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After the entry into force of the Federal Law of August 2, 2019 No. 257-FZ on November 1, 2019, the residence permit issued to foreign citizens and stateless persons in Russia has become indefinite, i.e., this document is issued without limitation of validity now.  At the same time, there is only one exception - a residence permit in our country for a highly qualified specialist, as well as his or her family members, is issued for the period of validity of a work permit.

In accordance with the procedure previously in force until November 1, 2019, this document was issued for five years and was subject to renewal an unlimited number of times, and for foreign citizens and stateless persons (hereinafter in the article - foreign citizens), recognized in the   as native speakers of the Russian language, a residence permit was issued for three years and was not subject to renewal.

Obtaining an unlimited residence permit

A foreign citizen, during the validity period of his existing residence permit, issued before November 1, 2019 (i.e., with a five-year or three-year validity period), can apply for a new, unlimited residence (i.e., unlimited duration). To obtain such a residence permit, the applicant will have to prepare and submit the following documents to the migration department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia:

application for the issuance of a residence permit;

a residence permit in Russia to be replaced;

identity document;

a receipt for the payment of a state duty in the amount of 5,000 rubles for the issuance of a residence permit;

two personal photographs in black and white or in color 35 x 45 mm.

A  residence permit issued to a foreign citizen before November 1, 2019 (i.e., with a five or three year validity period) is still valid, and therefore continues to confirm the right of a foreign citizen to permanently reside in Russia during the entire period for which it was issued. The said residence permit issued to a stateless person during the period of validity confirms his or her right not only to permanent residence in Russia, but also the right to leave the country freely and return back.  Thus, foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in our country are not required to change their residence permit in Russia, which was issued before November 1, 2019. The replacement of this document with an unlimited residence permit is carried out only if a person wants to do this. At the same time, employees of the migration departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia have no right to refuse to accept the relevant application.

The reasons for replacing an open-ended residence permit in our country (issued from November 1, 2019) are the following:

reaching the age of fourteen years old, twenty years old or forty-five years old;

change of the surname, name, information on the date,   month, year and (or) place of birth, as well as change in citizenship;

an inaccuracy or an error in the records made in this document about the surname, name, date, day, month, year and (or) place of birth;

when the document is not suitable for further use due to damage or other reasons.