The President of Russia signed a decree on special rules for granting Russian citizenship to residents of Transnistria

Published: Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated 15.05.2026 No. 330 "On granting Russian citizenship to residents of Transnistria".

The decree establishes a simplified procedure for granting Russian citizenship to residents of Transnistria.

Foreign citizens and stateless persons with legal capacity who have reached the age of 18, as well as orphaned children, children left without parental care, and persons lacking legal capacity, who permanently resided in Transnistria as of 15.05.2026, 
may apply for citizenship under the simplified procedure, WITHOUT meeting the requirement of permanent residence in Russia under a residence permit for 5 years. 
They are also not required to prove their knowledge of the Russian language, history, and legislation of Russia.

Applications are submitted to diplomatic missions or consular offices of the Russian Federation, a list of which is posted on the official website of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For children and persons lacking legal capacity, applications may be submitted by their guardians/trustees (from among adults in the preferential category), heads of local Transnistrian organizations for orphaned children/social institutions, or heads of guardianship authorities.

Special condition:
An application for citizenship will not be rejected if the applicant is serving in the armed forces, security services, or law enforcement agencies of Transnistria.

Required documents:
✔️application
☑️ a document verifying the applicant's identity and citizenship or lack of citizenship
✔️ a document confirming registration at a place of residence in Transnistria as of 15.05.2026
✔️document confirming a change of first name, last name, or patronymic
✔️a criminal record certificate or a document containing information about the crime for which the applicant was convicted, issued by a Transnistrian public authority (issued no more than 3 months before submission of the application)
☑️ 3 photographs, 3 x 4 cm (black-and-white or color).

If a child or a person lacking legal capacity is included in the application:
☑️the child's birth certificate or a document confirming the fact of the child's birth and the degree of relationship to the applicant
☑️a document verifying the identity and citizenship of the child (person lacking legal capacity) or lack of citizenship
☑️ consent of a child aged 14 to 18 to be granted Russian citizenship
☑️the child's adoption certificate or another document confirming the relationship
✔️for persons lacking legal capacity:
a court decision declaring the person legally incapacitated
☑️3 photographs, 3 x 4 cm (black-and-white or color).

Application processing time - 6 months

The decree entered into force on 15.05.2026.