TL;DR
Get movie-night favorites delivered free — and shop member deals
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Access to Prime Big Deal Days deals on October 6–7
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
Canadian farmer Arend Feenstra says he no longer recommends that foreigners move to Russia after learning he would need to sign a Defense Ministry contract to obtain permanent residency. He moved to the Nizhny Novgorod region with his wife and eight children under a program promoting immigration by people who share Russia’s “traditional values.”
Canadian farmer Arend Feenstra, who moved with his wife and eight children to Russia under a program for foreigners who share “traditional values,” says he no longer recommends moving there after learning that permanent residency would require him to sign a contract with Russia’s Defense Ministry. Feenstra said he did not move to Russia to enter a military contract and is weighing what to do when his temporary residence permit expires.
Feenstra received a three-year temporary residence permit in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region in early 2025. He subsequently brought his wife and eight children to the country and began farming. The local outlet Nizhny Novgorod Onlain drew attention to his comments in a YouTube video, according to Meduza’s October 2 report.
In the video, Feenstra said he had learned that replacing his temporary permit with a permanent residence permit would require him to sign a contract with the Defense Ministry. He said he has become attached to the area, but has a farm and eight young children to support. Feenstra said he would rather take his chances in Canada than sign a contract, while adding that he also considers life in Canada risky.
Feenstra said his current understanding is that when his temporary permit expires, he can apply for another temporary permit without signing a contract. He also said his family no longer recommends that other foreigners move to Russia, citing changing rules and what he described as “no way forward.” These are Feenstra’s account of his options and his assessment of the rules; the report does not cite an official decision on his individual case.
A Residency Choice With Military Stakes
The account highlights a practical consequence of Russia’s immigration rules for some foreign men: a route from temporary to permanent residence can carry a military-contract condition. For families who moved under a program presented as a simplified immigration pathway, the reported requirement may alter the choices they expected to face after arrival.
Feenstra’s experience also underscores the difference between temporary permission to live in Russia and eligibility for permanent residency. His family may be able to seek another temporary permit, he said, but that does not resolve whether they can secure permanent status without the contract. The report describes one family’s situation, not the experiences of all participants in the program.
Russian temporary residence permit application guide
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Russia’s Traditional Values Program
Russia launched the immigration program in August 2024. It encourages citizens of countries Russia designates as “unfriendly” to move to Russia if they share what the government calls “traditional Russian spiritual and moral values.” Participants can apply for temporary residence through a simplified process that, among other provisions, does not require a Russian-language exam.
That simplified entry route does not exempt participants from every later residency rule. According to Meduza, since November 2025, foreign men aged 18 to 65 who are considered fit for military service have had to sign a Defense Ministry contract to obtain permanent residency. The requirement applies to men who came through the “traditional values” program as well, the report said.
“I didn’t come here to sign a contract.”
— Arend Feenstra, speaking in a YouTube video, as quoted by Meduza
best travel backpacks for international travel
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Feenstra’s Longer-Term Options
It is not clear from the report whether Feenstra has formally applied for permanent residency, received a written determination from Russian authorities, or sought legal advice about the contract requirement. His account does not establish what decision officials would make in his particular case.
Feenstra said he believes he can apply for another temporary residence permit after the current one expires without signing a contract. The report does not specify when that permit expires, whether he has started a renewal application, or whether his family plans to remain in Russia, return to Canada, or pursue another option. It also does not report an official explanation from Russian authorities about the rule’s application to his family.
family travel accessories for long trips
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Permit Renewal Will Shape Their Plans
The immediate issue for the family is what happens when Feenstra’s current temporary permit expires. He said he expects to be able to apply for a new temporary permit without agreeing to a Defense Ministry contract, but that expectation has not been independently confirmed in the report.
Any further update would need to establish whether he applies for renewal, whether authorities approve it, and whether he or his family make a decision about staying in Russia. Until then, Feenstra’s comments describe a reported obstacle to permanent residency rather than a confirmed departure from the country.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
Why does Arend Feenstra say he no longer recommends moving to Russia?
He said the rules keep changing and that obtaining permanent residency would require him to sign a contract with the Defense Ministry. He said he did not move to Russia for that purpose and cited his eight children and farm.
When did Feenstra move to Russia?
He received a three-year temporary residence permit in the Nizhny Novgorod region in early 2025, then brought his wife and eight children to Russia and started farming.
Does the contract requirement apply to people in the traditional values program?
According to Meduza, foreign men aged 18 to 65 who are considered fit for military service have had to sign a Defense Ministry contract to obtain permanent residency since November 2025. The report says participants in the traditional values program are not exempt.
Will Feenstra’s family leave Russia?
The report does not say. Feenstra said he believes he can apply for another temporary residence permit without signing a contract, but it is unclear whether the family will stay, leave, or pursue permanent residency.
Source: rss
Halloween Picks
halloween
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
