I'm the managing partner at immigration services in Russia - Wih and today we're going to speak about a new possibility for immigrating to Russia—Russia's so-called Golden Visa, or Permanent Residency by Investment (RBI) program, which was officially approved in January 2023.
So let’s see what the Russian RBI can offer.
A foreign national can obtain permanent residency in Russia by investing 15 million rubles into socially significant projects in Russian regions.
What are "socially significant projects"?
To be honest, it’s quite vague. We work very closely with the Russian government to understand what these projects actually are. It’s not charity—it’s investment, which means that theoretically, the investor can get their money back. But right now, the list of projects provided by the Russian regions to the Ministry behind this program is, I would say, more like charity—but charity that doesn’t go to, say, children or other typical causes.
These projects are more like infrastructure obligations of the Russian regions—for example, constructing a road in some part of Russia. So basically, these are social obligations of the regions, repackaged as investment projects.
My biggest question is: how do you get your money back if you invest in socially significant projects?
If any of you are happy to give away 15 million rubles and potentially not get this money back, but get in return permanent residency in Russia for yourself and all your family members, then it's okay. But right now, we haven’t yet found or created a socially significant project where you can get your investment back.
There are options we are working on, and we do hope that in the very, very near future, we’ll be able to offer some projects where you can invest money and, sometime in the future, potentially get your money back—and maybe even earn some interest on the investment.
As of now, we don’t know what those projects will be. The "American Village" might potentially be one of them, but that’s something other people will tell you more about—and you know who I’m talking about.
Point Number Two: Company Setup in Russia
There’s no minimum investment amount required to set up a company in Russia. But the qualifying criteria for permanent residency is that your company must pay 8 million rubles in taxes after two years of operation.
You have to:
- Set up your own company
- Be the 100% shareholder (no joint ventures allowed)
You can apply for permanent residency only after two years, provided the company has paid 8 million rubles in any taxes (corporate profit tax, VAT, employer taxes, etc.—it doesn't matter).
Point Number Three: Invest in an Existing Russian Company
You can invest 30 million rubles into an existing Russian company that has:
- Existed for at least three years
- Paid 6 million rubles in taxes in the previous year
Let’s say the company has been around for 20 years. You make the 30 million ruble investment today, and if the company paid 6 million rubles in taxes last year, you qualify.
If not for sanctions and the current geopolitical situation, I’d say the best option would be to invest in the Russian stock market—into blue-chip companies. Why?
- You know these companies have existed more than three years
- They’ve definitely paid 6 million rubles in taxes
- The investment is liquid—you can sell it easily
But for citizens of “unfriendly” countries, that’s not possible. Only investors from friendly countries can do that. Citizens of unfriendly countries currently cannot invest in Russian blue-chip companies. That’s a restriction on the Russian side.
Point Number Four: Investment in Real Estate
You can invest in real estate built within the last two years. It must be a new property, not older than two years.
Investment amounts:
- 20 million rubles (cadastral value) in Crimea and Far East regions (includes about 11 regions)
- 25 million rubles (cadastral value) in all other regions except Moscow
- 50 million rubles (cadastral value) in Moscow
Note: Cadastral value is usually 30–50% lower than the market value, meaning your actual investment may be higher than the listed amount.
For example, 20 million rubles in cadastral value might mean a 30 million ruble market value in Crimea or the Far East.
If needed, you can invest in several properties, and the investment amount will be aggregated. As long as the total cadastral value meets the required threshold, you will still qualify.
Residency Conditions
- This residency is suitable for passive investors, because:
- After receiving permanent residency, you don't need to reside in Russia at all
- However, to apply for residency, you must pass the Russian language test
Yes, that’s a bit strange—but that’s how it is right now.
That’s a summary of how to obtain permanent residency in Russia through investment. For some, it may be a good fit. For others, maybe not—other options may be more suitable or applicable.
If you are also thinking about a new life in Russia, click the Apply For Residency button and let us help you.
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