The Duma approved the oath from the age of 14 upon entry into citizenship

The decision on admission to citizenship now comes into force from the day the oath is taken, and not automatically after approval

State Duma deputies adopted in the second and third readings a bill that reduces the age of mandatory oath-taking when obtaining Russian citizenship from 18 to 14 years. Amendments have been made to Articles 21 and 37 of the Federal Law “On Citizenship of the Russian Federation”.

When is citizenship considered valid?

According to the adopted document, the decision on admission to citizenship now comes into force from the day the oath is taken, and not automatically after approval. If a person refuses the oath or does not appear to take it within one year from the date of the decision, his citizenship will be considered invalid.

The document also stipulates that the decision on admission to citizenship loses force if the applicant dies before taking the oath.

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Why did they lower the age?

The bill was introduced in November 2024 by deputies of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots, headed by Leonid Kalashnikov. It was approved in the first reading in February.

“In order to enhance the patriotic spirit and consciously undertake the obligation to comply with the Constitution of the Russian Federation and the legislation of the Russian Federation, the bill proposes reducing the age of persons required to take the oath from 18 to 14 years,” the explanatory note said.

The co-authors of the initiative were deputies from United Russia Viktor Vodolatsky, Alexander Boroday, Artem Turov, Artem Kavinov, Artur Taymazov, as well as Kazbek Taisaev from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation.

How does the oath work now?

The text of the oath of citizenship of Russia was approved on July 4, 2017. From September 1 of the same year, all adults acquiring citizenship are required to bring it.

In the fall of 2023, a new federal law “On Citizenship of the Russian Federation” and an accompanying presidential decree were adopted, which preserved these norms.

The tightening of migration legislation in Russia intensified after the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall in the spring of 2024. Then 145 people died. The defendants in the case are immigrants from Central Asia, most from Tajikistan.

Previously, “Verstka” figured out how to obtain Russian citizenship , what you can lose for it, and how to get out of it.

Photo: Residents submit documents at the center for preparing documents for registering Russian citizenship and applying for a passport in occupied Berdyansk, Zaporozhye region, Ukraine, August 11, 2022. Profimedia

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