Changes to the Resettlement Program

On September 8, 2025, Vladimir Putin signed a DECREE amending the State Program to Facilitate the Voluntary Resettlement to the Russian Federation of Compatriots Living Abroad.

Importantly, compatriots who held citizenship of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova or Ukraine, as well as repatriates who expressed a wish to participate in the program under the general procedure, are exempt from confirming their proficiency in Russian.

At the same time, the list of documents that can be used to confirm proficiency in Russian has been expanded. This can also be confirmed with a diploma for education received after September 1, 1991, outside Russia, at branches of Russian universities or educational institutions jointly administered by Russia and a foreign state, where instruction was in Russian.

The group of people eligible to participate in the program as repatriates has also been expanded to include those born and previously residing in the territories of the new constituent entities of the Russian Federation. The amendments provide constituent entities of the Russian Federation with additional rights to provide financial and social support to program participants and their family members.

All information about compatriots and their family members at the various stages of participation will be entered into the state information system “Compatriots,” which is being integrated with the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ migration registration system. This will facilitate data exchange between federal and regional authorities and ensure transparency in granting participant status and access to support measures.

Regional authorities may make their own decisions on financial and other support for repatriates. The presidential decree instructs the government to bring its regulations into line with the program’s new provisions within six months.