Russia is offering ‘Common Values Visa’ to citizens from the West

Russia is trying to attract citizens from the West who disagree with liberal social developments in their home countries by offering them a special resident permit, known as the “Common Values Visa.” 

The program, launched in August 2024 by decree of President Vladimir Putin, targets individuals who share “traditional Russian moral and spiritual values.”

The visa is initially issued for three years and can be extended. It is aimed at citizens or permanent residents of countries such as the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, and EU states. Applicants are not required to speak Russian, but they must declare opposition to the social and political direction of their country of origin.

According to Russian authorities, 1,156 applications have been submitted to date, with Germany accounting for the largest number of interested parties (224 applications). Among the applicants is Australian Russell, who shared his experience of migrating to Russia on his YouTube channel. He uploaded his latest visit to the relevant authorities on his YouTube channel “Travelling with Russell.” “Now I have three years to live here, find a job and a home,” Russell says on camera.

Russell is not the only one who wants to live in Russia. On social media, there are many Western users who now live or plan to live in Russia. For them, what is happening in their home countries regarding religion, family, the LGBTQI community, and immigration is excessively liberal – and living in a more conservative society seems attractive.

It is precisely to these people that Russia is appealing with the “Anti-Woke-Visa,” as the common values visa program, launched by President Putin in August 2024, is unofficially called. The relevant presidential decree states that the visa offers “humanitarian support to people who share traditional Russian spiritual and moral values.”

Sociologist Katarina Blum describes the program as “symbolic politics,” serving both internal and external communication. Russia, she says, portrays itself as an antidote to the “liberal and degenerate West” and, at the same time, as a refuge for those who desire a society with an emphasis on traditional values.

However, beyond the symbolism, Moscow also appears to be responding to its severe demographic challenges. The Russian population is constantly decreasing, while the war in Ukraine has led to losses and a mass exodus of young Russians.

The Russian government, according to reports, is boosting the program’s communication efforts, utilizing content from social media of immigrants who publicly support Russian society and criticize the West. Research by the magazine “Important Stories” revealed that media outlets such as the Russian state channel RT fund such videos, including channels like “Russian Road,” which promote positive messages about immigration to Russia.

Families like the Feenstras from Canada, with eight children, argue that Russia offers a safe environment for Christian families, while also highlighting economic advantages such as low taxation and free education.

Blum concludes that the “Common Values Visa” fits into the broader context of Russia’s propaganda strategy.