The lion’s share of foreign students who receive higher education in Russian universities enter there for the purpose of further employment in the Russian Federation. However, living and working in the country without citizenship or a residence permit is fraught with bureaucratic red tape. Therefore, it is better not to delay the collection of documents. Moreover, there are some “privileges” in the procedure for obtaining citizenship for students of the Russian Federation. Let’s consider the procedure thoroughly.
Three stages on the way to a Russian passport
Until 2014, foreign students had a chance to obtain a Russian passport without intermediate stages. However, now Federal Law No. 62 does not provide for such a possibility. As for other categories of citizens, a three-stage system is provided for students:
Only students with citizenship of the CIS republics can avoid such a fate. However, not because they are students, but because they can take part in the Resettlement Program, for example. . However, these subtleties are not related to education, so we will not talk about them in this article. Let’s deal with each of the three stages on the path to citizenship separately.
Stage One: RVP
A temporary residence permit is valid for 3 years and gives a foreign student a number of advantages:
Part-time students, however, are required to confirm once a year that they have a legal source of funds. Full-time students can simply notify the Ministry of Internal Affairs that they are still in Russia.
With a RVP, you can live, study and work only on the territory of the subject of the Federation where the permit was issued.
You can get a RVP by quota. They are allocated at the beginning of the year and not very much, so it is better to submit documents in January. In order to issue a RVP outside the quota, you need to have a good reason: a husband / wife / parents of citizens of the Russian Federation, be born on the territory of the RSFSR, or have another reason provided for by law.
It does not matter whether you submit a quota or not, such a package of documents should be attributed to the department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs:
1
Two correctly filled out applications with two photos 35×45 mm. You do not need to paste them.
2
Passport or identity card with a notarized translation
3
A document confirming the legality of your stay in the country (migration card/ visa, temporary registration, etc.).
4
An education agreement indicating the terms of study.
5
Medical certificates that you do not suffer from drug addiction, do not suffer from dangerous infectious diseases (including HIV).
6
Certificate of knowledge of the Russian language, history and fundamentals of Russian legislation
7
Receipt of payment of state duty.
Students applying for a PRT outside the quota add to this list documents that would confirm the existence of grounds for this (marriage certificate, etc.). It will be a plus if you attach a petition from the university to this list.
If you come from a visa country, the application will be considered for 4 months. visa-free students, this time will be reduced to 60 days.
After you have a RVP stamp in your passport, you will have a week to register at your place of permanent residence. You can register in a hostel, in your own or rented apartment, or with relatives. The registration stamp is also put in the passport.
In some cases, you can skip the RVP and immediately proceed to the next stage — registration of a residence permit. But this requires grounds.
Stage 2: Residence permit
According to Federal Law No115 –FZ, during the validity period of the RVP, a foreigner has the right to apply for a residence permit. According to the law, this can be done no earlier than after eight months of life with RVP. To receive the service, the following papers should be taken to the department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs:
1
Two completed copies of the application with 4 photos 35×45 mm.
2
Passport or identity card with notarized translation.
3
Papers on the availability of a legal source of livelihood (a certificate from the place of work or a bank deposit in the amount of at least 12 subsistence minimums of the region where the application is submitted).
4
Medical certificates that you do not suffer from drug addiction, do not suffer from dangerous infectious diseases (including HIV).
5
Certificate confirming knowledge of the Russian language, history and the basics of Russian legislation (they are different for the RVP and residence permit).
6
If you apply three years after entering the Russian Federation, you will need more documents on the ownership (or long-term lease) of the apartment.
7
Receipt of payment of state duty.
You will have to wait for a response for 4 months. The residence permit looks like a separate crust and has no expiration date. After receiving it, the student is obliged to register at the place of residence within 7 working days.
Stage 3: Nationality
Only those who have lived with a residence permit for 5 years have the right to apply for citizenship in a general manner. . If there are grounds for simplified registration, then you do not need to wait five years. However, since there are no benefits in obtaining citizenship for students who are only receiving higher education, it would be more logical not to rush to get it. But after becoming a graduate of a university, getting a job, and gaining a year’s work experience in Russia, you can follow a simplified scheme.
Three-year work experience entitles graduates of Russian universities to apply for citizenship in a simplified manner
Graduates who have been educated at accredited universities in one of the regions of Russia after July 1, 2002, have officially worked for one year,and have a residence permit provide the following papers:
1
Two correctly completed applications for citizenship with 4 photos 3X4.
2
Copy and original residence permit.
3
Passport or identity card with a notarized translation.
4
A document confirming that the applicant has applied to his country with an application for renunciation of citizenship
5
Diploma, as well as confirmation of the availability of state accreditation at the university at the time you receive your diploma.
6
Certificate in the form of SZI-6.
7
Employment record and its copy, certified by the employer, originals and copies of employment contracts.
8
Papers confirming the existence of legal means of livelihood.
9
Receipt of payment of state duty.
The waiting period will be 3 months. As you can see, the procedure for obtaining citizenship for students of the Russian Federation will not be fast, but graduates are more fortunate in this sense.