More than four years have passed since the date of the referendum, according to which Crimea became part of the Russian Federation. Since that momentous historical moment, much has changed. Today, Russians and foreigners are thinking about moving to permanent residence in Crimea. It would seem that there is nothing strange in it: the most beautiful mountain landscapes, the warm Black Sea and the favorable climate attract residents from all over the post-Soviet space. But is it really possible to move to the peninsula and is it worth it, in general, to choose this region as a permanent residence? Let's try to understand the pros and cons of arriving in Crimea for permanent residence.
Climatic and weather conditions
The prospect of permanently settling where you like to spend time is encouraging. Many of us, coming to the resort town for a couple of weeks in the summer, dream of making the feeling of vacation, solar warmth and comfort constant. At least, this is the main reason why many people want to move to Crimea for permanent residence. According to reviews of those who know firsthand the peninsula, its main advantage is a favorable environmental situation. Particularly striking contrast can be felt by Russians living in large, gassed cities. For example, for residents of the capital, moving from Moscow to Crimea for permanent residence is a great way to get away from traffic jams, smog and the noise of the metropolis.
As for the climatic conditions of the region, here everyone can find a zone suitable for permanent residence, despite the relatively modest size of the peninsula. Crimea is located in three climatic zones, so the weather here can be completely different, and sometimes unpredictable. The following climatic zones are distinguished:
- steppe, which is distinguished by high temperatures, stuffiness and drought in the summer, windy and cool weather in winter;
- mountainous - this area is characterized by high humidity at any time of the year;
- south-coast - in summer it is very hot and arid, precipitation is very rare, and in winter the thermometer’s column rarely drops below 0.
Compared to the rest of the Russian regions, it has the mildest and most comfortable climatic conditions.
Work in the Crimea and official employment
If we move away from the advantages of weather on the peninsula and picturesque beauties, then according to the reviews of those who moved, moving to Crimea for permanent residence left many people with mixed feelings.
On the one hand, there are no exorbitant salaries, so for several decades industry has not developed in the cities of the republic, and tourism was the only source of replenishment of the budget. If you plan to work for hire and would like to get a job, you need to prepare for the fact that “Moscow” salaries are not to be found here. The average salary of a specialist is about 18-22 thousand rubles. At the same time, the cost of services and prices for food, housing are not much different from the capital.
The situation with employment on the peninsula is also not easy, and this is one of the fundamentally important points for people planning to change permanent residence in the Crimea. It is not easy to make money in the region to support a family. Despite the fact that a lot of job advertisements are posted on local sites and in newspapers, their analysis allows us to conclude that the prevailing proposals are low-paid jobs that do not require special qualifications. According to official information, the unemployment rate in the region is no more than 5%, but, according to unofficial data, this figure is much higher - 35-40% of the number of able-bodied people.
The average Crimean salary is much lower than the average salary in the country. A more or less favorable situation is observed in the public sector (teachers, doctors, civil servants and military personnel), but there are no vacant seats for positions in this sector. This is also confirmed by those who recently arrived in Crimea for permanent residence. According to reviews, in order to get a job that is highly paid by local standards, you need to at least be someone's protege.
As practice shows, it is rather difficult for young family people to adapt in conditions of high unemployment. But Russian pensioners, who decided to move to live in Crimea for permanent residence, are often happy with everything. As you know, the highest pensions in the country are among northerners and former soldiers. Their level of social security will allow them to live in the south without worries and hassle.
Business opportunities
If you believe the reviews, moving to Crimea for permanent residence is not the right decision if you do not have your own housing in this region. Most local people survive here by renting real estate at stunning prices during periods of massive tourist influx. In addition, in private houses, which occupy a predominant part of the coastal strip, there are small land plots. Thanks to housekeeping and the garden, many save on food well.
But on the other hand, Crimea is an actively developing subject of the Russian Federation, a territory that is ideally suited for opening and promoting its own business. Almost everyone knows what profit can bring, for example, a car service station in a well-located location or a small grocery store in a residential area. If you have a start-up capital, a business plan thought out to the smallest detail and an entrepreneurial spirit, you will not regret moving to Crimea for permanent residence.
The stories of local businessmen, of which more than half are Russians from the mainland, are a direct confirmation of this. In their opinion, Crimea is a bonanza for the implementation of highly profitable projects. Foreign investors are actively investing in the region, which creates all the conditions for getting good dividends in the future.
Which city is worth moving to?
In preparation for moving to the Crimea for permanent residence, many pre-determine the locality that would completely suit them as a place of permanent residence. If you are thinking about choosing a million-plus city for yourself, then the peninsula is not for you.
