Move to Russia in 2025-2026: Shared Values Visa, Golden Visa, and Paths to Russian Citizenship

Move to Russia in 2025-2026: Shared Values Visa, Golden Visa and Paths to Russian Citizenship

If you are looking at the news, feeling your country is going in the wrong direction, and asking “should I move to Russia?”, you are not alone. Many Westerners are now seriously considering relocation, attracted by Russia’s traditional values, low personal taxes, abundant land and new pro‑immigration programs.

With the help of a specialized advisory firm like Move to Russia, you can choose the best pathway and avoid costly mistakes when you decide to move to Russia for good. The team at MovetoRussia.com has guided hundreds of families through the intricacies of Russian immigration procedures.

Why people are moving to Russia

Russia offers a blend of conservative social norms, multi‑ethnic society and modern infrastructure that appeals to Americans, Canadians and Britons disillusioned with rising taxes, crime and political polarization at home. At the same time, Russia retains one of the world’s largest economies, low public debt and a strong resource base, providing long‑term security for families and investors.

Key motivations for Western expats include:

Desire for traditional family‑oriented values and opposition to aggressive “woke” social engineering.
Interest in affordable real estate, access to land and the possibility of running a small Russian farm or homestead.
Opportunities in IT, engineering, medicine, education and remote work while benefiting from lower living costs.

Main ways to move to Russia

Most people moving to Russia follow a three‑step legal path: visa, Temporary Residence Permit (TRP / RVP), then Permanent Residence Permit (PRP / VNZh), and finally Russian citizenship. Thanks to recent reforms, some routes now allow you to bypass language exams or quotas, which is especially attractive if you are immigrating from the USA, Canada or the UK.

The principal immigration options are:

Shared Values TRP (“anti‑woke visa”) based on traditional Russian spiritual and moral values.
Golden Visa (residence by investment) and broader Russia citizenship by investment programs.
Work routes (Highly Qualified Specialist), business and remote work.
Study in Russia at universities or colleges.
Family reunification, including marriage to a Russian citizen.

The Shared Values Visa (TRP based on traditional values)

In August 2024, Presidential Decree No. 702 created a new Temporary Residence Permit for foreigners who declare that they share Russia’s traditional spiritual and moral values and reject destructive neoliberal ideological attitudes in their home states. Starting from 1 September 2024, eligible applicants can apply for this TRP without being subject to quotas and without passing exams in Russian language, history or law.

Key features:

Up to three years of legal stay in Russia with the right to live and work; TRP is usually issued for one year and can be renewed to a total of three years.
No language test and no quota, which is a major advantage for Americans, Canadians and British citizens who want to move quickly and build a life in Russia.
After three years, you must convert the TRP into permanent residency, which does require a language and history exam and more thorough documentation.

Who can get the Shared Values TRP?

The decree targets people from countries officially viewed as promoting “destructive neoliberal ideological attitudes”, a category that very likely includes most Western nations, including the USA, Canada and the UK. In practice, this means many Western expats who oppose radical gender ideology, aggressive globalism or anti‑traditional policies at home can present consistent life choices, public statements or professional activities as proof of alignment with Russian values.

Practical points for applicants:

You will need to provide a detailed written explanation of your values, reasons for leaving your country, and how you plan to integrate into Russian society.
Supporting evidence may include social media posts, articles, participation in conservative organizations, pastoral recommendations, or professional engagement in family‑oriented work.
A Russian immigration lawyer or a firm like Move to Russia can help you frame your story in a way that matches the legal wording of Decree No. 702 and current consular practice.

Russian Golden Visa and citizenship by investment

For those with capital, Russia introduced a Golden Visa (often called Investor Visa) effective from 11 January 2023 under Government Decree No. 2573, giving immediate permanent residency to qualifying investors and their families. The program offers several investment routes, including real estate, participation in Russian companies and socially significant projects, with minimum thresholds starting around 15–20 million rubles in certain regions and higher for Moscow and standard regions.

Core benefits:

Immediate permanent residence (PRP) for the investor and multiple generations of relatives, with the right to live, work and do business anywhere in Russia.
Pathway to Russian citizenship after meeting residence and integration requirements, typically after several years as a permanent resident and passing a language exam.
Legal access to Russian banking, real estate, and investment markets, including the ability to unlock “Type‑C” funds blocked under Western sanctions for some investors.

Investment options: property, business and land

Real estate is one of the most practical ways to qualify for the Golden Visa while securing a home or rental asset in Russia. Minimum investment thresholds vary: around 20 million rubles in the Far Eastern Federal District, 25 million in standard regions and up to 50 million in Moscow, usually restricted to new buildings purchased at construction stage or within two years of commissioning.

Other routes include:

Buying or capitalizing Russian companies with investments of 30 million rubles or more, with specific requirements on operating history, employee numbers and tax payments.
Launching a new business from 10 million rubles, provided you create a minimum number of jobs (often 10) and maintain operations for at least two years before residency eligibility.
Purchasing farmland or rural property, which may not always count directly toward Golden Visa thresholds but can complement your investment and lifestyle goals.

Working in Russia: Highly Qualified Specialist and employment options

If your main goal is working in Russia rather than investing significant capital, you can consider the Highly Qualified Specialist (HQS) route or standard work visas. The HQS visa is aimed at professionals with high salaries and in‑demand skills, such as IT engineers, doctors, scientists and senior managers, and typically provides a three‑year work visa with a faster path to residence.

