New Territories of the Russian Federation

citizenship, registered in the territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, and Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 307 of 27.04.2023 (as amended on 20.03.2025) “On the Specifics of the Legal Status of Certain Categories of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons in the Russian Federation” establishes that citizens of Ukraine, persons who held citizenship of the Donetsk People's Republic or the Luhansk People's Republic, and stateless persons are recognized as permanently residing in the Russian Federation as of September 30, 2022, provided that they simultaneously meet the following criteria:

• the specified citizens and persons permanently resided as of September 30, 2022, in the territories of the Donetsk People's Republic, the Luhansk People's Republic, Zaporizhzhia Region and Kherson Region or previously permanently resided in these territories and left for the Russian Federation (including via the territories of third countries);
• the specified citizens and persons stated their wish to retain their existing citizenship or remain stateless persons, did not take the Oath of a Citizen of the Russian Federation, or refused to take it in accordance with the procedure established by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 951 of 26.12.2022.

Thus, persons who meet these conditions may apply for a residence permit in the Russian Federation without first obtaining a temporary residence permit, since they have already been recognized as permanently residing in the Russian Federation.

Practical example: 

A citizen of Ukraine registered at their place of residence in Kherson Region who has not expressed an intention to acquire Russian citizenship may apply for a residence permit under the simplified procedure, bypassing the stage of obtaining a temporary residence permit (TRP).

Document submission procedure: To obtain a residence permit on the basis of Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 307 of 27.04.2023 a foreign citizen or stateless person must apply to the territorial office of the Main Directorate for Migration Issues of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia at their place of stay.

Processing time for an application on this basis is 20 days.

Document package
The current list of required documents can be downloaded here

List of documents for applying for a residence permit for citizens of Ukraine, persons who held citizenship of the Donetsk People's Republic or the Luhansk People's Republic, and stateless persons who are recognized as foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in the Russian Federation as of September 30, 2022, if they simultaneously meet the following conditions:

- as of 30.09.2022, permanently resided in the territories of the Donetsk People's Republic or the Luhansk People's Republic, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, or previously permanently resided in these territories and left for the Russian Federation, including via the territories of third countries;

- stated their wish to retain their existing citizenship or remain stateless persons, did not take the Oath of a Citizen of the Russian Federation, or refused to take it.

1. Application in 2 copies (printed double-sided).

The application is completed electronically or by hand in legible block letters in black, blue, or violet ink, without corrections, alterations, or unofficial abbreviations. All fields requiring completion must be filled in. (Fields 8, 10, and 11 of the application must be left blank.)

If the application does not provide enough lines for completion, additional information may be provided on a separate sheet attached to the application, following the format of the relevant field of the application and with the applicant's first name, last name, and patronymic (if any) indicated on the attachment.

If the application is submitted in paper form directly to the territorial migration office at the applicant's actual place of residence, the applicant must sign it in the presence of the official receiving applications.

2. Document certifying the applicant's identity and citizenship (if any).

This includes documents whose validity period has expired. 

3. Documents confirming changes to the applicant's full name.

(marriage certificate, divorce certificate, or certificate from the civil registry office in the case of multiple surname changes, or a certificate of name change).

4. Document confirming permanent residence in the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic, the Luhansk People's Republic, Zaporizhzhia Region, or Kherson Region (except where this information is contained in the identity document).

For foreign citizens holding a residence permit in the form of a plastic card (ID card), a registration certificate issued for that card.

A document confirming the foreign citizen's or stateless person's right to permanent residence, issued by the authorized authorities of Ukraine, the former DPR or LPR (if available), including one whose validity period has expired.

5. Personal photographs, 35х45mm – 2 pcs. (matte, black and white or color).

6. No state fee is charged for issuing a residence permit (except for stateless persons who do not hold a residence permit issued by the authorized authorities of Ukraine, the former DPR or LPR).

All documents listed must be submitted as photocopies together with the ORIGINALS.

Copies of original documents must be of good quality, easy to read, and contain all the information in the original document. Copies must be made on standard A4 sheets and must not be cut with scissors to match the size of the original.

The public service is provided within 20 working days.

Upon acceptance of the documents, a certificate confirming that the residence permit application has been accepted for consideration is issued.

If acceptance of the residence permit application is refused, a certificate stating the reason is issued.

All official documents issued by foreign authorities in a foreign language must be legalized, translated, and notarized.

For countries party to the 1961 Hague Convention:

• The original document must be certified with an apostille in the country where it was issued.

• The document and the apostille affixed to it must be translated into Russian.

• The translation must be certified by a notarial endorsement by a notary in the territory of the Russian Federation.

  For countries that are not parties to the Hague Convention:

    • Documents must undergo consular legalization through consular offices of the Russian Federation abroad or the Consular Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Documents drawn up in a foreign language must be translated into Russian.

If a document is drawn up in several languages and Russian is not one of them, a translation from one language chosen by the applicant must be submitted. The accuracy of the translation or the authenticity of the translator's signature must be notarized in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of the Russian Federation on notaries.

In the territories of the Donetsk People's Republic, the Luhansk People's Republic, Zaporizhzhia Region and Kherson Region, the requirement to certify the translation or the authenticity of the translator's signature does not apply until the end of the transition period.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 307 “On the Specifics of the Legal Status of Certain Categories of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons in the Russian Federation”