Dual Citizenship

Dual citizenship or second citizenship?

The laws of the Russian Federation permit dual citizenship as well as second citizenship. Dual citizenship is permitted with countries with which a relevant treaty has been signed. Tajikistan is one such country. Dual citizenship is also recognized with Turkmenistan if it was obtained before 2015. Only by holding dual citizenship with one of these countries, Russian laws govern the rights of Russian citizens, and this does not constitute grounds for revoking Russian citizenship.

Fee for a consultation on dual and second citizenship

 

When considering whether a Russian citizen holds another citizenship, it is more accurate to refer to it as “second citizenship” rather than “dual citizenship.” In most cases, the term “dual citizenship” is used incorrectly in Russia. Legally speaking, the term “dual citizenship” refers to citizenship held simultaneously in Russia and Tajikistan or Turkmenistan—that is, countries with which an intergovernmental agreement has been officially signed.

Among the former Soviet republics, Russia has relatively lenient immigration laws regarding citizens with dual citizenship. Russian legislation does not prohibit dual citizenship, but if a Russian citizen has obtained a passport from a foreign country or a permanent residence permit (PRP), the law simply requires that they notify the migration authorities of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Russian law provides for the automatic acquisition of citizenship by children whose parents (at least one of whom) are citizens of the Russian Federation. In other words, citizenship is acquired by “blood.” In the United States, Mongolia, Cuba, and a number of other countries on the American continent, citizenship is granted by virtue of being born on their soil—that is, on a territorial basis. In this case, a child born to parents who are citizens of the Russian Federation on U.S. soil, automatically acquires both citizenships, and there is nothing illegal about this.

 

Procedures for Obtaining Dual Citizenship.

As of 2020, the procedure for acquiring Russian citizenship does not require renouncing one’s current citizenship.

Under the Russian Federation’s new immigration laws, foreign citizens do not need to renounce their existing immigration statuses; they may acquire Russian citizenship without relinquishing their own citizenship. At the same time, the laws of other countries impose severe penalties for such actions. The laws of some countries prohibit dual citizenship with Russia, and if it is discovered that a citizen of Estonia or Latvia has obtained Russian citizenship, this results in the revocation of their citizenship in their home country.

How can a Russian citizen obtain dual citizenship?

• The United States, Cyprus, Australia, and the United Kingdom are countries that officially recognize dual citizenship. In other words, Russians who relocate to Cyprus, for example, are eligible to obtain Cypriot citizenship while retaining their Russian citizenship.
• A child whose parents are citizens of the Russian Federation is born in a country where citizenship is granted by birth (the United States, Canada, Cuba, Mongolia). In this case, the child may hold dual citizenship.
• A distinguished figure in culture or sports who is granted Russian citizenship. As a rule, the Russian Migration Service takes a fairly lenient approach toward this category of citizens and does not require them to renounce their current citizenship.
• A Russian citizen is undergoing the repatriation process, proving his or her affiliation with a particular ethnic group, and is obtaining citizenship of a foreign country.

 

Notification to the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Regarding Dual Citizenship or a Residence Permit Abroad.

As described earlier in this article, effective August 4, 2014, any Russian citizen who holds dual citizenship or a residence permit in a foreign country is required to notify the migration authorities. Failure to do so may result in a substantial fine or the initiation of criminal proceedings. The declaration can only be filed within the territory of the Russian Federation at the local Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs corresponding to the individual’s place of registration.

 

Russian citizens holding a residence permit (PRP or VNZh) abroad.

Russian citizens residing abroad under a residence permit who wish to return to Russia must deregister from the consular registry, cancel their permanent residence permit in their country of residence, and only after completing all of these procedures and returning to Russia will they be able to obtain a standard Russian passport.

After living in a foreign country for many years, you may not always want to give up your foreign residence permit, which grants you the right to work and other benefits. Therefore, before embarking on such serious procedures, it is always advisable to consult a qualified lawyer specializing in immigration law who can guide you through the legalization process with minimal disruption to your life. Contact the specialists at Vorotagoroda.