Effective January 1, 2026, the Government of the Russian Federation has implemented significant modifications to the technical specifications and issuance procedures for international passports. The most notable change involves the discontinuation of child entries in parental travel documents, a move aimed at aligning national documentation with evolving international security standards. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, these updates are part of a broader administrative overhaul of the forms used for citizen, diplomatic, and official passports.
Mandatory Individual Passports for Minors
Under the new regulations, parents can no longer add information about their children to their own international travel documents. While existing passports containing such entries will remain valid until their specified expiration dates, all new applicants must secure individual passports for their children regardless of age. This shift is particularly relevant for travelers visiting popular tourist destinations that have already moved toward strict individual document requirements.
- Turkey and Thailand: Frequently require minors to possess independent documentation for entry.
- The Maldives: Maintains rigorous checks on individual travel permits for all family members.
- European Union: Generally requires separate passports for visa processing and border crossing.
Technical Updates to Document Security
The Government Decree also streamlines the passport form by removing the "Personal Code" and "Account" fields, which were deemed redundant due to infrequent use. Furthermore, the format of the machine-readable zone (MRZ) has been updated to include a two-letter designation for document types. This change is intended to improve the speed and accuracy of automated border control systems globally.
- PP (formerly P): Standard international passport for citizens.
- PD (formerly D): Diplomatic international passport.
- PO (formerly S): Official international passport for government service.
These technical adjustments ensure that Russian travel documents meet the latest ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) recommendations for machine-readable travel documents.
Travelers planning upcoming foreign trips are advised to verify the expiration dates of their current documents and apply for individual passports for minors well in advance of their departure. This transition period ensures that while old-style documents remain functional for a time, the shift toward a "one person, one passport" policy is now the standard for all new issuances in the Russian Federation.