Russian Citizenship via Decree 690: Army Contract Guide

Presidential Decree No. 690 is the single most important legal document for any foreigner considering a Russian Army contract in 2026. It rewrote the citizenship rules for contract soldiers and their families, cutting years of paperwork down to a few months.

This guide explains what Decree 690 actually says, who qualifies, which documents you need, and how the timeline works step by step.

What is Decree No. 690?

Decree No. 690 of the President of the Russian Federation was signed in September 2024 and amended the earlier simplified citizenship framework for foreign contract military personnel. In plain terms, it says:

• Any foreign citizen who signs a contract of at least one year with the Russian Armed Forces can apply for Russian citizenship in a simplified order.
• The soldier's spouse, children and parents can apply on the same basis, in parallel.
• Standard requirements — residence permit (ВНЖ), five years of residence, Russian language exam, income proof — are waived.

The decree does not create a new legal path; it removes almost every barrier from the existing one.

Who is eligible under Decree 690

You qualify if all of the following are true:

1. You are a foreign citizen or stateless person, aged 18–65.
2. You have signed a contract of 12 months or longer with the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation.
3. You have no unspent criminal record for a serious offence in Russia.
4. Your identity documents are valid and can be legalised for use in Russia.

You do not need:

• A Russian residence permit (РВП or ВНЖ)
• Five years of continuous residence
• A Russian language, history or law exam
• Proof of legal income
• Renunciation of your original citizenship

Documents required

Prepare the following before you arrive at the recruitment centre. A specialist will help you complete the Russian-language forms on site.

• International passport (valid for at least 12 months)
• Birth certificate
• Marriage / divorce certificate (if applicable)
• Children's birth certificates (if you plan to apply for them too)
• Military ID or discharge documents from your home country (if any)
• Medical certificate (issued after arrival, at a designated clinic)
• Notarised translations into Russian of every foreign document

Tip: Do not translate documents in your home country unless the translator is on the Russian consulate's approved list. In most cases it is faster and cheaper to translate on arrival in Russia.

Timeline: from contract to passport

The realistic timeline in 2026 looks like this:

1. Day 0 — sign the contract at the recruitment centre.
2. Weeks 1–2 — medical commission, basic training assignment, first pay.
3. Month 1 — submit the citizenship application through the unit's HR (кадровая служба) with a commander's petition.
4. Months 2–3 — application reviewed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (МВД); background checks completed.
5. Month 3–4 — presidential decree granting citizenship is issued.
6. Month 4–5 — take the oath, receive Russian passport.

Family members follow a parallel track that usually finishes 1–2 months after the soldier receives citizenship.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Signing a contract shorter than 12 months. Short-term contracts do not qualify under Decree 690.
• Submitting untranslated documents. Every foreign paper must have a notarised Russian translation.
• Assuming citizenship is automatic. It is a simplified procedure, not an automatic one — you must actively apply after signing the contract.
• Renouncing your original citizenship voluntarily. Russia does not require it; you may end up stateless if you do it prematurely.

How Decree 690 compares to the old rules

Requirement	Old rule (pre-2024)	Decree 690 (2024+)
Residence permit	Required	Not required
Years of residence	3–5	0
Language / history exam	Required	Waived
Income proof	Required	Waived
Family eligibility	Case-by-case	Automatic
Timeline	3–5 years	3–5 months

What happens after you get Russian citizenship

Once the presidential decree is signed and you take the oath, you are a full Russian citizen with the same rights as anyone born in Russia:

• Russian internal passport and international passport
• Access to healthcare, pensions and education
• Right to buy property anywhere in the country
• Voting rights and freedom to change employer after your contract ends

You keep your original citizenship unless your home country forbids it.

Ready to check if you qualify?

Decree No. 690 removed the biggest legal obstacles for foreign contract soldiers, but every case still needs to be reviewed individually — age, health, criminal record and document status all matter. Fill out the form below and a specialist will confirm your eligibility within one business day.