Passing an exam on knowledge of the Russian language to obtain Russian citizenship

Successfully passing the test for knowledge of Russian as a foreign language (TRKI or TORFL) is the most important stage in the process of acquiring Russian citizenship; the certificate is a mandatory item in the list of documents for submission to the Main Directorate for Migration Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In addition, a negative result is not only wasted time, but also additional financial costs for a retake. It is quite possible to avoid such an unpleasant situation if you prepare accordingly in advance.

Passing the test

Legislative grounds

The procedure for submitting and the list of documents for those wishing to acquire a red passport is regulated at the legislative level by the Federal Law “On Citizenship of the Russian Federation” dated May 31, 2002, and the Regulations establishing the rules for considering issues on citizenship of the Russian Federation dated November 14, 2002 No. 1325. This is the main regulatory framework, according to in which, in order to acquire Russian citizenship, the applicant must submit a package of documents to the GUVM authorities, where a mandatory item is confirmation of knowledge in the field of Russian as a foreign language at a level that meets the requirements of a migrant in the linguistic environment.

Attention! In accordance with the changes introduced by Presidential Decree No. 964 of December 28, 2013, it will no longer be possible to confirm knowledge for categories of migrants who have taken a Russian language course in educational institutions abroad, with the exception of countries where the great and mighty is recognized as the state language.

So, you can confirm the necessary knowledge with one of the following options:

1. A certificate or diploma issued by a state educational institution (not lower than the general education level) located on the territory of the member states of the USSR before 09/01/1991 or after this date within the borders of the Russian Federation.
2. A certificate of completion of the TRFL (not lower than basic).
3. A document confirming graduation from an educational institution located in another state where Russian is adopted as the state language (for citizens of that country).

Certificate of passing the exam

Applicants for Russian citizenship who:

• have reached retirement age (men – 65 years, women – 60 years);
• persons recognized as incapable of work or disabled people of group I.

Exam for obtaining temporary residence permit or temporary residence permit:

In accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation, a foreign citizen must obtain a certificate of proficiency in the Russian language, knowledge of the history of Russia and the fundamentals of the legislation of the Russian Federation. Pass the comprehensive exam

for foreign citizens with temporary residence permit and temporary residence permit is possible on the territory of our Center.

To pay for testing, please contact TRP and residence permit consultants (Krasnogo Tekstilshchik St., 10, lit. D, 3rd floor). You must have your passport and its notarized translation with you.

Receipt of a certificate (service result) is also carried out at the place where the service is ordered.

The validity period of the certificate is 5 years from the date of its issue.

The exam in the Russian language, Russian history and the basics of Russian legislation to obtain a temporary residence permit and residence permit takes place in several stages:

• Russian language (Russian exam for temporary residence permits) vocabulary, grammar (test);
• reading(test);
• listening (test);
• letter;
• oral speech.

For each block of tests you need to score a certain number of points. In case of a lack of points, you will need to take the exam (for temporary residence permit and temporary residence permit) again.

The deadline for issuing a certificate of passing the Russian language exam for temporary residence permits and temporary residence permits is 4 working days.

Foreign citizens are exempt from taking the comprehensive exam for temporary residence permits and temporary residence permits:

• incapacitated or foreign citizens with limited legal capacity;
• citizens under the age of 18;
• men over 65 years of age, women over 60 years of age;
• participants of the State program to assist the voluntary resettlement of compatriots living abroad to the Russian Federation, and members of their families moving with them;
• highly qualified specialists and members of their families (only when applying for a residence permit);
• foreign citizens who applied for a residence permit in connection with recognition as native speakers of the Russian language.

Exam schedule for obtaining temporary residence permit and temporary residence permit:

Exam starts: Monday-Friday – at 09:00, 11.00, 13.00, 15.00 and 17.00. Saturday – at 10.00, 12.00, and 14.00.

Organizational aspects and step-by-step procedure in 2021

The right to carry out testing of foreigners applying for Russian citizenship is vested in organizations (institutions) in the educational field included in the list approved by the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation. The legislation also provides for a period for issuing a certificate, which should not exceed 10 working days.

Testing procedure:

1. Register for the exam by phone;
2. Receiving an invoice for payment (6 thousand rubles);
3. Payment of the cost of services and provision of a copy of the receipt;
4. Submission of documents according to the list;
5. Obtaining a certificate after successfully passing the exam or retaking the necessary modules if the result is negative.

