How to get a foreign passport in 2021: new rules for issuing passports

A Russian citizen needs a foreign passport to travel outside Russia. The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has adopted new regulations on the issuance of passports on the territory of the country. We tell you what has changed and how a Russian can obtain a foreign passport abroad and in Russia.

Author • Vladlena Baranova

Head of Legal & AML Compliance Department, CAMS, IMCM

A foreign passport is an official document that certifies the identity of a citizen outside of Russia. In 2021 a Russian citizen can get one of two types of foreign passports:

An old-style passport without an electronic carrier of information. It is issued for a period of 5 years.
The new generation passport with an electronic medium, or biometric passport. It is issued for 10 years. A digital photo of a citizen and his personal data are imprinted into the chip of the passport.

Without a passport it is impossible to cross the border of a foreign country: the passport is checked at the border, when boarding an airplane or checking into a hotel.

A passport is issued for a limited period and cannot be extended. If the passport expires, it is necessary to obtain a new one. Since 2015, Russians have the right to have two valid passports. The second passport can only be a new passport. For example, the second passport is necessary to travel abroad, if the first is in the Consulate or Embassy.

How to get a foreign passport in 2021

Registration of foreign passports abroad is regulated by Federal Law dated 15.08.1996 No. 114-FZ "On the procedure for exit from the Russian Federation and entry into the Russian Federation". A Russian can get a passport in diplomatic representations or consular offices.

You can make an appointment online or by phone. The application form can also be downloaded from the websites of missions or the portal of the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and filled out in advance.

A Russian may need to obtain a passport abroad if he or she temporarily resides in another country. A residence permit or second citizenship is needed to legally stay in another country for more than six months.

The fastest way to become a citizen or resident is to participate in a government program. Investment programs differ in the amount of investment and conditions of participation.

How to get a foreign passport in Russia in 2021

Passports are issued by the territorial bodies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. On May 31, 2021 the administrative regulations On rendering of the state service on registration and issue of passports of the citizen of the Russian Federation certifying the identity of the citizen of the Russian Federation outside the territory of the Russian Federation came into force.

A Russian can apply for a passport in three ways:

personally to the territorial migration body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia at the place of residence;
personally at the MFC;
online on the Unified portal of public services.

Basic documents for obtaining a foreign passport:

Application for passport issuance. The application form can be downloaded in advance from the website or can be picked up at the migration department or MFC.

How to get a passport in 2021: Application form — The application for a passport is to be filled out manually or on a computer

The application must be filled out without errors or corrections. If you make a mistake or provide incomplete data, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will refuse to issue a passport. The website of the Consular Department provides detailed information on how to complete the application.

The number of application copies depends on the type of passport, for example, for a passport with an electronic medium one copy of the application is enough, and for an old-style passport two copies are needed.

A foreign passport or other document certifying the identity of a Russian citizen. If the passport is issued for the first time, the Russian citizen can provide the Russian passport to the department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.

Birth certificate if the applicant is under 14 years old. Parents or legal representatives of a minor applicant submit the Russian passport or Russian passport and documents that confirm their authority as a guardian.

A receipt for the payment of the consular fee. Also, the applicant fills out an application to declare the lost passport invalid and, if desired, an application to change the spelling of his name and surname in the passport in the Latin alphabet. A list of all documents is on the website of the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.

According to the new regulations, the passport processing time should not exceed one month if a Russian applied for a residence permit, and three months if he/she applied at the place of stay. And the waiting time in a queue should not exceed 15 minutes. In the premises where passports are issued, there will be stands with samples of applications and list of documents.

It is quicker to get a new passport if you need urgent treatment abroad, or to visit your nearest relative diagnosed with a serious illness, or to go to a funeral abroad. In the above cases the processing time takes not more than 3 working days.

The cost of the passport is 2000 roubles for an old-style passport and 5000 roubles for a biometric passport for adults. It costs 1400 and 2500 rubles for children under 14 years old respectively.

You can check the status of readiness of the passport on the website of the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia: the applicant must select the country, city and enter the number of his application.

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