What is Russian citizenship: constitutional principles and features

Citizenship concept

The concept and essence of citizenship of the Russian Federation is revealed in the fundamental law of the country - the Constitution of Russia. Specific aspects related to the regulation of issues of citizenship are covered in Federal Law No. 62 “On Citizenship of the Russian Federation”. This law was adopted in 2002, later amended several times in accordance with modern realities (last revised on July 29, 2021).

According to the law, citizenship in our country is understood as a mutual stable legal connection between an individual and the Russian Federation. Any subject of law has a certain duty to the state and enjoys the rights given to it.

The status of state affiliation with Russia can be acquired in various ways, which depend on the initial conditions. He is accepted by birthright, upon entry into citizenship, upon restoration to it. From a legal point of view, a citizen of the Russian Federation must have a document confirming the fact that he has citizenship. The most typical document is considered to be a general passport.

Types of citizenship

This concept itself is quite broad within itself, has different categories and specific specifics of application in each individual region. In order to understand the nature of the social and political systems of your country, you should pay attention to possible differences in other countries.

This comparative approach helps the individual formulate his own political opinion and vision of the best ways for the development of the country.

In Russian federation

The current principles of the Russian Federation are continuing with respect to some rules of the former Soviet Union and the Russian state before 1917. In the modern version, it can be considered one of the most progressive and democratic types.

This issue is regulated by several types of documents:

1. the Constitution;
2. international treaties;
3. Law “On Citizenship of the Russian Federation”;
4. other regulations.

Among the basic principles on which Russian citizenship is built, one can highlight its equality, regardless of the method of acquisition. Thus, it can be obtained by birthright, or by moving to this place, but in any case it will be equivalent.

At the same time, almost all citizens can safely stay outside the federation without worrying that this may result in the loss of their citizenship. In Russia, it cannot be taken away from an individual without the person’s voluntary decision.

Also, the Russian authorities never extradite their citizens to other countries and do not expel them from Russia. At the same time, residents of the federation can become citizens of another state, while maintaining their status in the Russian Federation (in this case, they have dual citizenship).

See which ones you need to take the Russian citizenship exam. All information about Cyprus citizenship for Russians. Find it at the link.

In foreign countries

For the most part, countries have different approaches to this issue in those aspects that relate to its receipt.

Depending on what immigration policy a state chooses, how dependent it is on external investment and how stable its economic position is, the difficulty of obtaining citizenship is determined.

There are absolutely closed regions that try not to let any foreigners in, and there are those where you can have two or more different citizenships. Also, all countries have their own unique legal documents, so differences can always be found in the principles and methods of fulfilling rights and obligations.

This table highlights some features of different states:

In some places, such as Sweden, Denmark or Austria, it is quite difficult for a foreigner to become a citizen due to their immigration policies. Often states expect some investment from their guests in the form of purchasing real estate or organizing a business with the creation of new jobs.

In international law

Many states participate in special international treaties that regulate issues of obtaining and ensuring the population with fundamental rights and freedoms. Participation in such agreements can adjust the civil policy of the region.

Treaties between countries include decisions on issues such as the acquisition of dual citizenship and the procedure for carrying out a citizen transfer.

The essence of documents such as the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness is to help stateless people.

By law

The rules for the fulfillment of civil liberties and obligations are established in the legislation of each individual country. Here the necessary attributes are established to confirm the individual’s citizenship, and the main means everywhere is a passport.

The main legal instrument regulating issues of acquisition, execution, loss or renunciation of citizenship in Russia is the Federal Law “On Citizenship of the Russian Federation”.

Basic principles

The concept and constitutional principles of Russian citizenship are enshrined in the fundamental law of our country and reflect the democratic nature of its political structure. The fundamentals of the Russian Federation indigenous people include several basic points that establish the legal status and scope of capabilities of an individual acting in the legal field of the state. Let's take a closer look at them.

1. The principles of the Russian indigenous people cannot be discriminatory on the basis of physical differences, worldview, or self-identification.
2. In Russia, the principle of unity of citizenship, as well as its equality, operates. It assumes that all persons who have the status of a citizen of our country, regardless of the circumstances of its adoption, have the same responsibilities in relation to our country and are endowed with equal rights.
3. Anyone can either acquire citizenship or renounce it at their own discretion. However, this status cannot be changed without his consent.
4. Citizens, at their discretion, can obtain a second citizenship, which will not affect their rights as subjects of legal relations on the territory of the Russian Federation. At the same time, this principle implies the fulfillment of all the duties of a citizen of the country, including such as military or alternative service.
5. Russia protects its citizens and refuses to extradite them to other states.
6. The principle of denying the dependence of the legal status of a Russian on his geographical location is enshrined at the legislative level.
7. If there are conditions for obtaining statehood, our country does not create obstacles for a stateless person located on the territory of Russia to obtain it.
8. The laws of the Russian Federation declare independence from the marital status and status of the spouse of the facts of acquisition of citizenship or renunciation of it.