Attention! The test taker has the right, by registering in advance, to receive a free consultation on the structure and content of the exam.

Foreigners who have grounds for joining the ranks of Russian citizens must only pass testing for knowledge of the Russian language and do not take modules on history and legislation of the Russian Federation.

How to get a certificate?

How to get a certificate

To receive a document, you need to pass a test. This happens according to the following algorithm:

• You need to clearly establish the purpose for which the certificate is needed and select the required level of testing
• Sign up for a test at one of the centers that conduct testing (they are located in educational institutions that are included in the state testing system)
• Make the necessary payment for the procedure
• Successfully pass the test
• Receive a certificate of successful completion from the center that conducted it

Sample tests for TRFL

The grammar and vocabulary test involves choosing the correct answer from 4 options. Carefully consider the proposal and insert one of the options into the blank.

Reading

The candidate is given 7 texts that must be read and solved tasks for them. The tests are designed to test understanding of the essence of the text read (announcement, advertisement, sign, inscription, index, etc.).

Listening

For listening, 8 situations and 15 tasks based on them are provided. These are short announcements or news on topics from the socio-cultural sphere or everyday communication.

Letter

The test is designed to determine the skills of writing letters and the ability to fill out applications, forms, questionnaires and other printed forms necessary for a migrant in real life. The subject of the letter and its content are indicated in the assignment.

Speaking

An applicant for Russian citizenship is offered to participate in a dialogue or conversation on a free topic (conversation-interview). You are given a choice of 4 different situations, after reading which you need to start a conversation or enter into a dialogue.

One important rule is maintaining decorum and verbal etiquette. If the test taker does not say hello or thank the interlocutor during the conversation, 0.5 points are deducted. This rule is most often violated by participants.

Time allotted for solving the Russian Language Module consisting of 5 subtests:

Each task is assessed according to a point system, and the maximum total number of points is 485. Participants who score at least 65% (316 points) receive a certificate. If one of the 5 subtests was solved by less than 65%, the test is not counted, and a certificate is issued allowing you to retake the test subject to repayment of 50% of the total cost of the exam.

If you fail two or more subtests, you will have to take the test again and pay in full.

Those wishing to find a job, obtain a temporary residence permit or residence permit pass a comprehensive exam, which includes all three modules “Russian Language”, “History”, “Legislation of the Russian Federation”.

Testing procedure

The control sheets (matrices) are filled out independently with a blue or black helium pen. You can clarify the necessary information only before the exam begins. During testing, it is prohibited to use dictionaries and reference books, notes, mobile devices, talk with other participants, or leave the classroom. At the end of the allotted time for completing tasks, all materials and matrices are handed over to the examiners.

Before the exam begins, the tester provides detailed instructions during which he explains how to fill out the matrix, tells the rules of discipline, and indicates the time set for each subtest.

Violators of rules and discipline are asked to leave the premises, and test results are subject to cancellation; payment for services is not refundable. Data about this fact is recorded in the Testing Protocol.

Online resources and services for self-study

Online trial testing

At testing centers you can take paid preparatory courses for TRFL or receive individual consultations. This allows you to learn Russian in the shortest possible time and get a certificate faster. A free alternative is to take online testing and solve practice tests. Today there are many similar services on the Internet; in addition, you can download tests and print them. Candidates for obtaining a trade patent, temporary residence permit or residence permit can similarly try their hand by passing tests in the Russian language, history and basic legislation of the Russian Federation.

Online testing

Mobile app

Now you can learn to speak, read and write Russian using a phone based on the Android 1.6 operating system and higher. Intensive course “Good time!” was designed specifically to support migrants in preparing for testing.

The course includes 30 lessons, which are divided into 6 blocks (“listen, read, remember, repeat, translate, speak”). This structure, which is as close as possible to real tests in the Russian language, allows you to easily study the necessary material.

Application for mobile phones and tablets “Good morning!” can be downloaded for free via Google play; to search for it, enter the phrase “Russia for everyone.”

Mobile application for exam preparation

Exam structure

Assignments are often subject to changes and adjustments, sometimes the timing and even the structure of the entire exam are changed. A new bill is expected to be edited, which will affect the very procedure of testing for knowledge of Russian as a foreign language for people applying for Russian citizenship.

Registration for the Russian language exam

However, today the exam is quite effective and allows you to assess your level of language proficiency from different angles. It is divided into 5 subtests designed to identify specific skills, such as writing, reading, speaking, and listening comprehension. Questions are given on separate sheets, and the answers are entered into a special matrix (check sheets). For each subtest, a separate time is allocated from 30 to 45 minutes.

