The term "individual" is widely used by civil law and designates a person as a subject of law. That is, this is a specific person with a number of features by which he can be identified, and consisting in certain legal relations with the state.
Obviously, only the so-called Homo sapiens is the only living creature possessing material culture (including the ability to make and use tools), abstract thinking, and articulate speech.
In addition, a person is a social being, the relationships of people are governed by the rules established by society. The main of these rules are regulated by the state. Therefore, civil relations are relations between the individual and the state.
A natural person arises with the birth of a person. For its definition (identification), in addition to external data, the following characteristics are used: first name (with patronymic), last name, place of residence.
There are other characteristics that appeared later - taxpayer TIN, various numbers of its documents. All of them are required at the conclusion of various transactions. Place of residence determines the jurisdiction of a person in the Civil Code and Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
The legal personality of individuals is a necessary condition for entering into legal relations. This term combines two concepts - legal capacity and legal capacity of a person. Legal capacity is understood as the ability to have civil rights and obligations, this category is inherent in any person regardless of age, i.e., arises with his birth and ends with death.
Legal capacity of individuals - the ability to independently acquire and exercise these rights, create (and fulfill) civil duties. That is, a competent person is responsible for their own actions, can conclude transactions, sign contracts, etc.
Some events in the life of a person (individual) relate to acts of civil status and requires mandatory registration. This is the birth, conclusion (dissolution) of marriage, in addition, adoption, and death.
Unlike legal capacity, an individual can have legal capacity only from a certain age. Up to 6 years, a person is completely incapacitated. From 6 to 14 years old is considered to be of limited legal capacity. From 14 to 18 years of age, he is partially competent, and only from 18 years of age is fully capable (excluding cases of a minor entering into a marriage or entering into an employment relationship).
The notion of an individual is often replaced by the notion of a citizen. But this is not exactly the same thing. From the point of view of the state, all individuals are divided into categories - a citizen (having citizenship of a given country), a foreign citizen (having citizenship (citizenship) of another state) and a stateless person. Thus, the concept of an individual is broader.
From the point of view of the legal registration of activities, the status of an individual has an entrepreneur acting individually, in contrast to a legal entity. Both of these terms refer to subjects of law, have their own property, participate in circulation and enter into civil relations on their own behalf and bear full responsibility for them. But, unlike a physical person, a legal entity is a collective subject of law and, by definition, cannot consist of one person.
An individual, or an individual entrepreneur, carries out its activities completely independently, at your own peril and risk. At the same time, he can attract employees, but does not have the status of a legal entity.
According to the legislation of the Russian Federation, Russian individuals are considered to have permanent residence in the Russian Federation and Russian citizenship or registered as individual entrepreneurs in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation. Thus, this category may include a foreign citizen permanently living in our country.