Residents of Moscow and other major Russian cities are reporting difficulties in booking appointments to apply for foreign passports. The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has acknowledged the queues and attributed them to technical problems at the Multifunctional Centres (MFCs) and an increase in the number of applications. There is no reliable evidence to suggest that these difficulties are due to a centralised restriction on travel or are linked to preparations for a new mobilisation.<\/p>\n
Briefly about the main points<\/strong><\/p>\n At the end of June, Moscow residents reported that they were unable to apply for a foreign passport via the city\u2019s mos.ru portal without the state-run messaging app MAX. According to applicants, it was possible to submit the application via \u00abGosuslugi\u00bb, but there were no available slots for appointments at the Multifunctional Service Centres (MFCs) or the police\u2019s migration departments.<\/p>\n The problem arose earlier. On 26 March, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs officially reported queues and difficulties with passport applications, particularly in major cities. The ministry attributed this to technical problems at the Multifunctional Centres (MFCs), as a result of which some applicants were redirected to the Ministry of Internal Affairs\u00ab migration departments and to the \u00bbGosuslugi\u2019 platform.<\/p>\n The \u00abMy Documents\u00bb centres in Moscow have denied that MAX is a mandatory requirement for obtaining a foreign passport. According to them, booking via the messaging app is required for one of the ways of using the crypto-biometric kiosk at the Multifunctional Centre.<\/p>\n A 10-year biometric passport, as stated by the centres, can be applied for via \u00abGosuslugi\u00bb, followed by a visit to the Ministry of Internal Affairs\u2019 migration department. In Moscow, a five-year non-biometric passport can be applied for at a Multifunctional Centre (MFC) office without a prior appointment.<\/p>\n The Ministry of Internal Affairs attributes the additional workload to changes in the rules governing travel by children under the age of 14. From 20 January, for trips to Abkhazia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and South Ossetia, they will need a separate passport or to have their details entered in their parents\u2019 passports.<\/p>\n According to the ministry, in January\u2013February, the number of five-year passports issued to minors rose by 70% year-on-year, whilst the number of ten-year passports issued rose by 40%. The number of passports issued to adults increased by 15%. The Ministry of the Interior also cited the traditional pre-holiday peak from March to September and the fact that 30% of applicants in Moscow are residents of other regions.<\/p>\n The shortage of appointments may make it difficult for people without a valid foreign passport to travel abroad, particularly those wishing to obtain a ten-year biometric passport. However, this does not constitute a legal closure of the borders: for some procedures, the Moscow Multifunctional Centres have outlined alternative routes for processing applications.<\/p>\n\n
What is known about the booking difficulties?<\/h2>\n
What registration methods do the authorities specify?<\/h2>\n
Why has the demand for documents increased?<\/h2>\n
Passport delays and travel restrictions<\/h2>\n