Temporary Residence Permit (RVP) in Russia for Those Who Share Traditional Russian Values

How to Obtain a Temporary Residence Permit (RVP) in Russia if You Share Traditional Russian Values

In August 2024, the President of Russia signed Decree No. 702, “On Providing Humanitarian Support to Persons Who Share Traditional Russian Spiritual and Moral Values.” The decree created a fast-track pathway for foreigners and stateless persons who declare alignment with Russia’s traditional values. Applicants can apply for a Temporary Residence Permit (RVP — РВП) without going through the quota system and without passing language, history, or law exams.

Who can apply to

The program applies to citizens of nearly fifty countries that Russia classifies as promoting neoliberal policies seen as contradicting its traditional values. The list spans Europe, North America, Asia, and Oceania.

Europe: Austria, Albania, Andorra, Belgium, Bulgaria, the United Kingdom (including crown dependencies and overseas territories), Germany, Greece, Denmark, Ireland, Iceland, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, North Macedonia, Slovenia, France, Croatia, Montenegro, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Sweden, Estonia, Ukraine.

North America: United States, Canada, the Bahamas.

Asia: Republic of Korea (South Korea), Singapore, Taiwan (China), Japan.

Oceania & Pacific: Australia, New Zealand, Micronesia.

Citizens from these countries who are willing to base their relocation on this “traditional values” route are offered a special legal framework to move to Russia.

Step One: Obtaining the Visa

The first step is a single-entry private visa valid for up to 90 days, issued specifically for applying for RVP. You must apply at a Russian consulate in your country of citizenship, or in another listed country where you hold permanent residence. Stateless persons living in one of the listed countries can also apply.

To apply you will need:

• A valid passport with at least two blank pages and six months’ validity beyond the visa.
• A completed visa application form (via visa.kdmid.ru, printed and signed).
• One color photograph (3.5 × 4.5 cm).
• Medical insurance covering your stay in Russia.
• A police clearance certificate, apostilled or legalized, translated into Russian and notarized. It must be issued within three months prior to applying.

Most consulates will also conduct a short personal interview.

Arrival and Local Registration

You may enter Russia by air, land, or sea at any border crossing that accepts your visa. Within seven days you must register your address with local authorities in the region where you plan to live and submit your RVP application. Registration can be based on your own property or on a rental, provided the landlord consents.

Other immediate requirements:

• Translate all foreign documents into Russian and notarize them in Russia. Ensure the spelling of your name matches the one used in your visa.
• Complete a medical exam at an accredited Russian center. It includes an HIV blood test, drug screening, chest X-ray for tuberculosis and other infections, and a psychiatric consultation. Results are usually available within a few days.

Note: until you obtain permanent residence, customs duties apply to imported personal goods.

Submitting the RVP Application

Applications are filed at the territorial office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD). Required documents include:

• Application form (two copies, in Russian).
• Passport and notarized translation.
• Two photos (35 × 45 mm).
• Migration card received on entry.
• Apostilled or legalized police clearance (also for children over 14).
• Russian medical certificates.
• Civil status documents (birth, marriage, divorce, name change), translated and apostilled if required.
• Proof of residence in one of the listed countries (if relevant).
• Receipt confirming payment of the state fee (currently 1,920 rubles).

At submission you will be fingerprinted and photographed, and you will receive an official certificate confirming your application.

Processing takes about 4–5 months. Since the entry visa is valid only for 90 days, you cannot remain in Russia the whole time without extra steps. Once your visa expires, you must either leave the country or obtain an official extension from migration authorities. In some regions, the submission certificate serves as the basis for such temporary status. Remaining in Russia without this extension counts as a violation.

Receiving the RVP

If approved, the RVP is issued for three years. It allows you to live and work in Russia without a separate work permit, but only within the region that granted the permit.

Key rules for RVP holders:

• Keep your registration current and notify authorities of address changes.
• File annual reports on income and taxes; maintain tax residency (at least 183 days a year in Russia).
• Do not stay outside Russia for more than six months total in a year.
• RVP cannot be renewed. Before it expires, you must apply for permanent residence (VNJ — ВНЖ) or leave Russia.

Practical Opportunities: Work, Study, Business

• Employment: You may work without a labor patent, but only within your RVP region.
• Education: Students can apply for a study-purpose permit (RVPO) valid for the duration of their education plus six months. This also allows part-time work.
• Entrepreneurship: RVP holders may register as individual entrepreneurs (IE). Common tax systems include simplified regimes. However, business activity is also limited to the RVP region.

Why the Program Emphasizes “Traditional Values”

Authorities describe the program as humanitarian and cultural. It is designed for people who sympathize with Russia’s moral framework, placing emphasis on family, continuity, patriotism, and cultural heritage. For applicants, relocation often reflects not just administrative convenience but a conscious value-based choice.

Early Results and Trends

Since the decree took effect, hundreds of applications have been filed, mainly from the United States, Canada, and European countries. Officials present the program as a new humanitarian channel for those wishing to integrate into Russian society on cultural grounds.

Conclusion

• Document preparation: Pay attention to apostilles, legalization, and certified translations before travel.
• Timing: Plan around the 90-day visa; processing is longer.
• Medical and legal support: Use accredited clinics and consider legal assistance for translations and filings.
• Long-term outlook: RVP is only the first step. Think ahead about permanent residence and citizenship.

If you’re planning to travel to Russia to submit your documents, don’t go it alone. The RVP route is workable, but timing, translations, apostilles, and regional rules can trip you up. For on-the-ground legal support in Moscow — from visa strategy and registration to medicals, filings, and follow-through— contact Migron. We’ll help you structure the process correctly the first time and keep your case moving.