— What is the essence of Decree 702, and who can take advantage of it?

It must be said that Decree No. 702 of the President of the Russian Federation, dated August 19, 2024, helps migrants from certain countries who share traditional values to obtain a Temporary Residence Permit (RVP) under a simplified procedure, without quotas and without a Russian-language exam. The initiative came from the citizens of unfriendly countries themselves, who sent requests for help in moving to Russia to my reception office and wrote to my social media, through which anyone can reach out. For those who have a genetic and historical connection with Russia, the resettlement program for compatriots has been in effect for many years now, whereas this new provision has been in effect for a little more than a year.

Who is covered by this Decree? It clearly refers to the citizens of 47 countries unfriendly to Russia, the full list of which has been approved by the Government of the Russian Federation upon the submission of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. These are mostly Western countries, such as Germany, France, the USA, Canada, Poland, and others. It is gratifying to know that the countries of the Middle East are on the other side — the side friendly to our country.

— What advantages does the “spiritual and moral visa” give to migrants?

As a rule, a citizen of an unfriendly state or members of their family apply to a Russian consulate in their country of residence, where they fill out a form, indicating their closeness to traditional values. Next, it is necessary to collect a standard package of documents: a certificate of no criminal record, a passport, and so on — an approximate list, as for an ordinary visa.

This visa is issued for entry into the Russian Federation for the purpose of subsequently applying to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia with a request for the issuance of a temporary residence permit (RVP) without regard to the quota approved by the Government of the Russian Federation and without providing a document confirming command of the Russian language, knowledge of the history of Russia, and the fundamentals of legislation.

Already on Russian territory, the migrant obtains an RVP, providing the same set of documents and information about their place of residence. The RVP is valid for three years. After this, one can apply for a residence permit (VNZh), and then — after five years — for citizenship. However, to obtain a VNZh, it is necessary to confirm knowledge of the Russian language, the history of Russia, and the fundamentals of legislation. Over the three years of the RVP’s validity, mastering these requirements is quite realistic. Unlike the resettlement program for compatriots, the “spiritual and moral visa” does not restrict migrants in their choice of region. They themselves determine where to live and work.

— How many people have already relocated on the basis of Decree 702, and which regions are most in demand among them?

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, by October 2025, since the entry into force of Decree No. 702 of the President of the Russian Federation “On Providing Humanitarian Support to Persons Sharing Russian Traditional Spiritual and Moral Values”, more than two hundred thousand people had applied for a temporary residence permit. Among the top countries whose citizens most often move to Russia for permanent residence are the USA, Germany, France, Great Britain, the Baltic states, and Italy. Those relocating include IT specialists, farmers, engineers, and entrepreneurs.

Besides Moscow and St. Petersburg, migrants also choose such regions of Russia as the Nizhny Novgorod, Kaluga, Saratov, and Samara regions, as well as the Kaliningrad and Kemerovo regions. Thanks to its warm climate, the Krasnodar region is very popular among migrants.

— The reasons for relocating to Russia (with an emphasis on the economy)?

In reality, what attracts foreigners to relocate to our country is not only conservative values and freedom of religion, but also prospects for doing business. Let me give an example: a native of Germany, businessman Remo Kirsch, has been building the wooden settlement RuDe (Russland + Deutschland) near the village of Inyutino in the Bogorodsky district since 2021.

Not long ago, one of the houses was rented by the German Dempfert family. There are not yet many houses in the village. The settlement under construction was visited by the region’s governor Gleb Nikitin, who instructed the local administration to provide assistance with the construction. Let me give you a couple of other cases from the Kaluga region. I often visit this region, so I know firsthand what migrant-entrepreneurs find so special about it. In the Kaluga region, a former citizen of the Czech Republic, and now already a Russian, Jan Jirasko, is successfully developing an agricultural and tourism business in a village of the Meshchovsky district. There he produces cider from apples grown in his own orchards, and he highly values old Russian apple varieties, restoring these cultivars. The enterprise has reached its design capacity, with an annual production volume of 150 thousand liters of beverages.

