Crossing the border with children

Starting January 20, 2026, young Russian citizens traveling to Abkhazia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, or South Ossetia will no longer be able to cross the border with a birth certificate.

What parents and passengers need to know:
If you are planning a trip for your child to one of the listed countries after January 20, 2026, please obtain a passport in advance.
The change only applies to travel outside of Russia; within the country, the birth certificate remains valid.
We ask passengers to take these changes into account when planning their trips and to complete the necessary documents in a timely manner.  
More detailed information can be obtained from migration services or on the official websites of government agencies.

Federal Law of July 23, 2025 No. 257-FZ "On Amendments to Articles 9 and 30 of the Law of the Russian Federation "On the State Border of the Russian Federation" and the Federal Law "On the Procedure for Leaving the Russian Federation and Entering the Russian Federation"