|
1
|
Paraguay
|
1
|
Latvia
|
375
|
Lebanon
|
107
|
Libya
|
10
|
Lithuania
|
380
|
North Macedonia
|
34
|
Malaysia
|
2
|
Mali
|
9
|
Morocco
|
90
|
Ireland
|
8
|
Mexico
|
14
|
Mozambique
|
6
|
Moldova
|
23,697
|
Mongolia
|
30
|
Nepal
|
6
|
Nigeria
|
128
|
Niger
|
2
|
Netherlands
|
24
|
New Zealand
|
6
|
Nicaragua
|
3
|
Norway
|
7
|
United Arab Emirates
|
3
|
Abkhazia
|
324
|
Pakistan
|
68
|
Palestine
|
89
|
Panama
|
2
|
Peru
|
25
|
Poland
|
163
|
Rwanda
|
2
|
Uruguay
|
2
|
Bahrain
|
1
|
Romania
|
35
|
Oman
|
2
|
Saudi Arabia
|
4
|
Senegal
|
8
|
Burkina Faso
|
3
|
Serbia
|
566
|
Singapore
|
1
|
Syria
|
1,270
|
Slovakia
|
10
|
Slovenia
|
19
|
United States
|
388
|
Sudan
|
35
|
Tajikistan
|
103,681
|
Thailand
|
33
|
Taiwan
|
1
|
Togo
|
1
|
Tunisia
|
122
|
Turkmenistan
|
3,628
|
Turkey
|
1,388
|
Uganda
|
3
|
Uzbekistan
|
31,867
|
Ukraine
|
375,989
|
Philippines
|
19
|
Finland
|
24
|
France
|
167
|
Croatia
|
54
|
Chad
|
5
|
Montenegro
|
56
|
Czech Republic
|
39
|
Chile
|
10
|
Switzerland
|
21
|
Sweden
|
32
|
Sri Lanka
|
11
|
Ecuador
|
19
|
Estonia
|
153
|
Ethiopia
|
5
|
South Africa
|
12
|
Japan
|
3
|
Stateless persons
|
6,118
|
Total
|
735,385
|
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
|
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From Europe
| |
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From Asia
| |
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From Africa
| |
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|
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Sovereign states
| |
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States with limited
recognition
| |
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Dependencies and
other entities
| |
---|
Other entities
| |
---|