The Federal Law aims to streamline the legal regulation of matters pertaining to confirming foreign citizens’ knowledge of the Russian language, Russian history and the fundamentals of national legislation.
For these purposes, the Federal Law stipulates requirements concerning the level of foreign citizens’ knowledge of the Russian language, Russian history and the fundamentals of national legislation, depending on their goals, such as obtaining temporary or permanent residential permits, work permits or patents.
The Federal Law states that certificates confirming foreign citizens’ knowledge of the Russian language, Russian history and the fundamentals of national legislation shall be issued in the Russian Federation or elsewhere by organisations, included in a list approved by a federal executive agency and authorised by the Government of the Russian Federation. The list is posted on the appropriate agency’s official website.
In addition, the Government of the Russian Federation shall approve the form and procedure for holding the exam in Russian as a foreign language, Russian history and the fundamentals of national legislation, as well as specific requirements concerning the minimal knowledge needed to pass the exam. It also establishes the methodology for calculating the cost of conducting the exam and the effective term of the certificate.