Military service and mobilization consequences of Russian citizenship

This page is for Turkish citizens and their families who are considering obtaining Russian citizenship or have already obtained it. In Russia, military obligations apply only to Russian citizens; those living as foreigners are exempt from these obligations. Below, we convey the rules under Russian legislation without adding commentary: military registration after citizenship, compulsory military service, summonses and exit from the country, obligations during mobilization, and penalties.

• No. Foreigners cannot be called up for compulsory military service or alternative civilian service. Turkish citizens living with a visa, temporary residence permit (РВП), or residence permit (ВНЖ) are covered by this rule.
• Foreigners may, if they wish, enter military service under a contract or work as civilian personnel in the armed forces. This is entirely voluntary.
• Mobilization also applies to Russian citizens (see below).

• A Turkish citizen who obtains Russian citizenship is regarded in Russia as only a Russian citizen (see R4.5). Turkish citizenship does not exempt them from Russian military obligations.
• Russian military obligations include: military registration (воинский учёт), compulsory military service (призыв), being in the reserve (запас), and reserve military training.
• In the event of mobilization, martial law, or war, mobilization call-up is added to these obligations.

• Who must register? Male Russian citizens and women with a military specialty. Women without a military specialty do not register.
• Who is not required to register? Persons exempt from military service, persons currently serving, and citizens permanently living outside Russia.
• Deadline: Within 2 weeks after obtaining citizenship, you must personally go to the military commissariat (военный комиссариат), or apply through Gosuslugi within 1 week.
• The initial registration of persons who acquire citizenship later is carried out in every month of the year.
• Notifications after registration: You must notify the military commissariat within 2 weeks of changes in marital status, education, employment, or address, as well as leaving the country for more than 6 months or returning to Russia.

• Who is called up? Male citizens aged 18–30 who are or should be registered for military service and are not in the reserve.
• Call-ups are conducted throughout the year (January 1–December 31) pursuant to a presidential decree.
• Persons not called up and exempt persons (examples): those deemed of limited fitness for health reasons, those who have served in the Russian military, and those who have completed alternative civilian service.
• Military service performed in another country is a ground for exemption only if provided for by an international agreement to which Russia is a party.
• Those who have not performed military service by the age of 30 (because of an exemption, deferment, or not being called up) are registered in the reserve (запас).

• A summons is sent in writing and is also duplicated electronically. The document states the legal consequences of failing to comply.
• A summons may be delivered by mail, in person, or at the person’s workplace or educational institution. If it cannot be delivered by these methods, it is deemed delivered 7 days after being entered in the state summons register (Реестр повесток).
• Refusing to accept a summons results in your being deemed to have received it on that day.
• Prohibition on leaving the country: A citizen subject to a military call-up is prohibited from leaving Russia from the day the summons is entered in the register. The prohibition remains in effect until the person reports to the place specified in the summons.

• Who is covered? Mobilization call-up applies to citizens in the reserve who have no right to a deferment.
• Obligations when mobilization is declared:
  • the called-up citizen must report to the assembly point within the period stated in the mobilization document, summons, or military commissariat instructions
  • citizens registered for military service are prohibited from leaving their place of residence without the permission of the military commissariat from the declaration of mobilization
• Persons in the reserve who are not called up may be assigned as civilian personnel in the armed forces.
• Partial mobilization: Partial mobilization was declared by Presidential Decree No. 647 dated September 21, 2022. The decree regulates the call-up of Russian citizens. The text of the decree does not specify an end date.

• Evasion of military service (evading a call-up without a lawful ground for exemption) is a criminal offense under Article 328 of the Russian Criminal Code. Penalties: a fine of up to 200,000 rubles or an amount equal to 18 months of income, up to 2 years of forced labor, detention for up to 6 months, or imprisonment for up to 2 years.
• Failure to complete initial military registration is a ground for terminating citizenship for persons who subsequently acquire citizenship (above).

• Obtaining Russian citizenship does not eliminate your Turkish citizenship or your Turkish military obligations.
• According to Turkish diplomatic missions, multiple citizens are among the groups that may benefit from deferment while abroad. For the conditions for deferment and payment-based military service, see O1.4.
• For the consequences in Turkey of military service performed in Russia, or the consequences in Russia of military service performed in Turkey, contact the relevant authorities (the military office or Turkish diplomatic mission). Under Russian law, military service performed in another country is taken into account only if there is an international agreement.

• In Russia: the military commissariat (военный комиссариат) at your place of residence or the Gosuslugi portal (registration applications and notifications).
• For Turkish military service: the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Moscow and the consulates general in Kazan, Krasnodar, and St. Petersburg; appointments: konsolosluk.gov.tr. For contact details, see R3.5.
• In an emergency: the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular Call Center, 24/7, +90 312 292 29 29; the duty phone of the Embassy in Moscow: +7 906 770 11 90.

• Not knowing the 2-week deadline for military registration after the citizenship decision.
• Thinking that the prohibition on leaving Russia will not apply when using a Turkish passport. Russia regards you only as a Russian citizen, and Russian citizens leave using a Russian document.
• Ignoring an electronic summons. It is deemed delivered 7 days after being entered in the register.
• Failing to notify the military commissariat of leaving the country for more than 6 months.
• Not discussing the military-service consequences with the family before applying for citizenship.

• I live with a ВНЖ. Can I be called up? No. Foreigners cannot be called up for compulsory military service; mobilization also applies to Russian citizens.
• I obtained Russian citizenship but live in Türkiye. Do I need to register for military service? Under the law, citizens permanently living outside Russia are not required to be registered for military service. Your notification obligations begin when you return to Russia.
• I am over 30. Do I still have obligations? You will not be called up for compulsory military service after the age of 30; if you have not served, you will be registered in the reserve. Mobilization covers persons in the reserve.
• My child has dual citizenship. When will they be registered for military service? The initial military registration of male Russian citizens takes place from January 1 to March 31 of the year in which they turn 17. Persons permanently living outside Russia are exempt from the registration obligation.
• Do women register for military service? Only women with a military specialty.
• Can I leave Russia if mobilization is declared? Under the law, citizens registered for military service are prohibited from leaving their place of residence without the permission of the military commissariat from the declaration of mobilization.

• Military Service Law 53-FZ (full text)
• Mobilization Law 31-FZ (full text)
• Presidential Decree No. 647: partial mobilization
• Federal Law 114-FZ, Article 15.1: prohibition on leaving after a summons
• Citizenship Law 138-FZ, Article 22: termination of citizenship
• Gosuslugi – Russian government services portal
• Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Moscow – consular procedures (including military service)