On 26 June 2026, the Russian president signed Federal Law No. 190-FZ amending part two of the Tax Code. It raises the state fees (gosposhliny) charged for nearly every immigration procedure: citizenship, permanent residency, temporary residency. The increases range from five to twelve times the previous amount, and they take effect on 27 July 2026, one month after the text was officially published. Here are the exact amounts, the exemptions written into the law, and what it genuinely changes for a Western national considering a move to Russia.
What changes exactly on 27 July 2026
Three existing fees go up, and two new ones are created. The table below sets out the amounts before and after.
| Procedure | Before | From 27/07/2026 | Multiple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russian citizenship | ₽4,200 | ₽50,000 | ×12 |
| Permanent residency (VNJ) | ₽6,000 | ₽30,000 | ×5 |
| Temporary residency (RVP) | ₽1,920 | ₽15,000 | ×8 |
The citizenship fee covers both acquisition and renunciation of Russian citizenship: leaving now costs exactly what joining does.
Key point: the trigger is the filing date, not the decision date. An application filed on 26 July 2026 is still charged at the old rate; the same application filed on 27 July costs up to twelve times more.
Law No. 190-FZ: what the text actually says
The law does not create a new regime. It rewrites the amounts set out in the Tax Code chapter on state fees. This is a pricing change, not a reform of eligibility: the criteria for RVP, VNJ and citizenship are unchanged.
Three aspects deserve attention.
First, the scale. A twelvefold increase in a single step is unprecedented for this item since the overhaul of Russian nationality law. The citizenship fee moves from an accounting formality to a line that registers in a relocation budget.
Second, the timing. The law is dated 26 June 2026 and takes effect one month after official publication. Applications already filed and under review on 27 July are not re-charged.
Third, the logic. This increase belongs to the same sequence as the immigration tightening under way since 2024: the register of foreigners in an irregular situation, the reform of the 90-day visa-free rule, and the roll-out of the ruID digital system. The lever changes, the direction does not.
RVP, VNJ, citizenship: where each fee falls
For an English-speaking reader these acronyms blur together easily. They are three successive steps on the same staircase, and each carries its own fee.
The RVP (razreshenie na vremennoye prozhivanie) is the temporary residency permit, valid three years and non-renewable. It is the first step for anyone wanting to live in Russia on something other than back-to-back visas. Its fee rises from ₽1,920 to ₽15,000.
The VNJ (vid na zhitelstvo) is the permanent residency permit. It is generally applied for eight months after obtaining the RVP, and is currently issued without an expiry date. Its fee rises from ₽6,000 to ₽30,000.
Citizenship comes at the end of the path, after several years of residence under a VNJ, absent a simplified route. Its fee rises from ₽4,200 to ₽50,000.
A full journey completed after 27 July 2026 therefore represents ₽95,000 in cumulative state fees, against ₽12,120 previously. Spread over five to eight years the effort remains absorbable; concentrated on a single step, it is noticed.
The two new fees
Beyond the increases, the law creates two charges that did not previously exist.
- VNJ replacement: ₽6,000. Applies when the document is reissued after a change of civil status, loss or damage.
- RVP and RVPO duplicate: ₽5,000. RVPO is the temporary residency variant issued to foreign students for the duration of their studies.
Both target ordinary administrative situations, not exceptional ones. A name change after marriage, a mislaid passport: what was a free formality yesterday becomes a line of expenditure.
Who is exempt
The law maintains and clarifies several exemption categories. Under the categories set out in the text, the fee is waived for:
- former USSR citizens;
- participants in the State programme for the voluntary resettlement of compatriots living abroad, together with their family members;
- foreigners who have signed a military service contract of at least one year in the framework of the special military operation, together with their family members;
- persons recognised as being of interest to the Russian Federation, together with their family members.
That last category is the one which, in practice, covers the so-called "traditional values" route open to Western nationals. We cover it in detail in our guide to the settlement options opened to French citizens by the traditional values decree.
Key point: a Western national settling in Russia through the "traditional values" route falls into a category that may qualify for exemption. Having your eligibility checked before paying ₽50,000 is not a detail.
What it changes for a Western national planning to settle
These amounts need to be kept in proportion. During the summer of 2026, ₽50,000 is roughly the monthly rent on a decent one-bedroom flat on the outskirts of Moscow. Set against the full cost of relocating — housing, healthcare, shipping, administrative round trips — the citizenship fee remains a minor line.
The real obstacle is procedural, not financial. Three things matter more than the price.
The RVP quota. Temporary residency is capped region by region, except for quota-exempt categories. In the major cities the allocation runs out quickly. That is what blocks most applications, not the ₽15,000.
The timeline. Between filing for an RVP and obtaining a VNJ, count a full year at minimum, medical examinations and language testing included. The fee is paid once; the calendar is endured daily.
Marriage is not a shortcut. Since January 2025, the foreign spouse of a Russian citizen must show a minimum duration of marriage before qualifying for residency through that route, with an exception where the couple has a child together. Marrying a Russian citizen therefore removes neither the process nor the delays. We set out the conditions and the paperwork in our guide to getting married in Russia as a foreigner.
What we are seeing from Moscow
On the ground, two reactions have dominated since the June announcement.
The first is a rush. Specialist practices in Moscow saw a July influx of applications their authors had been sitting on for months. Filing before 27 July saves up to ₽45,800 on citizenship alone: that argument has unblocked more procrastination than any legal advice.
The second is a sorting effect. For Central Asian labour migrants, who make up the bulk of the flows, an increase on this scale is not symbolic: it represents several weeks of wages. For a Western executive or entrepreneur, it changes nothing about the decision. The measure does not weigh remotely the same depending on where you come from, and that is probably the intent.
Our practical advice is unchanged: do not build a relocation plan on a chain of tourist visas. Russia now has real-time digital tracking, and the regularity of your stay has become the central control point. The complete guide to Russian visas sets out the categories and their durations.
Frequently asked questions
Is my application filed in June 2026 re-charged?
No. The fee is assessed at the date the application is filed. An application submitted before 27 July 2026 remains subject to the old rate, even if the decision comes months later.
Do these amounts also apply to tourist visas?
No. Law No. 190-FZ concerns fees tied to citizenship and residency permits. Consular visa charges follow a separate schedule set by Russian diplomatic missions.
Can the fee be paid in instalments?
No. The state fee is settled in one payment, before the application is filed, and proof of payment is one of the required documents. An application submitted without it is not registered.
Is the fee refunded if the application is denied?
As a rule, no. The fee pays for the review of the application, not for a favourable outcome. That is worth factoring in before filing a weak application, particularly at the new rate.
How do I check whether I qualify for an exemption?
Eligibility is assessed at filing, on documents, by the competent migration service (the MVD). Given the amounts now at stake, having a specialist lawyer review your position before paying has become cost-effective.
In summary
From 27 July 2026, Russian citizenship costs ₽50,000, permanent residency ₽30,000 and temporary residency ₽15,000, which is ₽95,000 for the full path against a little over ₽12,000 previously. Two new fees appear, on VNJ replacement and RVP duplicates. Several categories remain exempt, including the one covering the route opened to Westerners under the traditional values framework.
For a Western national, the increase should not tip a relocation decision: RVP quotas, processing times and the conditions attached to the marriage route weigh considerably more. What it does confirm is a constant since 2024: every quarter brings its adjustment, and a plan to settle in Russia should be built on information less than six months old.
A question about your own situation? Write to us. We read every message and we answer from Moscow.
