The procedure for acquiring Russian citizenship will be simplified mainly for former citizens of the USSR. According to human rights activists, those who live in Russia but have not yet received a Russian passport are, by various estimates, from 1 million to 3 million people. In addition, there are 25 million so-called former compatriots in the CIS, some of whom may also qualify for citizenship of the Russian Federation.
In particular, the preferential option for obtaining citizenship will apply to former residents of the Soviet Union born on the territory of the RSFSR: they will acquire citizenship without observing the condition of a five-year residency period established by paragraph 'a' of Article 13 of the law 'On Citizenship'.
Other citizens of the USSR can also count on the simplified procedure - a transition period is established for them. Those who were registered in Russia before July 1, 2002 (that is, before the law came into force) or received a temporary residence permit in Russia must declare their desire to acquire Russian citizenship before January 1, 2006. They will be issued a Russian passport without obtaining a residence permit, observing residency periods, providing income certificates, or passing a Russian language exam.
The procedure for admission to citizenship is also simplified for students from the republics that were part of the USSR who graduated from secondary vocational or higher educational institutions in Russia. Veterans of the Great Patriotic War will also receive benefits, including, as stated in the bill, home front veterans.
Preferential conditions for acquiring citizenship are also provided for foreigners who currently reside in Russia and have been married to a Russian citizen for at least three years, or who are disabled and have adult children who are Russian citizens. Foreigners can become Russian citizens even without being granted a residence permit - according to the amendments, their period of residence in Russia will be calculated from the moment of registration at their place of residence, and not from July 1, 2002 (when the law 'On Citizenship' came into force).
Benefits are also provided to citizens of CIS countries who have served at least three years under contract in the Russian army. For this purpose, deputies introduced amendments to other legislative acts, in particular to the law 'On Military Duty and Military Service', as well as 'On Defense', 'On the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation', 'On the Status of Military Personnel', and 'On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in Russia'.