Simferopol
The largest Crimean city is Simferopol, but it, which has a population of less than 400 thousand people, cannot yet be called a megalopolis. This is the capital of the republic, which is geographically divided into only three district administrations. In the central part of the city there are sleeping quarters and developed infrastructure, in the other two - parks, local attractions and an industrial zone. There are many tourists at any time of the year. Unlike other settlements of Crimea, there are practically no problems with finding a job, and rental prices can be called acceptable. In Simferopol, the most developed traffic intersection.
Sevastopol
This is an ideal city for those who dream of moving to permanent residence in the Crimea, South Coast, but at the same time have excellent scientific and technical potential and would like to find application in this area. There are opportunities for career growth and obtaining a naval education, many cultural and historical centers, attractions, and monuments. At the same time, Sevastopol has a mild climate and a well-developed tourist destination. Visitors always leave warm reviews about this city. Moving to Crimea for permanent residence in Sevastopol will meet expectations only if it is possible to purchase your own housing, since here it is more expensive than in other cities of the peninsula.
Other cities of the republic
Truly picturesque places in the south of the Crimean peninsula can be called such resort cities as Yevpatoriya, Alushta, Yalta, Saki and Theodosius. The budget of these settlements is replenished thanks to tourists, therefore, mainly seasonal earnings prevail here. Finding a permanent job is a task that is almost impossible to accomplish. In the summer, in these cities it is cozy due to beautiful well-groomed parks, alleys, numerous entertainment venues, equipped beaches and embankments, and in winter the cities become empty, become gray and deserted.
For those who like to engage in agriculture, growing fruit and grapes, you should consider Dzhankoy, Inkerman and Bakhchisaray. Tourists here are not frequent guests, there are no vacancies for young people, unlike Kerch, which is one of the most attractive options for those who are in search of work. If you are a fisherman or are ready to work in the fish processing industry, you will not stay here without a stable income. Another advantage of Kerch is the relatively low cost of land and secondary housing, as well as its favorable location: the city is washed by two seas (Azov and Black), located 220 km from the capital of Crimea and has direct access to the Crimean bridge connecting the peninsula and mainland of Russia.
The legal side of the move for citizens of the Russian Federation
We got acquainted with the basic questions regarding living conditions in Crimea. Now we will touch upon the nuances and subtleties of the migration sphere. As you know, the abbreviation "permanent residence" means "permanent residence". The right to permanent residence in Russia is determined by the presence of a certain status for citizens who have permanent registration, authority in accordance with their legal status.
The right to permanent residence in the Russian Federation is held by citizens of the country - persons holding a national Russian passport, and foreign citizens who have received a residence permit for up to five years with the possibility of extension. Immigrants with a residence permit have practically the same rights as Russian citizens, with the exception of the right to participate in elections, to serve in the army, and to work in government agencies.
Since the peninsula has been part of the Russian Federation since 2014, and since July 2017 is a subject of the Southern Federal District, Russians will not have to collect a lot of documents in order to move to Crimea for permanent residence. According to reviews, all Russian citizens visiting the peninsula fell into its territory without obstacles from the Ukrainian authorities. As you know, the fact of the accession of the Crimean Peninsula has not been recognized by the international community to this day, and the Ukrainian leadership is trying to challenge the results of the referendum, according to which the residents of the republic almost unanimously decided to join the Russian Federation. Thus, a citizen of Russia will need only a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation and nothing more.
How does a foreigner stay to live in Crimea
Foreign citizens who plan to relocate to Crimea for permanent residence (from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Belarus and, oddly enough, Ukraine have the largest number of tourists who want to move closer to the Black Sea) should take care of all the legal subtleties of their stay in the Russian Federation in advance. Since Crimea is the territory of Russia, foreigners from the above and other states with which Russia has agreements on visa-free entry can stay on it continuously for 90 days. If a foreign citizen fails to apply for this period, does not have time to submit an application for RVP, he will have to leave the country. A foreign citizen will also be able to return to the territory of the Russian Federation after 90 days.
In the Crimean territory, Russian laws and regulations are in force. Here they have the same legal force as in any other Russian region, so the first step of a foreigner who intends to move to Crimea for permanent residence (where exactly, to Simferopol, Feodosia or Dzhankoy does not matter) should look like this.
Within seven calendar days after crossing the border, together with the receiving party, which can be either a hotel employee or an individual who has a permanent residence permit in this city, it is necessary to contact the territorial bodies of the Central Internal Affairs Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the place of stay and provide originals and copies of documents (passport of a foreign citizen and a migration card). Registration for migration registration is only the first step towards legitimization in the Russian Federation. To obtain a residence permit, which gives the right to a foreign citizen to reside permanently in the territory of the Russian Federation, first you need:
- Submit an application to the department of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on the allocation of quotas for RVP. The total number of quotas is allocated at the beginning of the calendar year for each region of the Russian Federation. The total number of quotas that visitors in Crimea can take is 1,500.
