The Russian Foreign Ministry pointed to the non-recognition of non-biometric passports by Latvia and Lithuania.

The authorities of Lithuania and Latvia have decided not to recognize Russian five-year non-biometric passports. On July 2, the consular department of the Russian Foreign Ministry drew attention to this.

"Russian citizens holding short—term Schengen visas issued for five—year passports will not be able to use them to enter Latvia after July 15, 2025, however, Russians who entered this country before the specified date can continue to stay in Latvia and leave it during the validity period of the visa," the Telegram channel says. department.

Starting from June 1 of this year, entry, exit and stay of Russian citizens in Lithuania are also carried out only on the basis of ten-year biometric passports. Such a requirement for Russians does not yet apply to transit trips by rail that travel to the Kaliningrad Region and back through Lithuania.

The ministry warned that Russian citizens who have a temporary and permanent residence permit in Lithuania must issue a ten-year biometric passport by December 1 this year. In addition, Russians who have a residence permit or a long-term visa in Latvia must obtain a ten-year passport within six months, before January 15 next year, to enter, leave and stay in Latvia.

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On June 6, it was reported that the Lithuanian border Guard Service began disembarking passengers traveling to the Kaliningrad region with non-biometric Russian passports. It is noted that in the absence of a simplified travel document (UPD-ZHD), a passenger with a non-biometric passport may be refused to cross the border altogether.