MOSCOW - Russia has introduced a new multiple-entry talent visa aimed at attracting highly skilled foreign nationals, with eligible applicants offered a simplified pathway to temporary and permanent residence.
According to a report by Fragomen, the visa targets professionals in areas including science, creative industries and sports, as well as graduates of leading universities, individuals with rare skills and entrepreneurs capable of contributing to Russia's technological development.
Applications will initially be reviewed by the newly established Agency for Attracting Foreign Talents to Russia before being forwarded to the country's immigration authorities for processing.
The new visa also removes several requirements normally associated with obtaining temporary residence.
Visa holders can apply for a temporary residence permit (TRP) without being subject to the standard quota or Russian language requirements.
Those who pass a Russian language test can bypass the TRP process altogether and apply directly for a permanent residence permit (PRP).
Under the regular immigration pathway, foreign nationals are generally required to hold a TRP for at least eight months before applying for permanent residence.
Talent visa holders may also receive access to a simplified citizenship pathway depending on their circumstances, exceptional achievements or backing from relevant government authorities.
In a statement by the press service of the Russian Security Council on May 5, Russia’s foreign population stood at 6.1 million as of April 1, down from 6.8 million a year earlier.
The decline comes amid a 15 percent year-on-year drop in foreign arrivals during the first quarter of 2026.
"Nearly 1.8 million people in this migration flow are citizens of the Commonwealth of Independent States member states, accounting for 72.4 percent of the total," the statement said.