- If the application for the allocation of the quota is approved, you must submit an application and the attached package of documents to apply for a temporary residence permit (RVP), which is issued for a three-year period. The decision to approve the RWP is made within two months. Within seven working days after receiving the status of SAR, a foreign citizen must register at the place of residence.
- After 6 months after gaining the RVP, a foreigner has the right to apply for a residence permit, the possibility of issuing which is considered by the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Crimea for six months.
- Three years after receiving a residence permit, a foreigner has the right to apply for citizenship of the Russian Federation.
Thus, one can obtain Russian citizenship in a general manner. Along with it is a simplified scheme. Persons born on the territory of the Russian Federation or the RSFSR, veterans of the Great Patriotic War have the right to obtain citizenship, bypassing the RVP and residence permit stages.
In addition, there are two programs for simplified acquisition of a Russian passport in Russia - the State Program for the Relocation of Compatriots Living Abroad and the Native Speaker of the Russian Language. Unfortunately, the first option is not suitable for people planning to move to permanent residence in the Crimea. The peninsula is not included in the list of regions participating in the Program.
As for the "native speaker of the Russian language", this program is designed for foreign citizens whose relatives in a straight line are (were) citizens of the Russian Federation or permanently reside (resided) in Russia or the RSFSR. Another way to become a member of the program is to obtain a residence permit and go through a specialized commission that will issue an opinion on the recognition of a foreign citizen as a native speaker of the Russian language. The next step is to apply for citizenship of the Russian Federation.
Ukrainians in Crimea
Citizens of Ukraine have the right to reside in the territory of Russia, to which the peninsula belongs, on the same grounds as foreign citizens of other states. There are no concessions to the Ukrainians, as many people mistakenly think. Therefore, before deciding to move, it is worth taking care of the documents in advance.
The easiest option is to contact the nearest Russian consulate in Ukraine with a formalized application, a package of proposed documents and a paid state duty in the amount of 1,600 rubles. rub. A temporary permit allows you to live and work for three years not throughout Russia, but only within the constituent entity of the Russian Federation that issued the PRT. It is not possible to extend RVP. If during this period a foreign citizen does not change his legal status, he will have to start the whole process of applying for a PRT again.
General recommendations for those who decide to relocate
You still doubt whether to move to Crimea for permanent residence? Perhaps the following recommendations will be useful and help you weigh the pros and cons:
- Do not burn the last bridges, leave at least for some time the "path to retreat" - you should always have the opportunity to return back if something goes wrong.
- If you have children, keep in mind that in the Crimea, as in many other Russian regions, there are not enough schools and kindergartens, so children should be taken care of in advance.
- Having permanent registration in the Crimea, you will not be able to travel to the Schengen area - you can leave the Russian Federation only from the mainland.
- Based on the feedback of people who decided to move to the Crimea, the healthcare sector on the peninsula is not at the highest level, so if you have serious diagnoses and chronic diseases that require constant high-quality treatment, think again about the appropriateness of such radical changes.
- Transport, communication, banking and insurance services have serious limitations. Most likely, this drawback is temporary.
Should I move to Crimea for permanent residence: pros and cons
So, what are the main arguments for those who would like to live on the peninsula? Most people who wish to move to Crimea for permanent residence from Russia consider the main advantages of this region:
- proximity to the Black Sea;
- mild favorable climate;
- clean ecology due to the lack of large industrial enterprises;
- a relatively low level of competition in business for novice entrepreneurs.
But before deciding to take such a serious step, it is worth paying attention to the negative aspects associated with moving to the peninsula. To abandon the venture with a change of place of residence of the Russians forced:
- modest wages;
- lack of a developed manufacturing industry;
- significant difficulties in finding official employment;
- high cost of rental housing, especially in the period from May to October;
- unbearable prices in the real estate market;
- the impossibility of leaving the peninsula abroad (the territory of the peninsula is not officially recognized by the world community as Russian).
Thus, if you are still planning to move, be prepared to survive the period of development of the peninsula with it. In the absence of entrepreneurial inclinations with moving to the Crimea for permanent residence is not in a hurry. As experts predict, the socio-economic situation on the peninsula will stabilize in 5-10 years. Perhaps it makes sense to wait ...
Conclusion
Everyone chooses for himself. Facing such a serious choice, you need to carefully consider all the pros and cons of moving a hundred times. When making a decision, you need to be guided by what you have at the moment and what you will have in Crimea. For some, the usual comfort and social living conditions are of fundamental importance, and therefore they are not ready to change everything overnight to a simple life on the peninsula. And, finally, if the thoughts of making Crimea their new homeland are not left alone, we can advise you to live on the peninsula for a while. One year is enough to finally understand whether you should move there or not.