Fewer Want to Be Russians

Since 2007, Russia has had a voluntary resettlement program for nationals who are returning from living abroad. Yet, fewer people have been willing to move to Russia in recent years. Since the start of Russia's War on Ukraine, the number of repatriates has plummeted to its lowest point in the past decade.

Over the past decade, more than a million people have moved to Russia under the program. The primary motivation for participants is a simplified process for obtaining citizenship and a relocation allowance of R100,000 to R200,000 ($1,100–2,200), depending on the region.

There are no clear criteria for who can apply. Applications may be submitted by Russian citizens living abroad (who make up no more than 1% annually) and by people whose ethnic groups have historically lived in Russia, or who have direct relatives who previously lived there. However, there is no official list of such ethnic groups, and local officials ultimately decide whether an applicant meets the program’s requirements. A typical participant is aged 18 to 40 and from Central Asia. Men and women participate equally, and about one-third of participants bring their children.

Each region sets its own requirements. For example, Leningrad Oblast requires at least two years of work experience, while some cities in Krasnoyarsk Krai accept only athletes, coaches, scientists, cultural figures, doctors, and teachers with academic degrees or professional achievements.

According to a demographer who requested anonymity, regions use the program to simplify immigration for foreigners with in-demand professions.

Since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the number of participants has fallen significantly. In 2014, 106,000 people moved to Russia under the program, but in 2023, the nubmer was only 45,000. "Not everyone is willing to move to a country at war," said Konstantin Zatulin, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration, and Relations with Compatriots.

In 2023, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree creating a new repatriation program. It defines repatriates as Russian citizens who permanently resided abroad as of February 24, 2022, or those who voluntarily renounced their Russian citizenship in the past. The new program is more liberal than the compatriot resettlement initiative, allowing repatriates to move to any region without proving proficiency in the Russian language. However, repatriates are not entitled to social support, and fewer people have been willing to move to Russia in recent years.