Access is slightly open: how will Russians be able to enter the EU with a 5-year passport

Russians will be able to enter the European Union with 5-year passports even after the launch of the EES electronic pass system on October 12. Although the media had previously reported that they would no longer be allowed to enter the EU with such documents. A number of countries, including Luxembourg or Slovenia, will not require a biometric passport from Russian citizens, Izvestia found out. So Russians will be able to travel within the Union through these countries. The European Commission gives very streamlined answers on this issue. At the same time, it is known that Denmark, Iceland, France, the Czech Republic and the Baltic countries have already banned entry to Russian citizens with old passports even before the launch of EES. Having entered the territory of these states without biometrics, for example, through Slovenia or Luxembourg, tourists may face serious problems, experts warn.

Which countries will ban entry without a biometric passport

Traveling to Europe has become noticeably more difficult in recent years due to the Ukrainian conflict. This is especially true for transport links and visa requirements. Another innovation by Brussels may make it even more difficult for tourism to European countries. On October 12, 2025, a new electronic Entry/Exit System (EES) for citizens of non-EU countries will be launched. The members of the union were given 180 days to launch, that is, until April 9, 2026.

The system will read data from a biometric passport, that is, containing a chip with information, which is issued in the Russian Federation for 10 years. The Russian media immediately started reporting that Russians with "old", 5-year-old passports would no longer be allowed into the EU. Izvestia found out that the member states interpret the new directive from Brussels in different ways, and some of them, and not the most loyal to the Russian Federation, will continue to allow travelers from our country without a biometric passport. For example, in Slovenia, the EES will start working exactly from October 12, but this will not affect entry for Russians in any way, even after April 9.

— Yes, Russian citizens will still be able to enter Slovenia without a biometric passport. The use of EES does not create new entry conditions, it is part of the border control procedure," the embassy of this country told Izvestia.

The situation is similar in Luxembourg. The diplomatic mission of this country in Moscow told Izvestia that "biometric and non—biometric passports will be accepted for entry into the member states of the Schengen agreement using the EES, provided that they are valid and all other entry requirements are met."

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In Sweden, the system will also be launched on October 12, but they did not provide any other details about entry into this particular country. But Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands responded in unison in the most streamlined way possible. The embassies of these countries in the Russian Federation, responding to a question from Izvestia, referred to the fact that the system will be launched gradually and in general they expect more accurate information from the European Commission, including about the launch date.

Interestingly, some countries have not decided at all how their new system will function. For example, the consular service of the Bulgarian Embassy in Moscow did not receive official information from Sofia on this issue.

Obviously, the EU countries do not have a unified position on this issue. Izvestia sent a request to the European Commission to clarify the details, but they referred only to the general provisions. The official website claims that a biometric passport is not needed to enter EU countries, the basic conditions are still the same — a valid document and the presence of a "Schengen". A passport with a chip will only be needed to pass through automated border crossing counters ("self—service systems") - actually EES.

However, there is a small addition: EU countries "usually" accept most travel documents, including non-biometric passports.

There is also an answer to a more direct and pressing question: will the person crossing the border be denied entry if there is no biometric passport. But here it is also somewhat vague: "In principle, you will not be denied entry for this reason, since valid biometric and non-biometric passports are accepted for travel to European countries using the new system."

What should a Russian tourist know in Europe?

Concerns were certainly added by the fact that a number of countries had already banned entry to Russian citizens with old passports even before the official launch date of the EES became known. These are Denmark, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, France, the Czech Republic and Estonia. However, Russians cannot enter the Baltic states, as well as Poland, the Czech Republic and Finland, even with a valid visa issued by other countries.

In fact, it is still possible to enter those countries that seem to have banned entry without a biometric passport, with the exception of those that now do not recognize the "Schengen" among Russians. For example, in France.

— First of all, entry depends on the issuance of a visa. Accordingly, if your visa is valid and was issued in a non-biometric passport, then you can use it until the expiration date. This is if we are talking about those countries that issue visas to Russians. These same countries have said that you can enter using your old passports until your visa runs out. It will be possible to enter France and leave France," explained Artur Muradian, ATOR's Vice President for Outbound Tourism.

The issue is that starting from June 1, only biometric passports are accepted for obtaining a visa to EU countries and subsequent entry. The information that they are not allowed to enter them with non-biometric documents if they have a valid visa is not true. Of course, there may be refusals of entry, but this is not related to this particular moment, Muradyan explains.

Having legally entered the EU, due to the lack of internal borders, it is theoretically possible to come to any country, for example by car and by bus, experts confirm. Given the short distances between them, many do just that. However, if you are in a country that has already banned entry without biometric passports, then problems may arise with representatives of internal authorities.

— There are such risks. Therefore, I always recommend tourists to try to enter the EU only with biometric passports, especially after October 12. Because there is a very high risk of failure. There are still no clear regulations on how it should be," Maya Kotlyar, the owner of the MAYEL Travel travel agency and an expert, tells Izvestia.

She draws attention to the fact that there have been no such precedents yet, and therefore the local Ministry of Internal Affairs can take, in fact, any measures, for example, prohibit subsequent entry into the country.

The Russian Union of Travel Industry (PCT) also strongly recommends taking into account all ongoing reforms and making only a biometric 10-year passport.

"We must remember that the decision to cross the border is within the competence of the border guard service, and there have been cases when, even with a biometric passport and visa, there were refusals to cross the border due to inconsistencies in the purpose of the trip," Dmitry Gorin, Vice President of the PCT, told Izvestia.

In addition, the PCT also reminds that, given the abolition of the simplified procedure for obtaining a visa, documents for it are considered longer than before, often up to two months. Therefore, it is worth submitting papers in advance.