Dreamed of living in Russia - Canadian farmer faced an unexpected turn

Canadian farmer Arend Feenstra, who moved to Russia with his wife and eight children in search of traditional values, encountered an unexpected obstacle when trying to obtain permanent residency: it requires signing a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense. The farmer plans to seek clarification but does not intend to leave the country for now.

Canadian farmer Arend Feenstra, who moved to Russia in 2024 with his wife Annisa and eight children, faced an unexpected obstacle on the path to permanent residency. Feenstra, who spent about 15 years farming in Canada (raising cattle, goats, and bees, producing meat, dairy, and honey), relocated to the Nizhny Novgorod region due to dissatisfaction with liberal views in Canada and a desire to raise his children in a more conservative environment. In early 2025, he received a three-year temporary residence permit under a simplified program for foreigners from unfriendly countries who share traditional values. However, when applying for permanent residency, it turned out that the available path requires signing a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense. The farmer stated that he cannot leave his family and farm for an extended period for service and intends to seek official clarification. Previously, the family had faced issues: blocked bank accounts after transferring funds from the sale of property in Canada, as well as difficulties learning Russian and processing documents. Despite the challenges, Feenstra has not yet declared an intention to leave Russia, but now advises potential migrants to carefully assess the consequences of such a decision.