Bank of Russia updates criteria for obtaining qualified investor status
The regulator has specified the size of income as an independent criterion for obtaining the status of a qualified investor. It should be at least ₽12 million per year over the past two years. If combined with other criteria, such as passing an advanced test, having the required educational qualifications or an academic degree, the above criterion is reduced to ₽6 million. Income from the sale of real estate will not be taken into account. These parameters are set out in the Bank of Russia ordinance registered with the Russian Ministry of Justice.
As for the educational criterion, the regulator establishes a list of eligible specialisations instead of the current requirement to have a higher degree in economics, including in combination with the income or property criterion. Thus, a person may become a qualified investor if he/she has a degree in accounting, analysis and audit or in taxes and taxation and his/her average annual income is ₽6 million. The list of certificates taken into consideration when recognising an investor as qualified is supplemented with international certificates that are already used as requirements for investment advisers.
The property criterion parameters remain unchanged. Currently, the minimum amount of assets that a person should own is ₽12 million. From 1 January 2026, this amount will be increased to ₽24 million. However, when combined with other criteria, the required amount will be halved to ₽6 million and ₽12 million, respectively.
The ordinance will become effective on 28 July 2025.