Preparation for the exam for a Work Permit, Temporary Residence Permit, Residence Permit and Citizenship in 2026

The exam for migrants is a mandatory test in the Russian language, the History of Russia and the Fundamentals of the Legislation of the Russian Federation, which is necessary to obtain a Work Permit, Temporary Residence Permit, Residence Permit and Citizenship

The following migrants may not take the exam:

• Incapacitated foreign citizens

• Children under 18

• Men over 65 and women over 60

• Foreigners who are participants in the State Program to Assist Voluntary Resettlement of Compatriots to the Russian Federation

• Foreigners — highly qualified specialists, as well as members of their families, who have applied for a Residence Permit

• Foreigners — highly qualified specialists, when receiving a work permit, as well as journalists

• Foreigners who have applied for a Residence Permit as native Russian speakers. A different exam is provided for them, we wrote about these foreigners in the article "Privileges and benefits of foreigners recognized as native Russian speakers"

• Belarusians, as residents of a country - a member of the Union State in accordance with Federal Law No. 465-FZ of 02.08.2015

• Foreigners who have parents or children - citizens of the Russian Federation and have applied for a Residence Permit

• Foreigners who have a certificate received in the USSR before 1991, or a diploma in the Russian Federation

The exam for migrants consists of three modules:

• Russian language – testing basic language skills, including speaking, listening, reading and writing

• History of Russia – knowledge of key historical events

• Fundamentals of the Legislation of the Russian Federation – understanding the rights and responsibilities of migrants in Russia

Cost of the exam to obtain:

• Work Permit — 3800 rubles

• Temporary Residence Permit — 5900 rubles

• Residence permit — 5900 rubles

• Residence — 2950 rubles for each exam, i.e. 5900 rubles for both exams

Validity of the exam certificate for obtaining:

• Work Permit — 3 years

• Temporary Residence Permit — 3 years

• Residence permit — indefinitely

• Residence — indefinitely

To take the exam, you must provide the following documents:

• Foreign citizen's passport (original and copy)

• Translation of the passport into Russian, certified by a notary (if the document is not in Russian)

• Migration card (if entry into the Russian Federation was issued with a visa)

• Registration at the place of stay (if any)

• Receipt for payment of the exam (if necessary)

Some institutions may require additional documents, so it is recommended to clarify the information in advance with the exam institution

You can take the exam at accredited government institutions that conduct testing in Russian language, History of Russia and Fundamentals of Russian Legislation. Our website provides a full list of addresses of accredited government institutions in all cities of Russia. You can choose the nearest institution and find out its contact information

The number of attempts to pass the exam is not limited - you can retake it as many times as it takes to pass successfully. However, each time you retake it, you must pay for the exam again, since the cost of testing is calculated for each attempt

If you fail the exam, you can retake it 30 days after the previous attempt. Some accredited government institutions may offer the opportunity to retake it earlier, so it is recommended to check the conditions with your chosen institution. However, you must pay for the exam again each time you retake it, as the cost of testing is calculated per attempt