Russia bans migrants from marrying female citizens over age of 80

Russia's State Duma has passed legislation aimed at preventing foreign nationals from obtaining Russian citizenship through sham marriages, including unions with women aged 80 and older.

Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin said the law closes loopholes that had enabled migrants to secure citizenship through fictitious marriages, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

"It was necessary to restore order... and eliminate the numerous grounds that had previously existed, including sham marriages. These included cases where newcomers entered into marriages with women aged 80 and older. All of these loopholes have now been eliminated," he noted.

The amendments were approved in the second and third readings as part of a government-backed bill tightening Russia's migration legislation.

In addition to targeting sham marriages, the law introduces new grounds for refusing Russian citizenship, temporary residence permits and permanent residence permits. Foreign nationals with any unexpunged or outstanding criminal conviction will now be ineligible for these statuses. Previously, the restriction applied only to intentional crimes in citizenship cases and to serious or especially serious offences for temporary and permanent residence permits.

If such documents have already been issued and an outstanding conviction is later discovered, they will be revoked. The only exceptions apply to recognised refugees and individuals granted political asylum.

The legislation also tightens documentation requirements. Migrants will be required to submit a paper certificate confirming the presence or absence of a criminal record from their country of residence, issued no more than three months before the application date. Applicants holding multiple citizenships or residence permits must provide a separate certificate for each relevant country.

Children under the age of 14, recognised refugees, political asylum holders and foreigners serving under contract in the Russian Armed Forces are exempt from this requirement.

The new rules will take effect 180 days after the law is signed by the president. Applications submitted before then will be processed under the current regulations.

The legislation forms part of Russia's broader tightening of migration policy following the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov