A stateless person is one who is not considered as a national by any state under the operation of its law.
- The procedure of regularization of legal status of stateless persons shall begin with an identity verification procedure. To do this, you should submit an application to the unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in writing at the place of actual residence. A certificate is issued to confirm acceptance of the application for consideration. The duration of the procedure is 3 months (can be extended by 3 months). Based on the results, the conclusion on identity verification is drawn up, and a copy is issued to the applicant at his/her request.
- The temporary identity card of a stateless person (temporary ID) in the Russian Federation is a document issued to a stateless person to confirm his/her identity and temporary stay in the Russian Federation. The application is submitted to the territorial body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia after the completion of the identity verification procedure (for persons held in special institutions – through the administration of the institution). The conclusion on identity verification shall be submitted along with the application. The term for issuing the document is 10 working days from the date of submission of the application. The temporary ID is issued for 10 years.
- The temporary ID enables its holder to work without a permit or a patent and apply for a temporary residence permit without obtaining a quota, as well as to use the possibilities of further legal integration, including the acquisition of citizenship of the Russian Federation.
If you do not have a valid passport and no state recognizes you as its national, UNHCR partner organizations may provide you with legal advice to help you regularize your status. For legal assistance you may contact one of our partner organizations. Contacts are available via this link.