Russia plans 12-fold hike in citizenship fee to 50,000 roubles

Russia's State Duma has approved in the first reading two government bills that would dramatically increase fees for migrants. The citizenship application fee would rise 12 times, from 4,200 to 50,000 roubles.

Russia's State Duma has passed in the first reading two government-sponsored bills that would sharply increase administrative fees for migrants seeking legal status in the country. The most striking change concerns the cost of obtaining Russian citizenship, which would jump from 4,200 roubles to 50,000 roubles — a 12-fold increase.

The two legislative proposals were submitted by the government and cover a range of migration-related fees, not just citizenship applications. The bills are still subject to further readings and amendments before becoming law, but their approval at the first reading signals strong parliamentary support for the measures.

The planned fee hike is part of a broader tightening of Russia's migration policy. In recent years, Moscow has introduced a series of measures aimed at regulating the flow of migrant workers and applicants for permanent residency and citizenship, particularly from Central Asian countries. The sharp increase in costs is likely to create a significant barrier for lower-income migrants who have been seeking Russian citizenship.