According to a draft amendment to a government decree by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the fee for acquiring Russian citizenship for residents of occupied Abkhazia, the so-called South Ossetia, and Transnistria will be reduced from $600 back down to $65.
Russia had previously increased the consular fee for foreign nationals seeking Russian citizenship from $65 to $600, effective August 1 of this year. The hike triggered widespread discontent—particularly in Transnistria, where de facto authorities reported a sharp rise in citizenship applications.
Consequently, Moscow decided to reinstate the lower tariff specifically for the occupied regions.
Simplified Citizenship MechanismsAbkhazia and Tskhinvali Region (2025): In May 2025, Vladimir Putin signed a decree enabling simplified citizenship access for adult residents of occupied Abkhazia and the so-called South Ossetia who held citizen status in these self-proclaimed republics as of August 26, 2008.
Applicants are exempt from requirements such as permanent residency in Russia or demonstrating proficiency in the Russian language, history, and legislation.Transnistria (2026): In May 2026, Putin signed a similar decree significantly streamlining citizenship procedures for adult residents of Transnistria.
According to Transnistrian de facto leader Vadim Krasnoselsky, over 60,000 applications were submitted within three months of the new rules taking effect. He added that approximately 220,000 residents in the region already hold Russian passports.
Context: Transnistria is an internationally recognized territory of eastern Moldova governed by a de facto regime based in Tiraspol, backed by a persistent Russian military presence.
