How to Get a New-Style International Passport via Gosuslugi
Niche: Travel & Tourism Content Type: Step-by-Step Guide Why It Matters: A high-volume practical query with a clear action plan that saves hours of trips to the MFC.
How to Get a New-Style International Passport via Gosuslugi in 2026: Complete Step-by-Step Guide
The Gist: What You Need to Know First
A new-style (biometric) international passport is a document with an embedded electronic chip containing your digital photo and fingerprints. Its main advantage is a 10-year validity period versus 5 years for the old-style passport.
Key change in 2026: As of January 20, 2026, children of any age can cross the border only with their own international passport. Crossing the border with a birth certificate is no longer possible. If you plan a trip with a child, getting the document is mandatory.
State duty fees for 2026:
- Adults and children aged 14+ — 6,000 RUB (approx. 65 USD / 60 EUR at current exchange rate)
- Children under 14 — 3,000 RUB (approx. 32 USD / 30 EUR)
For comparison, an old-style international passport costs 2,000 RUB for adults and 1,000 RUB for children.
The main catch: You cannot get an international passport fully remotely. Gosuslugi lets you fill out the application and pay the fee online, but you must appear in person at an MVD office for biometrics (photo and fingerprints) and to collect the finished document.
Step-by-Step Solution: How to Get an International Passport via Gosuslugi
Step 1. Prepare a Verified Gosuslugi Account
Only users with a verified account can submit applications through the portal. If you don't have one, you'll need to verify your identity at any service center (MFC, Russian Post, or via a bank with biometrics). This takes 1–2 days.
Step 2. Fill Out the Online Application on the Portal
- Log into your personal account on Gosuslugi.
- In the search bar, type "International passport."
- Select the service "Apply for an international passport."
- Choose the document type — "New-style (biometric)."
- Select who you are applying for: yourself, a child, or an incapacitated adult.
- Choose the place of receipt: at your place of registration (processing time 1 month) or at your actual residence (processing time up to 3 months).
When filling out the application, your full name, date of birth, passport details, and registration will be pulled automatically — you only need to verify them. The most time-consuming part is entering your employment and education history for the last 10 years. If you studied somewhere, list the institution and address, and write "student" in the position field. The application must have no gaps: if you were unemployed and not studying for more than a month, indicate that period with your registration address.
Additional information required:
- Details of your current international passport (if you have one)
- Information about any name changes (if applicable)
- Purpose of application: first-time, replacement of used/damaged, replacement of lost, or in addition to an existing one (you can hold two valid international passports simultaneously).
Step 3. Upload a Photo
The system will ask you to attach a digital photo on a white background with no shadows. This is mandatory even for a biometric passport — you will be photographed again at the MVD office, but a photo is needed for the application. If you don't have a good camera or are unsure about meeting the requirements, it's easier to just book an appointment at the MVD or MFC and skip the photo upload hassle.
Step 4. Submit the Application and Wait for Verification
After filling in all fields, click "Submit." The application undergoes automatic and manual checks — this usually takes 2 to 12 business days. If an error is found, you'll receive an email notification explaining what needs to be corrected.
Step 5. Pay the State Duty
After successful verification, you'll receive an email with a link to pay the state duty and a receipt. You can pay directly on the portal — by bank card, via mobile banking, or by receipt at a bank branch.
Important: The fee for a biometric passport is 6,000 RUB for adults and 3,000 RUB for children under 14.
Step 6. Receive an Invitation to the MVD and Visit the Office
After payment, you'll receive an invitation with the date and time to visit a specific MVD migration office. Sometimes the system lets you choose the date, sometimes it assigns it automatically — but you can reschedule the appointment via Gosuslugi.
What to bring to the appointment:
- Your Russian passport (original)
- Birth certificate (for children under 14)
- Current international passport (if any)
- Receipt of state duty payment (can show on your phone)
At the MVD office:
- An officer verifies the original documents against the application data.
- You are photographed with special equipment (this photo goes on the chip and in the passport).
- Your fingerprints are taken from both hands (for applicants aged 12+).
Step 7. Wait for Processing and Collect Your Passport
Processing time:
- When applying at your place of registration — up to 1 month
- When applying at your actual residence — up to 3 months
You'll receive a notification in your personal account and by email when the document is ready. You must collect the passport at the same MVD office where you had your appointment. Personal presence is required.
Practical Tips and Important Nuances
Tip 1. Start the process 2–3 months before your planned trip. Even under ideal conditions, it takes at least 1 month, and with any delays, up to 3 months.
Tip 2. If you're in a hurry, choose to apply at your place of registration rather than your place of residence. The difference in processing time is significant: 1 month versus 3 months.
Tip 3. For children, carefully check the rules regarding their presence. Depending on age and passport type, you may or may not need to bring the child to the appointment:
- Child under 12, new-style passport — you must bring the child for the application (photo will be taken); you can collect the passport without them.
- Child aged 12–14, new-style passport — the child must be present both when applying and when collecting.
- Child aged 14–18 — presence is required for both application and collection for both passport types.
Tip 4. For trips to EAEU countries (Abkhazia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, South Ossetia), children also need an international passport as of January 20, 2026. Previously, a birth certificate sufficed — not anymore.
Tip 5. Check that there is no travel ban on the child. If one parent objects to the child traveling, this can be grounds for refusal to issue an international passport.
Tip 6. If you don't have a good photo for the application, don't bother. Just book an appointment at the MVD via Gosuslugi (method #1) and fill out the application on-site. This saves time spent trying to take a photo yourself.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Mistake 1. Gaps in employment history over the last 10 years. The application requires a continuous record. If you were unemployed and not studying for a month, just write it: indicate the period and your registration address at that time. Otherwise, the application will be returned for revision.
Mistake 2. Choosing the wrong passport type. When applying for a biometric passport, be prepared that a child aged 12 or older must have their fingerprints taken. If the child is afraid or unwilling, consider an old-style passport (no fingerprints required).
Mistake 3. Missing your appointment at the MVD. If you do not bring the original documents within 6 months of receiving the invitation, the application is canceled and you'll have to start over.
Mistake 4. Submitting an application without a verified account. The application simply won't be accepted. Verify your account in advance; it's free and takes 1 day.
Mistake 5. Confusion about the state duty. The fee for a biometric passport is higher than for an old-style one. Make sure you pay the correct amount: 6,000 RUB for adults, 3,000 RUB for children under 14. The receipt will be emailed after the application is checked — pay only that receipt.
Summary: Key Takeaways and Next Step
Applying for a new-style international passport via Gosuslugi is the optimal method: you avoid queues at the MFC, the application is partially auto-filled, and you can track the status online. Just remember:
- Start 2–3 months before your trip
- You will still need to visit the MVD for biometrics
- The state duty is 6,000/3,000 RUB depending on age
- As of January 20, 2026, children need their own international passport even for neighboring countries
Your next step right now: Log into Gosuslugi, type "International passport" in the search, and click "Get service." Filling out the application takes 20–30 minutes — do it today so you don't put it off.
— Editorial Team
