Russian international passports will no longer record information about children starting from January 2027, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation has announced.
The ministry told the RIA Novosti state news agency that the change stems from a federal law adopted in April 2026. That measure officially abolished the state duty that parents previously paid to enter details of their children into their own foreign travel documents.
Officials from the ministry emphasized that the new policy aims to protect the freedom of movement of Russian citizens. They noted that European nations designated as unfriendly have increasingly refused entry to Russian children who lack their own international passports and rely solely on records in a parent's passport.
Passports issued before the reform that already list children will retain their full legal force until their expiration date, the ministry clarified. Families who already hold these documents will not need to replace them early or remove the entries before their stated validity ends.
European Border Restrictions
The upcoming shift builds on another border law that took effect on January 20, 2026. Under that earlier legislation, all Russian children and teenagers under the age of 14 must carry their own individual international passport to enter or leave the country.
In Russia, citizens use two separate identity documents: an internal passport, which serves as the primary national identity card from age 14, and an international passport required for crossing borders. Russian travelers can choose between a standard passport valid for five years and a biometric document valid for ten years with an electronic chip. Historically, parents could list their children in their standard passports to travel together without buying separate booklets.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs oversees migration management, border administration, and the issuance of all official identity documents across the country. Citizens apply for foreign travel papers through regional migration offices or government service centers, where staff members verify civil records and legal eligibility before processing each application.
Passport Application Rules
The update follows earlier announcements outlining strict requirements for citizens seeking a foreign travel passport. Authorities previously confirmed that applicants can face outright rejection if they fail to present a military service card.
Russian authorities also turn down foreign passport applications if an applicant presents an expired domestic passport, submits documents containing errors, or fails to provide suitable photographs. Travelers planning trips abroad must ensure that all family members hold separate, compliant passports before the full ban on parental entries arrives in January 2027.
