Eastern Europe · Immigration

Russia

59 immigration routes

Russia sits in Eastern Europe. Its immigration system runs 59 distinct routes — led by talent & merit, family and residence-based status, each set out in official law. All 59 cite an official government source, shown on the route with the date we last read it. Who actually qualifies depends on your full profile.

Immigration routes
59across 13 route categories, each set out in official law
Source-cited routes
59 of 59cite an official government source, with the date we last read it
Largest category
Talent & merit8 of the 59 routes — see them under Talent & merit below
Region
Eastern Europe
Capital
Moscow
Population
143,513,328
Official language
Russian
Currency
RUB
Time zone
9 zones
Source-cited pathways

Immigration routes

All 59 routes, grouped by purpose — 59 of 59 cite an official government source directly.

Work

1 of 7 says who you can bring
7 routes

An ordinary work visa admits a foreign citizen to carry out authorised labour activity in the Russian Federation.

Official government source: denmark.kdmid.ru · checked 2026-07-27 · 3 sources

Investment

1 of 1 says who you can bring
1 route

Talent & merit

1 of 8 says who you can bring
8 routes

A foreign professional with relevant experience, skills or achievements may be sponsored as a highly qualified specialist under the general salary threshold.

Savings from RUB 750,000Can bring: grandparents, spouse, children, parents
Official government source: government.ru · checked 2026-07-27

Study

6 routes

An ordinary student visa admits a foreign citizen for study in a Russian educational or scientific organisation.

Official government source: denmark.kdmid.ru · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

Family

8 of 8 say who you can bring
8 routes

A foreign citizen with a qualifying parent, guardian or child who is a Russian citizen permanently resident in Russia may obtain permanent residence without prior temporary residence.

Can bring: children, parents, legal guardian
Official government source: government.ru · checked 2026-07-27

Residence-based status

8 routes

A temporary-resident visa enables a visa-required foreign citizen who has been granted temporary residence to enter and stay on that basis.

Official government source: government.ru · checked 2026-07-27

Free movement

2 routes

A citizen of another EAEU member state may work in Russia under an employment or civil-law services contract without a Russian work permit or patent.

Official government source: eec.eaeunion.org · checked 2026-07-27

A citizen of Belarus may obtain Russian permanent residence under the Russia–Belarus equal-movement and residence framework without the ordinary temporary-residence sequence.

Official government source: pvsmvd.ru · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

Cultural, religious & volunteer

1 route

An ordinary humanitarian visa covers qualifying scientific, cultural, socio-political, sports, religious or humanitarian connections and activity.

Official government source: denmark.kdmid.ru · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

Short stay & visit

5 routes

An ordinary business visa permits business negotiations, conferences or meetings with business partners.

Official government source: denmark.kdmid.ru · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

An ordinary tourist visa permits a documented tourist visit to the Russian Federation.

Official government source: denmark.kdmid.ru · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

The unified electronic visa permits a single short visit for guest, business, tourism, or listed scientific, cultural, socio-political, economic and sports purposes.

Official government source: electronic-visa.kdmid.ru · checked 2026-07-27 · 3 sources

A national covered by a visa-exemption treaty or statute may enter without a visa for the permitted temporary purpose and period.

Official government source: government.ru · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

Humanitarian protection

4 routes

Ancestry & return

2 of 5 say who you can bring
5 routes

For a compatriot recognised as a repatriate participant in the State Programme for the voluntary resettlement of compatriots, accepted on the repatriate track for a designated resettlement territory.

Official government source: government.ru · checked 2026-07-27 · 3 sources

Transit

1 route

A transit visa permits passage through the Russian Federation to another destination where a visa is required for the transit.

Official government source: denmark.kdmid.ru · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

Other & special

3 routes

Diplomatic and service visas cover qualifying official travel by holders of the corresponding official documents or functions.

Official government source: government.ru · checked 2026-07-27

Official sources

Leaving Russia?

This page is about moving to Russia. If you are looking at it from the other side, we keep a separate guide to leaving.

Compiled by António Mira, founder · How we verify our data · Not legal advice — immigration rules and thresholds change; confirm with the official sources above before deciding.

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