Russia External Passport

Russian External Passport – International Travel & ID Verification Guide (2025)

The Russian External Passport (Заграничный паспорт) is the official international travel document issued to Russian citizens for trips abroad. It is distinct from the internal domestic passport and serves as the primary form of ID for Russian nationals outside the Russian Federation.

This guide outlines its features, validity, and use for KYC and global digital identity verification.

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What Is the Russian External Passport?

The External Passport of the Russian Federation is:

• Issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD)
• Used for international travel and foreign visa applications
• Also accepted for identity verification on global platforms (banking, fintech, crypto, government, etc.)

There are two main types:

1. Biometric (new-style) – valid for 10 years
2. Non-biometric (old-style) – valid for 5 years (being phased out)

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Key Features of the Biometric Russian Passport

• Burgundy cover with “Российская Федерация / Russian Federation”
• ICAO-compliant biometric chip symbol on the cover
• Photo page with:
  • Full name in Cyrillic and Latin script
  • Date of birth
  • Gender
  • Passport number
  • Nationality: Russian Federation
  • Place of birth
  • Date of issue and expiration
  • Issuing authority code
• Machine-readable zone (MRZ) at the bottom
• Embedded biometric chip for facial data (and sometimes fingerprints)
• 36 pages (biometric) or 18 pages (non-biometric)

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Validity

• Biometric passport: Valid for 10 years
• Non-biometric (legacy): Valid for 5 years
• Valid for travel to 100+ countries with or without a visa, depending on bilateral agreements
• Must be renewed prior to expiry—most countries require 6 months of remaining validity

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Using the Russian Passport for Digital Verification

The Russian external passport is accepted for:

• KYC (Know Your Customer) on platforms like:
  • Wise, AliPay, Binance, PayPal, Revolut, etc.
• Visa applications (e.g., Schengen, US, UK)
• Government ID verification
• International banking and digital onboarding

To use it:

• Upload a full-color scan or photo of the photo page
• Ensure MRZ, photo, and data are clearly visible
• Avoid using low-resolution images, cropped scans, or edited copies
• Some platforms may request a selfie with the passport or a live video check

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Renewal or Replacement

To renew or replace your Russian external passport:

• Apply through your local MVD office or Russian consulate abroad
• Bring your internal passport, previous external passport (if available), and biometric data
• Processing time: 1–4 weeks domestically, 1–3 months abroad
• Fee: ~5,000 RUB for biometric passport (domestic adult)

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