Signs of Russian citizenship:

• the interrelation of bilateral relations based on the legislative framework;
• the relationship is of a legal and political nature;
• the state of an indigenous person is distributed over time and space. It goes beyond the territorial boundaries of the state and extends from the point of obtaining the status of a citizen to a distant point in the future, indicating the moment of termination of the relationship.

The content of Russian citizenship is the totality of mutual rights and obligations of the country and its citizen.

Nationality Law

The Citizenship Law (N 62-FZ) contains rules defining the grounds, conditions and procedure for obtaining state affiliation with Russia, provides for and protects the rights of persons located in the country.

Grounds for acquiring citizenship: Video

Double citizenship

Multiple citizenship Article 6 of Federal Law No. 62. In general terms, it can be noted that the Russian Federation defines a holder of dual citizenship as a citizen of Russia with all the ensuing rights and obligations. If a Russian citizen receives citizenship from another country, this does not affect his status. The fulfillment of duties will be decided within the framework of international agreements between countries.

It should be noted that when receiving a double indigenous person, a person is obliged to report this to the Main Directorate for Migration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. With which countries Russia has dual citizenship, you can find out on our website.

Read also: Citizenship verification Notification of dual citizenship

Receipt by marriage

Article 8 of the law regulates the current method of obtaining citizenship: by marriage. It is interesting that the processes of entering into a marriage relationship or their dissolution do not in themselves entail any legal consequences in terms of changing citizenship. Obtaining Russian citizenship through marriage has its own characteristics. In the Russian Federation, the interests of children are also respected: in the event of a divorce between a Russian citizen and a foreigner or stateless person, children born in this marriage and recognized as citizens of Russia retain their state affiliation.

Receipt by birth

You can obtain the status of a citizen of the Russian Federation by birth or as an adult. At the legislative level, it is provided for a child to obtain the status of a Russian citizen according to the geographical place of birth (in Russia) or according to the parents’ affiliation with our state. Children who are on the territory of our country, whose parents have not been identified or have abandoned the child, receive the status of a Russian citizen six months from the moment of their discovery. If one of the parents is a foreigner, the child can become a subject or citizen of another state, if it does not create obstacles to this.

According to the resettlement program

After the USSR ceased to exist, many people who identified themselves as Russians found themselves cut off from their historical homeland. In our country there is an opportunity to obtain Russian citizenship under the program for the resettlement of compatriots. The main condition is personal participation in the state resettlement program or as a member of the participant’s family. The program also applies to persons who have lived in Russia for many years, but who are stateless.

Concept and definition

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: every individual has the right to a nationality . Actual residence on the territory of the country does not give the right to claim protection and support from the authorities, but the presence of official documents confirming citizenship allows you to demand, receive and use benefits and resources.

The main provisions on citizenship are fixed in Articles 62 of the Federal Law and in the Constitution of the Russian Federation, and issues related to foreigners are regulated by clauses of the International Treaty.

Partner countries sign treaties to coordinate the actions of citizens outside their state and control emigrants within the country.

The concepts include the following topics:

1. Mutual rights and obligations of the individual and the state.
2. What is meant by another citizenship and a foreign person?
3. Who is called a stateless person and the living conditions of such persons in the country.
4. Entry age, criteria for assignment and termination of citizenship.
5. Conditions for obtaining a residence permit.
6. Acceptance of citizenship according to a simplified scheme.
7. Norms for the stay of stateless persons in the Russian Federation and zones of the post-Soviet space.

Can they refuse?

Obtaining Russian citizenship is a process that affects the interests of an individual and the state as a legal entity. Thus, the process must occur with mutual consent. In particular, the following conditions must be met:

• compliance with the laws of the Russian Federation;
• permanent stay in Russia for five years after receiving a residence permit. This period may be reduced depending on the specific situation. For example, a scientist or a person with refugee status will receive a Russian passport much faster than the specified period;
• proficiency in the state language of the Russian Federation at a conversational level;
• availability of legal sources of income in the country.

Accordingly, if even one of these conditions is not met, obtaining the status of a Russian citizen may be denied.

Read also: List of countries with which dual citizenship is allowed in Russia