Listening

In this section, you are asked to listen to short remarks read out by the tester and choose the correct answer from the three presented. This subtest was developed to determine the ability to perceive information by ear.

Vocabulary and grammar

Demonstrates the ability to operate with the test taker’s vocabulary and construct correct speech forms: phrases, sentences. The applicant needs to insert one of the four correct options in the blank.

Reading

The exam section is structured so that the migrant can demonstrate his reading skills and recognition of the semantic load of the text read. To do this, candidates are asked to read advertisements or news and solve tasks for them.

Letter

As part of the subtest, you will have to fill out an application, questionnaire or form of a business or social nature.

Speaking

The skills of basic everyday oral communication, the ability to understand and perceive speech, the ability to formulate and express one’s thoughts and speak freely are tested.

Requirements for Russian as a foreign language for obtaining a temporary residence permit and residence permit

• A foreign citizen must be able to read texts of different lengths (of different thematic content, for example: newspaper advertisements, inscriptions, signs, advertising, etc.), must be able to determine the topic of what is read, must be able to analyze and interpret what is read;
• A foreign citizen must be able to write in Russian (must be able to fill out questionnaires, forms with different contents, etc.); the situations outlined in the tasks occur in official business, professional and social spheres of communication;
• A foreign citizen must understand and highlight by ear the main content and main idea (be able to highlight the intention) of a monologue and dialogue (understanding the main communicative intentions of his interlocutors); the situations indicated in the tasks occur in the professional, socio-cultural and social spheres of communication;
• A foreign citizen must be able to speak coherently and logically, answer questions, and must be able to create monologues on a given topic; the topics of assignments (situations) are limited to official business, social, everyday and professional spheres of communication;
• A foreign citizen must have a lexical minimum of 850 units and be able to apply this minimum in speech activity.

Exam results

The exam results and certification in 2021 are carried out by one of the Head Testing Centers, which issue the appropriate Certificate within two weeks after passing the exam. The exam is considered passed if the applicant scores at least 66% of points in all sections. If one of the subtests is solved by less than 60%, the test taker receives a certificate, which gives the opportunity to retake the required module.

Candidates are allowed to retest if they have a certificate issued by the Head Testing Center. There is a fee for retaking one module or the entire exam (50 and 100% of the full cost, respectively).

Rules of organization and examination procedure

Price

There is a fee for taking the exam on knowledge of Russian as a foreign language, so all financial issues must be resolved in advance, before the exam. Payment is made at the bank, and depending on the region and the specific center, it ranges from 5 to 6 thousand rubles / one person (the price is valid for 2021).

Preparation

Before the test, a detailed briefing is given, during which the tester explains the procedure and time to complete the tasks, introduces the structure of the exam, and tells the rules of behavior and discipline. Before the exam begins, the participant can ask any questions he may have.

Each section is accompanied by detailed instructions, which indicate the form of implementation, information on the matrix, instructions for filling it out, the allotted time, structure and number of tasks, situations, texts. You should carefully read the instructions provided and also fill out your full name. in the working matrix. Preparatory activities are not included in the total time allocated for passing the exam.

Rules

After 3 hours and 15 minutes, the migrant must submit the work to the examiner. There is no longer time allowed for completing the exam or entering answers into the matrix. During testing, you cannot leave the classroom, use mobile devices (phone, tablet), reference materials, clarify any questions with the tester, or conduct a conversation with other participants.

Unauthorized persons not participating in the examination are not allowed into the premises. The exam results are subject to cancellation if the applicant for the certificate violated the previously agreed rules. The paid amount is non-refundable, and the fact of violation is entered into the exam protocol.

Who is required to confirm Russian language proficiency?

The position of the Department of Migration (Migration Affairs) is that all foreign citizens who come to the Russian Federation to live and/or work are required to know Russian. For those who come to work, a basic level is enough (you need to pass a light test), for those who plan to live in Russia, a more serious level of language proficiency is required. So, it is necessary to confirm your knowledge of the Russian language if you submit documents to receive:

• (RVP)
• (residence permit)

It should be noted that for citizens with a visa to enter the Russian Federation who receive a work visa, a document on knowledge of the Russian language can be provided within 30 calendar days from the date of receipt of the work permit. In all other cases, a certificate of proficiency in Russian is provided immediately at the time of submitting documents to the Department of Migration.