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Australia and Russia dual citizenship: can you keep both passports in 2026

9 min read ·

Australia has allowed dual citizenship since 2002, so the Russian passport stays. The difficulty is not the right but the road: you need permanent residence first, and investment programmes are gone.

In short

Yes. The Australian Citizenship Act 2007 does not require giving up a previous citizenship, and Russia allows a second citizenship provided you notify the Interior Ministry.

Previous passport on naturalisationKept
Country ruleNo need to give up your previous citizenship
Legal basisAustralian Citizenship Act 2007
What Russia requiresnotify the Interior Ministry within 60 days
CheckedOctober 2026

Until 4 April 2002, an Australian who took a second passport lost Australian citizenship. That rule was repealed, and today both countries allow a second passport. For a Russian citizen the main question is not how to keep the Russian passport but how to reach permanent residence, without which there is no citizenship.

What Australia requires on naturalisation

Under the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 you can apply after 4 years of lawful residence in the country, including at least 12 months as a permanent resident. Absences over those 4 years must not exceed 12 months in total, and 90 days in the last year.

Then you sit a test on the country, its values and English. The general application fee from 1 July 2026 is about $420. You do not have to give up your Russian passport.

Permanent residence comes through skilled work visas or the National Innovation Visa for exceptional talent. The Business Innovation and Investment Program stopped taking applications on 31 July 2024, so a route to the passport can no longer be bought.

What Russia requires

Russia allows a second citizenship and does not end its own, but inside the country treats you only as a Russian citizen (Article 10 of Federal Law No. 138-FZ on Citizenship).

  • Within 60 days of receiving the second passport, file a notification with the Interior Ministry (MVD). If you are abroad at that moment, the period runs from the day you enter Russia.
  • Attach a copy of the foreign passport or another document proving the citizenship.
  • Failure to notify falls under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code: a fine of up to $2,400 or up to one year of income, or up to 400 hours of compulsory work.
  • Late or incomplete notification: a fine of $10-15 under Article 19.8.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences.
  • A residence permit abroad must be reported under the same rules (Article 11 of Law No. 138-FZ).

A Russian citizen with a second passport may not hold state or municipal office, serve in government bodies or stand for election. The duties of a Russian citizen, including military service, remain, and inside Russia the second passport is not taken into account.

How to keep both passports: step by step

  1. Get permanent residence through a work visa or a talent visa.
  2. Live in Australia for 4 years, at least 12 months of them as a permanent resident; watch the absence limit.
  3. Apply online and pay the fee, about $420.
  4. Pass the test on the country and its values.
  5. Take the pledge at a ceremony and receive the Australian passport; the Russian one stays valid.
  6. Notify the Russian Interior Ministry within 60 days of receiving the passport, or within 60 days of entering Russia if you are abroad.

You must also notify the Russian Interior Ministry of Australian permanent residence within 60 days of receiving it. This duty is often missed because citizenship is still years away.

What happens to children

A child born in Australia gets citizenship if at least one parent is an Australian citizen or permanent resident. A citizen's child born abroad can get citizenship by descent. A child with Russian and Australian citizenship keeps both passports.

Taxes and military service

Australian tax residents pay tax on worldwide income. From 1 July 2026 the scale is: 0% up to $13,000 a year, 15% up to $32,000, 30% up to $95,000, 37% up to $140,000 and 45% above, plus a 2% Medicare levy. Russia partly suspended its double tax treaty with Australia in 2023, so tax planning should happen before the move.

Australia has no compulsory military service. A Russian citizen's military duty remains. A dual citizen cannot be elected to the Australian federal parliament, but a second passport does not affect other rights.

Common mistakes

  • Exceeding the absence limit: more than 12 months over 4 years or more than 90 days in the last year.
  • Applying before a full year as a permanent resident. The application will be refused.
  • Looking for an investment programme. It closed in 2024.
  • Missing the notice to the Russian Interior Ministry about Australian residence and citizenship: the deadline is 60 days.

How to get Australian citizenship

The route for Russian citizens: a work or talent visa, permanent residence, 4 years of living in the country and the test.

Requirements, timelines and costs are on the page Australian citizenship.

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

The main risks are the absence limit and the years before permanent residence

The law does not stop you from applying for Australian citizenship on your own. But mistakes cost more than the fee: extra weeks abroad that push the application back a year, applying before 12 months as a permanent resident, the wrong visa at the start, missed notices to the Russian Interior Ministry. Murblz support removes these risks: Murblz specialists choose the visa, count residence and absences and prepare the citizenship application. We guarantee professional work and a transparent process, and in most cases a result on the first filing.

The support fee depends on the starting visa and family size; a manager will calculate it in chat.

Find out the support fee

This topic in other countries

Dual citizenship rules with Russia in other countries:

More on this country:

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

FAQ

Can you hold Australian and Russian citizenship at the same time?
Yes. The Australian Citizenship Act 2007 does not require giving up a previous citizenship, and Russia allows a second citizenship provided you notify the Interior Ministry.
Do I need to notify the Russian Interior Ministry about Australian citizenship?
Yes. A Russian citizen notifies the Interior Ministry of a second citizenship within 60 days under Article 10 of Law No. 138-FZ; failing to notify carries criminal liability under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code.
Does Australia allow dual citizenship?
Yes, since 4 April 2002. You do not have to give up a previous citizenship when naturalising.
After how many years can you get Australian citizenship?
After 4 years of lawful residence, including at least 12 months as a permanent resident. Absences must not exceed 12 months over 4 years and 90 days in the last year.
How much does an Australian citizenship application cost?
The general fee from 1 July 2026 is about $420.
Can you get Australian citizenship by investment?
No. The Business Innovation and Investment Program stopped taking applications on 31 July 2024.
Will a child get Australian citizenship?
Yes, if born in Australia with at least one parent who is a citizen or permanent resident. A citizen's child born abroad gets citizenship by descent.

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

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