Starting from January 1, 2026, foreign citizens wishing to assess their knowledge of the Russian language, as well as the history and legislation of Russia, will be required to take exams only in digital format. This change will affect everyone planning to obtain a patent or residence permit.
The Ministry of Education and Science of Russia has confirmed the transition to computer-based testing. The main goal of this reform is to increase the transparency of the examination process and reduce the risks of corruption associated with the human factor in knowledge assessment.
All exams will be conducted in electronic format using remote technologies. Regulatory bodies will have the ability to monitor the exam-taking process in real-time across all 203 testing locations. The use of paper forms and interviews without video recording will be abolished.
Additionally, the ministry has decided not to publish examination tasks and answers in the public domain. Question databases will be updated every month.
Exams can only be conducted by state institutions, and oversight of their activities will be carried out by Rosobrnadzor.
