Overview
Foreign nationals applying for Russian citizenship must prove their Russian language and their knowledge of Russian history and the basics of Russian law. There are two separate exams for this: an exam in the Russian language, and an exam in the history of Russia and the fundamentals of Russian legislation. Each leads to its own certificate.
The rules are set by Government Decree No. 1136 of 31 July 2025. This page uses its text as published on the Garant legal database on 4 August 2025, so later amendments may apply. The official publication site (pravo.gov.ru) could not be reached from our connection, so the official text was not read.
The exams are run by state institutions on a list approved by the Government, not by a single central body. The decree names the Federal Service for Supervision in Education and Science (Rosobrnadzor) as the body that determines the test materials.
A related, separate requirement exists under Federal Law No. 115-FZ, Article 15.1. For a temporary residence permit, a residence permit, a work permit or a labour patent, a foreign national must show Russian language, history and law knowledge at the level that fits that purpose, normally with a certificate from the same type of institution. That is a different level from the one needed for citizenship.
Exam pattern
| Exam | Form | Maximum time |
|---|---|---|
| Russian language for citizenship | Oral and written | 90 minutes |
| History of Russia and fundamentals of Russian legislation for citizenship | Written test, including by computer or remote technology | 90 minutes |
Both exams use standardised task sets (control measurement materials) with the same structure across Russia. They are based on the minimum knowledge requirements set by a separate government decree (No. 840 of 31 May 2021). Each candidate gets a separate seat.
Rosobrnadzor, or an organisation it authorises, publishes information every year about the structure and content of the materials, a demonstration version with marking criteria, and a bank of tasks. The decree read here does not give the number of tasks, the scoring or the pass marks, so they are not listed.
Marking and results
Answers are marked against criteria prepared under Rosobrnadzor's direction, by an exam commission of at least 3 people at the institution. Members who check the papers must have a higher education in philology or linguistics, history, law or teacher education, plus further training in teaching Russian as a foreign language or in testing methods.
If you fail, you may appeal to the institution's conflict commission while reviewing your results. The commission checks the written part and the audio and video recordings, and either upholds or rejects the appeal. The institution may not give you the same variant of the materials again if you failed before.
Successful candidates receive a certificate for each exam they pass, in a form approved by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. The institution enters certificate data in the federal register of education documents.
Important dates
The institution sets the schedule. It must publish the exam dates on its information stands and its website at least one week before.
How to apply
Submit an application, on paper or electronically, to a state institution on the Government's list. Before the exam day, the institution must let you read the exam procedure, get advice and see the demonstration variant on the Rosobrnadzor site.
On exam day a commission member briefs you before the exam. You must show an identity document, and the exam is recorded on video and audio.
You may not use help from other people, phones, cameras, computers other than the exam computers, reference materials, notes or other ways of storing or sending information. Breaking these rules means you fail that exam and its results are cancelled.
The decree text read here does not state any fee, so check with the institution.
After the exam
The certificates are for the citizenship application. Results can also be cancelled later by the conflict commission if the exam rules were broken or the exam was held without respecting the minimum requirements.
FAQs
How long are the exams?
No more than 90 minutes each: one for Russian language, one for history and fundamentals of law.
Are the exams held at one national centre?
No. Government-listed state institutions run them, using standard materials that are the same in structure across the country.
Is the exam recorded?
Yes. The decree requires video and audio recording, including identification and the oral part of the Russian exam.