Russia does not currently have an official citizenship by investment program. However, there are some options for foreigners to obtain Russian citizenship or residency through investment. The main paths are via purchasing real estate, getting employed by a Russian company, or starting a business. Key requirements include having temporary or permanent residency, proving sufficient income, and passing Russian language and history exams.
Real estate purchase option for Russian citizenship
One option to qualify for Russian citizenship is to buy real estate in the country. Applicants usually need to invest around $100,000 to $150,000 in property and hold it for 3 years. This allows them to obtain temporary residency first, which can later be converted to permanent residency and then citizenship. Key advantages are that there are no language or management experience requirements.
Getting employed option for Russian residency
Another path is getting a work visa by getting employed by a Russian company. Skilled professionals like engineers, academics, and doctors may qualify this way. The company sponsors the work visa which leads to temporary residency. After living in Russia for a few years on this visa, applicants can apply for permanent residency and citizenship.
Business establishment route to Russian citizenship
Finally, foreigners can obtain Russian citizenship by starting a business or investing in the Russian economy. This requires an investment of at least 10 million rubles into industries like technology, agriculture, or manufacturing. It demonstrates commitment to Russia and leads to a fast-track option for citizenship within 3-4 years.
In summary, while there is no direct citizenship by investment program, Russia does offer options for foreigners to invest their way towards citizenship through real estate, employment, or owning a business.