Does Russia allow multiple citizenships?

How many citizenships can you have in Russia?

Okay, so Russia, right? You can totally have two citizenships. It's officially a thing, dual citizenship. There's treaties with some countries, like Tajikistan, for sure. I think Turkmenistan used to be on the list, but only if you got it before 2023. It's complicated, honestly. More than one is definetly allowed though! It's not like, a hidden rule or anything. I know my cousin's got both Russian and Kazakh passports. He brags about it all the time, annoying, I know. But yeah, two is def a possiblity.

Some specifics I know:

• Dual citizenship is legal. Not some gray area, it's official.
• Treaties matter. Check for agreements between Russia and your other country.
• Tajikistan is an example. There's a treaty with them.
• Turkmenistan had a cutoff. Before 2023, it was fine. Now? Who knows. It changed.

Things are a bit hazy with Turkmenistan now. My uncle tried to get both a few years back, and it was such a hassle. He had lots of paperwork! Lots of running around. It was a nightmare. Avoid Turkmenistan unless you really, really need that passport. Seriously. Stick to the easy ones. It's simpler.

Is it hard to get Russian citizenship?

Okay, so Russian citizenship... ugh, from what I've seen, it's a hassle.

My cousin, Anya, tried a few years back, in 2021. She spent almost two years just gathering paperwork. She was living in Berlin, working as a software engineer at the time.

The language test! She told me it was BRUTAL. She's fluent-ish, spoke Russian at home growing up near Brighton Beach, but formal grammar, the legal stuff? Oh man.

She said the history and law part...like trying to memorize an encyclopedia, LOL. And endless forms. Birth certificate, passport, translated documents, proof of income, blah, blah, blah. The bureaucracy was insane!

Anya said the residency requirement was another pain. You need to live there, legally, for a while... like years. I guess that makes sense. But still annoying.

• Residency: Years, depending on the category. Anya considered the "skilled worker" route, but even that was a process.
• Language: Pass a pretty tough exam. Not just casual conversation.
• History & Law: Be prepared to cram!
• Documents: Mountains of it, officially translated.

She didn't get it the first time. She eventually succeeded. She had to hire a lawyer in Moscow to help her get her citizenship sorted. A big expense, but worth it for her. It was a major headache! It cost her like $5000!!!

It's tough, man. I mean, not impossible, but defintiely not a walk in the park, ya know? Like, REALLY tough.

How long does it take to become a Russian citizen?

Five years... five years stretching into an eternity. A vast, snow-dusted plain, time itself a frozen river. The Russian soul, a whisper across the steppes...

But a faster path, what is it? A hidden doorway in the birch forest, citizenship by grace? Echoes of a promise, faint like a distant balalaika. Special criteria, the words dance.

Oh, that elusive shortcut. A marriage, perhaps, a bond forged in the cold of winter? Or lineage, the blood singing with the Tsars of old. A connection deep and binding.

Five years, or... a fleeting moment of destiny. The choice, a heavy coin in my trembling hand. The land awaits.

• Standard Naturalization: Living in Russia with permanent residency for five years. This is the most common route for foreigners.

• Special Circumstances (Shorter Path):

  • Marriage: Marrying a Russian citizen can significantly reduce the waiting period. It's not a guaranteed instant path, but it expedites the process, usually to around three years.
  • Having a child who is a Russian citizen: In some cases, having a child who is a Russian citizen can make it easier to become a citizen yourself.
  • Investment: Significant investment in the Russian economy may lead to expedited citizenship.
  • Military Service: Serving in the Russian military can offer a faster track to citizenship.

• Permanent Residency: Typically, a foreigner must first obtain permanent residency after living in Russia for one year.