Unified child benefit available only five years after acquiring citizenship

The Russian Government has amended the rules for receiving child benefits for foreign nationals who have acquired Russian citizenship and established the corresponding provision by Resolution No. 440 of 20.04.2026 “On Amendments to Resolution No. 2330 of the Government of the Russian Federation of December 16, 2022”.

Now, to qualify for the unified benefit, a person must have permanently resided in Russia as a citizen for at least five years.

It is specified that this new rule does not apply to those who
- acquired Russian citizenship by birth or
- as a result of being recognized as citizens (including residents of Donbas and Novorossiya),
- participants in the state program for the resettlement of compatriots,
- combatants in the special military operation and their family members.

The unified benefit is available to families with children under 17 and to pregnant women who registered for prenatal care before 12 weeks of pregnancy, if their income is below the subsistence minimum per person.

The new rules come into force on 1 April 2027.