From what date does Estonia no longer recognize non-biometric passports of the Russian Federation?
- Estonia ceased recognizing non-biometric foreign passports on 31 March 2025.
What does non-recognition of a non-biometric passport mean?
- Non-recognition of a travel document means that a person holding a non-biometric foreign passport cannot cross Estonia’s land, air, or sea borders and cannot apply for a visa to Estonia.
What happens to persons who hold a residence permit and a non-biometric passport and do not replace it?
- A person holding a Russian non-biometric passport may leave Estonia, but without a biometric passport they cannot return to Estonia.
- If a person has a non-biometric passport and an Estonian residence permit, the document is still accepted within Estonia, but it can no longer be used for travel, as entry into Estonia is not permitted with this passport. If the holder of a non-biometric passport does not intend to travel, replacing the passport is not mandatory.
To whom do the new restrictions related to non-biometric passports apply?
- Non-recognition applies to all holders of Russian non-biometric passports, regardless of age.
- Information on applying for a biometric passport is available on the website of the Embassy of the Russian Federation.
Must a child also apply for a biometric passport?
- Yes. Non-recognition of non-biometric passports applies to all holders of such passports, including children.
- More information about applying for a biometric passport is available on the website of the Embassy of the Russian Federation.
How can one determine whether a passport is non-biometric or biometric?
- A Russian non-biometric foreign passport is valid for five years and does not display the electronic travel document symbol on the cover.
- A Russian biometric foreign passport is issued with a validity of ten years and bears the ICAO electronic travel document symbol on the cover.
What happens if a person does not have a Russian biometric passport?
- A person holding a Russian non-biometric passport who is outside Estonia can no longer enter the Republic of Estonia.
- A person holding a Russian non-biometric passport and a Schengen visa may travel to all Schengen countries except those that do not recognize non-biometric passports. As of 6 February 2026, these countries are Estonia, Iceland, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, France, Romania, Denmark, and the Czech Republic.
Information on travel document recognition is available on the website of the European Commission
Does this decision also affect Russian citizens who hold permanent residence in Estonia? Do these non-biometric passports also lose their validity in the eyes of Estonian authorities?
- Non-recognition of a travel document means that a person holding a non-biometric foreign passport cannot cross Estonia’s land, air, or sea borders and cannot apply for a visa to Estonia.
How can a person holding a Russian non-biometric passport and a residence permit in Estonia or the European Union apply for a biometric passport?
- Information on applying for a biometric passport is available on the website of the Embassy of the Russian Federation.
For inquiries, please contact the Russian Embassy in Tallinn at [email protected] (+372 64 64 166) or the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at [email protected] (+372 6377 440).
