Notification commotion for a day

Is it really necessary to report on the receipt of foreign citizenship or a residence permit? We explain the order of the Foreign Ministry

The draft order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on a new order of notification by Russian citizens on the fact of obtaining foreign citizenship, a residence permit or other document confirming the right to permanently reside in the territory of a foreign state, caused many alarming comments.

Indeed, from the draft order, it was possible to conclude that starting from October 26, 2023 to notify domestic authorities of foreign citizenship, a residence permit or the rights to permanent residence will have to be not only those who live in Russia (as now), but also those who are abroad. And whoever does not notify - he can receive not only a fine, but also criminal punishment. True, the alarm turned out to be false: to understand this, it was enough to carefully read the law (which few people do - the vast majority prefers retelling). However, the draft order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs seemed to be those who, if they read, were not too careful ...

On April 28, a new version of the Federal Law “On Citizenship of the Russian Federation” was adopted. By force, it enters only after 180 days - October 26. And it really says that both Russian citizens who are in the country and those who are abroad must notify the authorities of the receipt of foreign citizenship, a residence permit or the right to permanent residence.

Earlier - in the previous law on citizenship - it was written that only those who are in Russia should notify the Russian authorities (represented by the Ministry of Internal Affairs) of citizenship or a residence of another country. Those who live abroad must submit an appropriate notice no later than 30 days after returning.

Now the law is changing, and the draft order of the Foreign Ministry says: a notification of the acquisition of citizenship (citizenship) of a foreign state by the citizen who is abroad “can be submitted to a diplomatic mission or consular institution of the Russian Federation no later than sixty calendar days from the date of the acquisition by a citizen of the Russian Federation (citizenship) of a foreign state or receipt of a residence permit or other document confirming a residence permit. The right to permanent residence of a citizen of the Russian Federation in the territory of a foreign state. ”

If the notification period is missed, an administrative punishment and a fine of 500 to 1000 rubles may follow.

And if he did not notify foreign citizenship, he will face a criminal punishment: a fine of up to 200,000 rubles or mandatory work for up to 400 hours.

Comments followed that in such a way they want to “nightmare” those who left the country after February 24, 2022 and after the start of “partial mobilization”, obliging them to go to Russian embassies or consulate and present documents confirming citizenship or residence permit. Which requires time, effort and nerves.

However, everything turned out to be not quite the same as commentators suggested.

Article 11 of the new version of the Federal Law “On Citizenship of the Russian Federation” says that a Russian citizen is obliged to submit a notification of each fact of obtaining foreign citizenship, residence permit or permanent residence within 60 days.

But a little further it is stated that a citizen who “did not submit a notification of the acquisition of citizenship (citizenship) of a foreign state within the time period established by this part, due to being outside the Russian Federation, is obliged to submit a notification of the acquisition of citizenship (citizenship) of a foreign state no later than sixty calendar days from the date of entry into the Russian Federation.”

In other words, the one who lives abroad has the right to report on the receipt of foreign citizenship, a residence permit or the right to permanent residence to the embassy or consulate for the indicated 60 days, but may not do this. And he will not bear any responsibility for this.

A tough duty to file such a notice occurs only after returning. Here it is already impossible to miss the deadline or not to file a notification at all - the punishment will threaten.

Nevertheless, the commotion rose that the day after the publication of the draft order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was forced to make appropriate explanations, saying that, in fact, almost nothing in the procedure for filing these notifications was changing.

Last. Given how often we hear - from officials, deputies, senators, propagandists and oligarchs - about the “hostile West”, it would be extremely interesting to publish information about which of the listed “anti -Westerners” has foreign citizenship or residence permit/permanent residence and which ones.

And then - information about who has citizenship or residence permit/permanent residence from their wives (including supposedly former), children and other close relatives.

The list would be very useful.