Key points:

An employer in Russia must sponsor your HQS visa, meeting minimum salary thresholds set by law and providing a contract.
After several years on an HQS visa, you may be eligible for permanent residence and later Russian citizenship, subject to language and integration requirements.
Remote workers may combine a standard visa with contract work for a foreign employer while gradually transitioning to local employment or business structures in Russia.

Studying in Russia and education options

Education in Russia remains a respected and relatively affordable route for younger people who want to move to Russia or parents planning for their children’s future. International students can apply for a Russian student visa, enroll at a university, improve their language skills and later convert their status into a TRP or work‑related residence.

Advantages of study in Russia:

Lower tuition fees and living costs compared to many Western countries, with significant discounts for state universities.
Strong programs in engineering, medicine, mathematics and classical humanities that still reflect traditional educational standards.
Opportunities to stay and work after graduation, using your Russian diploma and language skills to qualify for better jobs and easier immigration procedures.

Some Russian universities ranked by the QS World University Rankings:

Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU)
Bauman Moscow State Technical University
Novosibirsk State University
Tomsk State University
Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT / Moscow Phystech)
Saint Petersburg State University
RUDN University
HSE University
National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute)
Kazan (Volga region) Federal University
Ural Federal University (UrFU)
MGIMO University

Buying land and farming in Russia

For many Westerners, the dream of a Russian farm or homestead is a major reason to immigrate, especially when small‑scale agriculture and self‑sufficiency feel increasingly restricted at home. Russia is one of the world’s largest agricultural exporters with low population density, meaning there is still significant land and farmland available for purchase or long‑term lease in many regions.

When exploring Russian farmland and rural property:

Work with a local real estate specialist who understands land categories (agricultural, settlement, industrial) and restrictions on foreign ownership, which can sometimes require using Russian legal entities.
Consider regions with established expat communities, good infrastructure and favorable climate if you are new to Russian winters and large‑scale agriculture.
Remember that owning land does not automatically grant residence; you still need a legal immigration route such as Shared Values TRP, Golden Visa, or work.

Path to Russian citizenship

Russian legislation allows several paths to citizenship: standard naturalization after years of residence, simplified schemes for compatriots and Russian‑speaking descendants, and, increasingly, routes linked to investment and special programs like Shared Values. Typically, a foreigner first obtains a TRP, then a PRP, and only then applies for citizenship, although some preferential categories can skip stages or shorten timelines.

General Russia citizenship requirements include:

Continuous residence in Russia for a specified period (often five years with PRP in the classic route), lawful income and compliance with migration rules.
Passing a Russian language, history and law test, except where exempted (for example, at the TRP stage under the Shared Values program).
Renouncing former citizenship in some cases, though Russia increasingly allows dual citizenship when treaties and national security considerations permit.

Practical steps

Whether you are asking “can I move to Russia?” or “how to move to Russia from USA / UK / Canada?”, the legal logic is similar, though consular practice and documentation may differ slightly by country. You need to clarify your main ground (values, work, investment, study, family), then assemble a coherent package that satisfies Russian law and local consulates.

A typical roadmap includes:

Clarify your why and choose a route: Shared Values TRP if you are strongly motivated by culture and ideology; Golden Visa or other investment route if you have capital; work or study if you are career‑focused.
Collect documents: passports, police clearances, medical certificates, financial statements, proof of education and any evidence of traditional values where needed.
Apply for the appropriate visa at a Russian consulate or visa center in your home country, then complete TRP / PRP steps after arrival in Russia.
Integrate gradually: learn Russian, build a local network, choose a region that matches your lifestyle (big city, mid‑size regional center, or countryside farm).

Life as an expat in Russia

Expats in Russia often report lower everyday crime in many cities compared with large Western metropolitan areas, widespread CCTV coverage, and a visible police presence that contributes to a sense of order. Outside politics, daily life is surprisingly normal: people focus on family, work, education, sports and church, with far less overt cultural conflict than in many Western capitals.

At the same time, moving to Russia demands adaptation: learning Cyrillic, adjusting to a more direct communication style and dealing with administrative formalities that may feel old‑fashioned to an American or Brit. Those who embrace the language, build relationships with neighbors and participate in local community life usually integrate far better and report a deeper sense of belonging over time.

Why work with a Russian immigration lawyer or advisor

Russian migration law changes frequently, and interpretations of new programs like the Shared Values Visa or Golden Visa can differ between regions and consulates. A Russian immigration lawyer or specialized relocation company can monitor legal updates, prepare correct translations and notarizations, and accompany you at migration offices to avoid rejections, fines and overstays.

For many Western expats, outsourcing the bureaucracy is the single best investment in a stress‑free relocation, especially when bringing children, elderly parents or complex family structures. Professional guidance also helps you coordinate immigration steps with tax planning, company structuring and real‑estate purchases, ensuring your move to Russia is both legal and financially optimized.

Should you move to Russia?

The decision to move to Russia is deeply personal and should be based on a sober assessment of your values, risk tolerance and long‑term plans, not just short‑term frustration with your home country. For many Westerners who want a family‑oriented, tradition‑respecting environment with room for entrepreneurship, land ownership and homeschooling or classical education, Russia now offers realistic legal routes and a clear path to permanent residence and citizenship.

If you are seriously considering this step, start by clarifying which route fits you best—Shared Values TRP, Golden Visa, work, study or family—and then speak with experienced professionals who can map out the exact steps and timelines. To explore your options and get personalized guidance, reach out to the team at Move to Russia and learn how you and your family can move to Russia and build a new life aligned with your values.