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Canadian farmer Arend Feenstra says he no longer recommends that foreigners move to Russia after learning that permanent residency would require him to sign a contract with the Defense Ministry. Feenstra moved his family to the Nizhny Novgorod region through a program promoting immigration by people who share Russia’s “traditional values”; his current temporary permit lasts three years.
Canadian farmer Arend Feenstra, who moved with his wife and eight children to Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region through a program for foreigners who share “traditional values,” says he no longer recommends that other foreigners make the move. In a YouTube video, Feenstra said he learned that applying for permanent residency would require him to sign a contract with Russia’s Defense Ministry.
Feenstra received a three-year temporary residence permit in early 2025, then brought his family to Russia and began farming, according to Meduza. He said the family has grown attached to the area, but he does not want to sign a Defense Ministry contract while responsible for eight young children and a farm.
Feenstra said that when his current permit expires, he expects to be able to apply for temporary residence again without signing a contract. That would not provide the permanent status he sought. He described the changing requirements as leaving his family with “no way forward” and said they no longer recommend Russia to other foreigners considering relocation.
The report does not say that Feenstra has signed a contract, applied for permanent residency, or decided to leave Russia. He said he would rather take his chances in Canada than sign, while also describing life there as risky. His remarks are a personal account of the requirements he encountered, not a statement that every migrant in Russia faces the same route to residency.
Residency Tied to Military Contracts
The reported requirement puts Feenstra’s stated reasons for moving in tension with the path to a more secure immigration status. He came under a program intended to attract people from countries Russia considers “unfriendly” who share its stated spiritual and moral values, but says permanent residency would require a commitment he is unwilling to make.
His experience also highlights a practical risk for people weighing relocation: a simplified route to temporary residence may not guarantee a straightforward route to permanent status. For families planning work, schooling and a long-term home, a change in eligibility rules can affect whether they remain, seek another permit or consider returning. The report offers no broader figures on how many people are affected, so Feenstra’s case should not be treated as evidence of how often applicants encounter the same choice.
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Russia’s Traditional Values Program
Russia launched the immigration program in August 2024. It offers a simplified temporary-residence application process to citizens of countries designated “unfriendly” who say they share “traditional Russian spiritual and moral values.” Among the reported advantages, applicants do not have to take Russian-language exams.
According to Meduza, a separate requirement took effect in November 2025: foreign men aged 18 to 65 deemed fit for military service must sign a Defense Ministry contract to obtain permanent residence. The report says participants in the traditional-values program are not exempt. Feenstra’s account brings attention to the distinction between entering Russia under a temporary-residence scheme and meeting the later conditions for permanent status.
“I didn’t come here to sign a contract.”
— Arend Feenstra, in a YouTube video
Feenstra’s Longer-Term Plans
It is not clear whether Feenstra will remain in Russia after his current temporary permit expires, apply for another temporary permit, pursue permanent residency, or return to Canada. His statement that he can seek temporary status again without a Defense Ministry contract is his account; the report does not provide an official response from Russian authorities or details of how his future application would be assessed.
The report also does not explain the specific steps Feenstra took before learning of the contract requirement, or whether other exemptions or options could apply to his circumstances. No evidence is provided about how many participants in the program have faced the same issue. The scope and practical effect of the requirement beyond the reported rule remain unclear.
Permit Renewal Will Shape His Options
The immediate milestone is the expiry of Feenstra’s current three-year permit. He says he believes he can apply for temporary residence again without signing a Defense Ministry contract, but he has not described a final decision on renewal or a departure from Russia.
Further reporting or an official clarification could establish how the requirement is applied to program participants and what options are available to applicants who do not sign. Until then, Feenstra’s account leaves his family’s longer-term plans unsettled and gives prospective migrants a personal example of the difference between a simplified temporary permit and permanent residence.
Key Questions
Why did Arend Feenstra move to Russia?
Feenstra moved with his wife and eight children through a program for citizens of countries Russia considers “unfriendly” who share its stated traditional values. He received a temporary residence permit and began farming in the Nizhny Novgorod region.
Why does he say he cannot get permanent residency?
Feenstra said he learned that a foreign man in his circumstances would need to sign a Defense Ministry contract to obtain permanent residence. He says he does not want to sign one.
Can Feenstra stay in Russia without signing a contract?
He said he expects to be able to apply for temporary residence again when his current permit expires without signing a contract. The report does not provide an official confirmation of his individual eligibility or the outcome of a future application.
Has Feenstra decided to leave Russia?
No departure decision is reported. Feenstra said he would rather take his chances in Canada than sign a contract, but he also described Canada as risky. His family’s longer-term plans are not yet clear.
Source: rss
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