The growing popularity of domestic air travel in the Russian Federation leads to many questions related to the set of documents for hassle-free travel. When planning a vacation or business trip, including a subsequent flight abroad, citizens often wonder whether it is possible to fly within Russia using a foreign passport or whether they must take their national passport with them. A similar question arises among foreigners in the Russian Federation.
Legislative framework on the scope of validity of a Russian foreign passport
“Zagran” can be used to a limited extent throughout the state to confirm the identity of the holder. This applies to the following cases:
- carrying out financial transactions in Russian banks (Sberbank, VTB) - if you do not need to open a credit program or make transfers;
- confirmation of Russian citizenship;
- proof of age when purchasing cigarettes and alcoholic beverages;
- purchasing transport tickets that allow travel within the Russian Federation.
It is not allowed to receive letters or parcels by mail, or to visit state or municipal medical institutions. The corresponding actions are possible only with an internal civil passport. The norms are regulated by federal legislation.
A flight within Russia using a foreign passport is carried out only if the interested party specified the official details of the document at the time of purchasing the tickets. In some cases, additional papers may be required to carry out the action. It is recommended to check the list with the operator.
If any problems arise
Since the question of whether it is possible to fly within Russia using a foreign passport does not have a clear answer, you need to be prepared for possible difficulties. Apart from the two reasons mentioned above, you will not be able to board the flight if the information in your passport does not match what is indicated in the travel document.
Ticket re-issuance
It may also happen that you booked a ticket using your general passport, but in the interval between the booking and the day of departure you lost the ability to use it. It is possible to move around Russia using a foreign passport under any circumstances that lead to the absence of an internal document:
- you have lost it;
- spoiled beyond recognition;
- you need to change your personal data.
There is no need to cancel your trip. You just need to contact the airline representative and replace the details of one passport with another. Otherwise, when boarding the flight, it will be discovered that you are not presenting the same ID for which the ticket was issued.
Whether it is possible to fly on domestic flights with an international passport is decided by the airline itself. Therefore, it is best to immediately contact the carrier to make adjustments to your travel ticket. Usually this procedure does not take much time and is carried out over the telephone. The main thing is to have time to do this before checking in for the flight, so that there are no problems when boarding. Typically the service is provided free of charge or for a small fee.
Domestic flight rules
Current flight rules on Russian airlines (Aeroflot, UTair) provide for the purchase of a transport ticket. This can be done on the carrier's official website or at the airport. On the day of departure, you must check in for your flight:
- on a special stand;
- at a self-service terminal;
- in online mode.
You can fly in Russia using a foreign passport if the citizen is going to buy a ticket, taking into account the information from the document. With this method of purchase, the further possibility of electronic registration opens up at least one day before the departure of the plane. At the counter inside the terminal itself, you must present the ID that was used to purchase the ticket. If you purchase it using a different ID, it will be impossible to fly away.
Domestic travel using a foreign passport – what does the law say?
Does not say anything. Domestic legislation does not establish whether it is possible to travel around Russia with a foreign passport. It does not generally provide for all possible situations in which a foreign passport can be used as a replacement for a general civil passport.
Only a few cases are mentioned when this is permissible: a foreign passport can confirm your age and your citizenship (Russian, of course). To confirm your identity, you can also present it at a currency exchange office and, oddly enough, at the library. If you permanently reside in another state, having a Russian passport allows you to participate in Russian elections. That’s it, there is not a single word in the law about this document.
One thing is certain: those citizens who have the status of foreign residents, that is, do not have a general passport at all, but have a foreign one, are absolutely entitled to move around Russia using a foreign passport.
If we proceed from the fact that what is not prohibited by law is permitted by default, traveling around Russia with a foreign passport is quite acceptable. Sometimes (although not often, but still) a vital need arises to go to another city, and your passport, as luck would have it, is lost or reissued. Will they sell you a ticket using your international passport, if at the moment it is the only identification document without which we cannot travel outside the city where you are registered?
Purchasing tickets for domestic flights using a foreign passport
Most airline operators indicate whether you can fly within Russia with a foreign passport on their website. During the process of booking and selling a ticket, the operator just needs to indicate the details of the foreign passport located in the upper right corner of the ID.
If the carrier’s policy is quite conservative, then tourists are advised to play it safe and first familiarize themselves with the company’s regulations. To reduce risks, you must contact the operator's representatives by calling the service center before flying. In some cases, the call is charged.
How to fly with an international passport in Russia instead of a regular passport
Situations in which federal law allows the use of a foreign passport as an identity document:
- the general passport is lost;
- the general passport is damaged and cannot be used to confirm identity;
- the general passport is invalid (expired, the photo has not been replaced).
However, we should not forget that a foreign passport officially serves as proof of your identity only outside the country and it is better to re-issue a ticket in advance. By entering the correct ID details when purchasing it, you can safely travel around Russia with a foreign passport.
Pobeda plane ticket using a foreign passport
is the only low-cost carrier in Russia. With a foreign passport you can legally fly around Russia on Pobeda aircraft. To buy a ticket you just need to follow the following procedure:
- Registration in your personal account on the website.
- Selecting the required type of document at the moment when you need to book a trip.
