Русский
Russia will help foreign citizens who have expertise in various fields to move to the country and obtain citizenship, President Vladimir Putin has stated. He was speaking at a meeting of the Russian Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI) Supervisory Board on Wednesday (February 18).
In 2024, Putin signed a decree making it easier for foreigners who reject the “neoliberal ideological orientation” of their countries and support traditional values to come to Russia. The Interior Ministry said last autumn that 344 people have already received Russian passports under a simplified procedure. Moscow will now further expand its scheme to attract skilled professionals from abroad. Putin said that “along with promoting our talent, we will also assist foreign citizens in relocating to Russia.”
Beginning in April, overseas nationals who are “of particular interest” to Moscow will be able to seek assistance in moving to the country from a specialized body overseen by the ASI, Putin said, adding, “We are talking about people who possess highly sought-after professions and knowledge, who are capable of making a significant contribution to the development of the domestic economy, and who have achievements in sports, creative industries, cultural and humanitarian fields, education, and science and technology.”
According to Putin, the Russian Interior Ministry will deal with all issues relating to the legal status of those persons in line with a decree that he signed in December.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, “People are coming to Russia from all over the world who want to become part of our country. For some, relocating to Russia is a choice, but for others, it is the only way to save themselves and their families from moral decline.” As of January 2026, Russian citizens have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 113 countries and territories, including countries such as China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Thailand, Turkiye and many other countries in the Middle East, Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
