La obtención de la ciudadanía rusa será más fácil para los inversores extranjeros

Last week the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed the resolution on the simplified granting of Russian citizenship to certain groups of foreign businessmen and investors.

As noted in the document “In order to attract foreign investments in the Russian economy, the simplified procedure of accepting the Russian citizenship extends to foreign entrepreneurs and investors involved in activities provided for the National Classification of Economic Activities with some exceptions.”

Among these exceptions were activities related to trade, repair of cars and motorcycles, the work of hotels and catering, advertising, real estate and others. Foreigners working in these areas will not be able to receive the facilities.

The getting of citizenship under the simplified scheme will be available for foreign investors who have invested 10 million rubles in the national economy by owning shares in a Russian company for that amount or by having the same annual business turnover in the Russian Federation.

The practice of “bought” citizenship exists in many European countries. For example, in Switzerland it is required to pay up to 1.3 million euros per year to obtain a residence permit, and it is necessary to live in the country for at least 12 years to become the Swiss.

And in the UK it is required to invest in the national economy not less than one million pounds annually to get a possibility to be admitted to citizenship for six years.