- Entering the last name and first name in Latin letters (the patronymic is entered in Russian).
The choice of a specific ID directly depends on the preferences of the buyer. If the route includes crossing the border and transferring on the territory of a foreign state, then it is advisable to use only a foreign passport. It is recommended to have both documents with you. When verifying your identity, attention may be paid to the quality of the photo.
Is it possible to use a foreign passport to travel by train in the Russian Federation?
For domestic trips around your homeland on a long-distance train or electric train from the Russian Railways company, you can use several documents at once. The current list includes the following certificates:
- a civil passport or a temporary equivalent, which is issued by the migration authorities at the time of document replacement;
- birth certificate - if a minor child under 14 years of age will be moving around the country (he can travel or fly with an adult guardian or parent);
- military ID;
- Navy Service Passport;
- international passport.
Thus, you can travel by train across Russia using a foreign passport. The law does not establish specific restrictions regarding this issue. At the same time, a driver’s license is not included in the list of official documents for traveling to another city, contrary to popular belief (it cannot even be used to issue a ticket for a bus).
Ticket without passport details: where and how to purchase
You cannot buy an air ticket without a passport. Domestic airlines are required to request data from the document in each case. These do not have to be entered during the booking process, but must always be specified before purchasing tickets.
If the main ID is on exchange, then it is allowed to order tickets if you enter the details that were included in the old copy or foreign passport. In any case, boarding the plane will be carried out only with a new document. Thus, it will not be possible to buy a plane ticket without a passport in any case.
Refusal to issue, possible problems
Airlines cannot refuse to issue a ticket if it was issued on the basis of data from a foreign passport. You can fly and travel using the document that was included in the reservation. If company employees are preventing the flight from taking off, you must urgently call the hotline operator and clarify the information. They can refuse departure only if they do not have a certificate.
What to do if you lose your passport before traveling
Citizens can fly within Russia using a foreign passport. If a document is suddenly lost, experts advise immediately sending a request to the company’s management. A number of organizations immediately solve the client’s problem and allow them to repurchase tickets using a different document. This is especially true if the flight was originally booked in business class.
It is possible to submit a request to change the buyer's data. Most companies provide the service free of charge. It is important to make changes at least 24 hours before check-in for your flight. If the data is not current at the time of registration, boarding will be prohibited.
Legislative framework regarding foreign identity cards for citizens of the Russian Federation
The rules for using a foreign passport by citizens of the Russian Federation are enshrined in two legislative acts:
- Federal Law No. 114 dated August 15, 1996, regulating the procedure for exit and entry into the Russian Federation;
- Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of December 21, 1996, concerning the main documents that establish the identity of Russian citizens outside the Russian Federation.
According to them, a foreign passport can be used to confirm age, exchange currencies and confirm citizenship. It can also serve as identification in case of loss or replacement of the national passport.
Nowhere is it directly stated that Russians can travel with a foreign passport or purchase tickets using it, but there is no prohibition. And this gives you the full right to fly within Russia using a foreign passport, if there are no other identification documents and there are no obstacles from the carrier company.
Required documents
To fly on domestic flights, it is enough to have a general civil or foreign passport. If a passenger takes with him luggage that requires special conditions of transportation, he must additionally show the relevant necessary certificates at the check-in counter. Additional documents are not required for air travel within Russia.
Features of domestic flights: what the law says
The legislation of the Russian Federation states that a citizen of Russia, if he has documents confirming his identity, has the right to freely move around the country and abroad, except in cases where travel is prohibited by authorities for one reason or another.
According to Federal Law No. 114 (08/15/96) and the Presidential Decree of 12/21/96, a foreign passport can be used as a document that identifies a citizen for entry and exit from the Russian Federation. Transit travel within Russia is also permitted.
Accordingly, domestic flights can be carried out using a foreign passport.
In addition, a foreign passport can be used:
- to establish a person's citizenship;
- if you need information about the age of a citizen;
- if you need to exchange currency;
- in other situations.
There is no article in the legislation of the Russian Federation prohibiting travel within the country only with a foreign passport. sample, and if you were wondering: “Will it be possible to buy an air ticket with an international passport for a domestic flight?” - then it is feasible.
A foreign passport will become the only document that can confirm the identity of a citizen in the event that a Russian passport is lost or not reissued.
How to reissue a paid air ticket
Ticket re-issuance is possible in your personal account on the carrier’s website. In the fields provided, you must enter the required data and click on the confirm button. In most cases, the service is paid. You can contact the company’s contact center and request changes.
It is possible to fly within Russia using a foreign passport if you managed to book a ticket using the appropriate details. Travelers should not worry about the reaction of airline staff. Reviews say that in most cases they are loyal to their customers and provide various options for purchasing tickets. At the front desk, it is important to hand over exactly the document that was specified when making the reservation.
Air ticket re-issuance process
If problematic situations arise with documents in the period between booking and departure, the best solution would be to notify the carrier company. If necessary, you will be offered to reissue your ticket for another document. This service may be paid; the tariff is usually indicated on the airline’s website.
Changes can be made with the help of a call center operator by phone, through the airport ticket office or in the client’s personal account on the company’s website. Any changes must be made no later than 40 minutes before departure and the end of the passenger check-in procedure.
