Russia issues both biometric and non-biometric passports. The non-biometric foreign passports issued by Russia are not in line with the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and they entail various security risks. Non-biometric foreign passports do not contain electronic data carriers, which is why it is not possible to compare the personal data of the passport holder with the data on the microchip. Unlike with the biometric passport issued by Russia, the issuing institution of the passport is not that easy to determine, which makes it harder to identify non-recognised documents (i.e., those issued in occupied areas). Russian passports (including biometric) issued in non-recognised regions are not accepted as travel documents by the Schengen countries.
As of 20 March 2025, non-biometric Russian passports are not recognised or recognised conditionally also by Denmark and Czechia.
Additional information
Communication Department
[email protected]
www.vm.ee | @MFAestonia
