Simplification of applying for Russian citizenship for Baltic countries

At the end of June 2022, the State Duma was presented with a draft law "Concerning an Amendment to the Federal Law "Concerning Citizenship of the Russian Federation" to Simplify the Conferment of Citizenship of the Russian Federation on Foreign Citizens".

The bill allows for citizens of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia to obtain Russian citizenship on a fast-track basis:

• without the need to have resided in Russia on the basis of a residence permit for a continuous period of 5 years prior to submitting the application for Russian citizenship
• without the obligation to have a legal source of means of subsistence in Russia

If the law is passed it will come into force 90 days after its official publication date.

B1 is continuing to monitor the situation and will keep you informed of any further developments in the law.