Russia's Impatriation Residence Permit is a talent-based immigration pathway established by Presidential Decree No. 883 of 2 December 2025. Administered by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) and the Agency for Attracting Foreign Talent to Russia — the autonomous non-profit organization set up by the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI) to act as the program's "single window" operator — the program targets foreign nationals with outstanding achievements in science, technology, sports, creative industries, culture, education, or those possessing highly demanded professional skills. It provides a fast-track route to either a 3-year temporary residence permit (TRP/РВП) or an immediate permanent residence permit (PRP/ВНЖ), bypassing quota restrictions and the standard requirement to first obtain temporary residence. The program became operational on 15 April 2026, when the digital service "Время жить в России" ("Time to Live in Russia"), developed by ASI together with the Ministry of Digital Development, began accepting applications. International immigration media often refer to this route as Russia's new "talent visa" — a label for the one-year multi-entry business visa issued to recognized applicants and the associated impatriation residence route under Decree No. 883, rather than a separate program.
Applicants choose between a 3-year temporary residence permit (TRP) or an immediate permanent residence permit (PRP). The TRP is non-renewable but holders may transition to a PRP. The PRP is indefinite and requires no renewal. PRP holders may subsequently apply for Russian citizenship subject to standard naturalization requirements.
Language exam: The Russian language, history, and law examination is waived only for the TRP (РВП) route. Applicants who choose to apply directly for the PRP (ВНЖ), bypassing the TRP stage, must still pass this examination.
Eligible family members include spouses, parents (including adoptive parents), children (including adopted and those under guardianship), and their spouses. All family members receive the same simplified procedure for residence permits and may work in Russia without a separate work permit. Family applications are processed alongside or separately from the primary applicant's, subject to the same 30-day timeline.
Standard Russian tax rates apply. Tax residents (present in Russia for 183+ days per calendar year) pay 13% personal income tax; non-residents are taxed at 30%. Russia maintains double taxation treaties with numerous countries.
The program operates in two stages:
Recognition stage: Submit an application electronically (with digital signature) to the operator — the Agency for Attracting Foreign Talent to Russia — via the digital service "Время жить в России" ("Time to Live in Russia"), which has been live since 15 April 2026 and will integrate with the Gosuslugi government services portal so that impatriates have a personal account. All operator services are free of charge. The operator assesses the application within 15–30 days, with a total decision period of up to 40 working days; the published end-to-end window (recognition through to MVD decision) is 95–125 days. Recognition is valid for 1 year.
Residence permit stage: Upon positive recognition, the applicant receives a multi-entry business visa (valid up to 1 year) from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, allowing them to enter Russia and begin working before the residence permit is issued. The applicant then applies at the territorial MVD office for either a TRP or PRP. Processing takes 30 days, extendable by an additional 30 days.
The program offers a "green corridor" — TRP outside the standard quota, the right to work before formally obtaining residence status, and (for applicants who pass the Russian language exam and apply directly) an accelerated path to permanent residence. Employers hiring recognized impatriates must notify the regional MVD office within 3 working days of contract execution. Recognized individuals and their family members may work in Russia without obtaining a separate work permit.
Official figures from the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI) show growing interest since the program opened. By early June 2026, the operator reported around 500 applications from 78 countries, with most applicants in high-demand professions and aged 25–40. By 11 August 2026, ASI reported roughly 4,000 people had registered on the "Время жить в России" platform since 15 April 2026, with 658 applications submitted — from applicants across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, the United States, and Canada, averaging 25–45 years of age. By early September 2026, ASI reported that 175 of the submitted applications had come specifically from scientists, including holders of academic degrees and patents.
PRP holders who remain outside Russia continuously for more than 6 months risk having their permit annulled. All foreign residents must register at their place of residence with the MVD, though recognized impatriates benefit from an extended 90-day registration period. The education category has strict institutional ranking requirements, and the high-demand skills category requires a minimum of 5 years of continuous documented experience.