Russia Dramatically Increases Fees for Citizenship and Migration Services

Russia's State Duma has approved a substantial hike in state fees for various migration services, a move initiated by the Ministry of Finance to regulate migration flows. The most dramatic increase affects the process of obtaining or renouncing Russian citizenship, with fees soaring almost 12 times, from 4,200 to 50,000 rubles.

Other significant fee increases include a fivefold rise for residence permits, from 6,000 to 30,000 rubles, and an almost eightfold jump for temporary residence permits, from 1,900 to 15,000 rubles. Fees for employing foreign workers will also increase to 15,000 rubles per employee.

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The increase in fees should become one of the tools for regulating migration flows.

State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin stated that the fee increases are intended to attract individuals who have already achieved success in life. However, the article suggests a declining trend in the desire for Russian citizenship, particularly among migrants from Central Asian countries like Tajikistan. In 2022, over 173,000 Tajiks obtained Russian citizenship, and in 2024, 209,000 people from various countries became citizens. These figures indicate a fading appeal of Russian passports.

Migrants cite several reasons for this shift, including the risk of forced mobilization following the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and a perceived deterioration in the attitude of Russian authorities towards new citizens. Rude treatment by law enforcement and rising nationalist sentiments among the local population also contribute to migrants reconsidering their plans to obtain citizenship or choosing to return to their homelands.

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The authorities aim to attract 'established' individuals to the country who have already achieved certain results in life.