The products under Jan Jirasko’s direction are presented in a major federal retail chain, supplied to Moscow restaurants, sold on Red Square, and the geography of sales is expanding through orders from neighboring regions. Also here, in the Kaluga region, a Frenchwoman, Florence Gervais d’Alden, cultivates roses on a hectare of land in the village of Babynino in the Kaluga region. Her floristry company supplies flowers to Russian salons. Of course, much remains to be done for those who want to invest in our economy. But something significant has already been accomplished.

— Are any changes planned in Russian legislation regarding the facilitation of the relocation to Russia of entrepreneurs from unfriendly countries who share Russian traditional spiritual and moral values?

The other day, the President of the Russian Federation adopted Decree No. 883 of December 2, 2025, “On Supporting the Relocation to the Russian Federation of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons Representing an Interest for the Russian Federation, and on the Specifics of Their Legal Status in the Russian Federation”. According to this Decree, a foreign citizen of any country in the world, starting from April 15, 2026, will be able to apply for recognition as a person representing an interest for the Russian Federation, if they meet the criteria specified in the appendix to the Decree.

There are 8 such categories in all, including entrepreneurs and investors contributing to the development of the Russian economy. According to the established criteria listed in the appendix to the Decree, entrepreneurs must be a founder of a small or medium-sized business entity with an annual income of no less than 10 million rubles, operating in sectors of the economy under the following all-Russian classifiers of types of economic activity: manufacturing; hotels and catering; information and communication; professional, scientific, and technical activity.

An entrepreneur may also be recognized as a person representing an interest for the Russian Federation if they have other documented achievements in the field of production, attesting to a high potential for their organic inclusion into the system of positive social ties of Russian society.

Investors, for their part, must meet the criteria approved by Resolution No. 2573 of the Government of the Russian Federation of December 31, 2022, which an investor must satisfy for the issuance of a VNZh without an RVP. What will the status of a person representing an interest for Russia give a foreigner? On the basis of a document confirming the fact of recognition of the foreigner as a person representing an interest for the Russian Federation, by decision of the head of a diplomatic mission or consular institution of the Russian Federation, such a person and the members of their family are issued ordinary business multiple-entry visas valid for up to one year.

The Decree provides for a sequential verification of the foreign citizen at three levels. The first stage — the foreigner will need to apply with a petition to an operator — a non-profit organization authorized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, established by the Agency for Strategic Initiatives. Moreover, the petition may be submitted both by the foreigner themselves and by a federal state body, a senior official of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation, a State Duma deputy, a senator, or the head of a state corporation, with the foreign citizen’s consent. The operator’s consideration of the petition will take from 15 to 30 days.

The main benefit for those who have received the new status and the members of their families is the right to obtain a temporary residence permit (RVP) outside the quota and without a Russian-language exam. If desired, one can immediately apply for a VNZh, but in this case exams on knowledge of the language, history, and fundamentals of statehood will still have to be taken. The consideration of applications for an RVP and a VNZh will take place under an expedited procedure — up to 30 days.

Upon approval of the petition, the operators send the application and their recommendation to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Ministry of Internal Affairs then conducts all the necessary checks. An important role in this process is assigned to the working group on resettlement under the commission on citizenship matters under the President. If the foreigner’s candidacy raises no objections, the Ministry of Internal Affairs makes a positive decision. The consideration of the operator’s recommendation by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia and the resettlement working group, and the adoption of the final decision by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia (from 95 to 125 days).

While the territorial body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is considering the application of such a foreigner (and their family) for an RVP/VNZh:

— employers and customers may engage them in labor activity without obtaining a permit to recruit foreign labor;

— the foreigners themselves may work without a patent/permit, provided that the employer, in the established form and within the established time frame (3 working days), submits a notification of the conclusion of an employment contract to the territorial body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The operator also provides assistance, free of charge, in preparing and submitting the documents required for obtaining an RVP and a VNZh for a foreign person representing an interest for the purpose of relocating to the Russian Federation, and may also provide them with assistance on matters arising during relocation to the Russian Federation, settling in a new place of residence, and finding employment. Thus, this Decree expands the opportunities for relocating to Russia for citizens of any country. Time will show how the Decree works in practice.