What should a citizen of the Russian Federation do if he has lost his passport?

The loss of documents always entails the need to replace them. This also awaits citizens if they lose their foreign passport. If the trouble occurred before leaving for another country, this brings inconvenience. However, the loss of a foreign ID in a foreign country leads to extreme trouble. The situation cannot be ignored. A Russian has no right to stay in the territory of another country without an identity card. At the same time, he will also not be able to leave the country. It is important to understand what to do if you have lost your passport in the Russian Federation or another country.

Is it possible to restore a passport?

To travel outside the country, Russian citizens need a foreign passport.
The document is issued by the migration departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation for a certain period. The legislation does not provide for penalties for the loss of a passport. In this case, the loss of a Russian passport is punishable by a fine of 100 to 300 rubles (Article 19.16 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation). The administrative regulations for the preparation of documents for travel outside the Russian Federation do not imply the possibility of restoring a lost passport. If your ID is lost (or stolen), you will need to go through the standard procedure again.

Fraudsters can take advantage of a lost document. Therefore, it is important to immediately report the loss to the police or consulate.

Article 19.16 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation “Intentional damage to a citizen’s identity document (passport), or loss of a citizen’s identity document (passport) due to negligence”

Sequence of actions after receiving the certificate

A lost passport is not yet a cause for concern; the main thing is to obtain a certificate and use it when leaving a foreign country. It is worth considering that it is valid for only 15 days. Therefore, it is necessary to buy a ticket to your home country, reducing the time of your tourist or business program.

After arriving in your home country, the paper in question must be taken to the office of the Main Directorate for Migration within 3 days. Moreover, this must be the organization where the lost passport was processed and issued.

Cases of obtaining a certificate by a citizen of the Russian Federation whose age does not exceed 18 years were described above, but if the passport is lost by a minor outside the country without the accompaniment of a legal representative, then the situation is slightly different.

The head of an organized group, as part of which a minor left the territory of the Russian Federation, is obliged to bear responsibility for the child, including issuing an entry certificate with the provision of all necessary documents.

What to do if you lose a document in Russia

Without properly executed documents, visiting another state is impossible. However, the loss of a foreign passport in Russia is a serious problem only if the loss is discovered immediately before departure outside the Russian Federation.

Where to contact

At the first stage of obtaining a new identity card, you must file a statement of loss (or theft) at the police department.
Within 5-7 business days, information about the cancellation of the document will be entered into the databases of law enforcement agencies. At the request of the applicant, he is issued a certificate of loss of his passport. This certificate is not required to be presented. However, in most cases, migration service officials ask for documentary evidence of the loss.

There are several ways to apply for a new foreign passport:

• to the migration department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs;
• to the nearest multifunctional center (MFC);
• through the Gosuslugi website.

When applying online, the applicant is given the opportunity to make an appointment at a convenient time.

Required documents

A foreign passport is issued based on the submitted package of documents. The list of required papers is set out in the Administrative Regulations for the provision of the service.

Documents required for passport renewal

The standard kit includes:

• application form;

  
  Sample of filling out an application for a new generation passport

• internal passport;
• birth certificate with a note on Russian citizenship (for children under 14 years of age);
• marriage document (in case of surname change);
• military ID or certificate from the military registration and enlistment office (for young people of military age);
• receipt of paid state duty.

The complete list of documents depends on the specific situation. For example, military personnel or law enforcement officials will need permission from management to issue a foreign passport.

In addition, you must prepare 2 color photographs measuring 3.5 mm by 4.5 mm.

Read also: Emigration to Israel from Russia

Cost and production time

The amount of state duty for obtaining a document for traveling outside the Russian Federation depends on the type of passport.
The manufacturing cost is:

• 2,000 rubles - old model;
• 5,000 rubles - new sample.

To obtain a foreign passport for children under 14 years of age, the fee is 1,000 rubles (old sample) and 2,500 rubles (new sample).

When submitting an application and paying the mandatory fee through the State Services portal, a 30% discount is provided. Thus, for a biometric foreign passport you will need to pay 3,500 rubles.

Another advantage of making an online payment is that it is not necessary to print out and attach a receipt to the package of documents. Migration service employees independently verify the fact of payment.

The time it takes to produce a new identity card is determined by the following factors:

• from 14 to 30 days when submitting an application at the place of permanent registration;
• from 1 to 3 months when applying to the migration department at the place of temporary residence.

In this case, the type of passport (regular or biometric) does not matter.

The legislation provides for an accelerated registration procedure (from 2 to 4 days) in the following situations:

• death of a close relative;
• treatment in a foreign medical clinic.

The need to urgently obtain a foreign passport is documented.

A business trip or having paid for air tickets are not a valid reason for expedited processing.

If a citizen has lost his passport inside Russia

If a citizen has lost his international passport within the Russian Federation, then he can apply for a new document to the relevant organizations at his place of registration or residence. No liability is accepted for the loss of this document.

A person who has lost a foreign passport can ask for a certificate of loss to be issued to him in order to issue a new document. However, this is done solely at his request. There is information that some FMS employees require the presentation of such a certificate when registering a new foreigner after losing the old one. The demands of such workers are illegal.

Previously, the certificate was considered mandatory. After the loss of a document, the citizen was obliged to contact the police and receive a certificate confirming the acceptance of the statement of loss. Modern laws do not oblige you to contact law enforcement agencies.

The time frame and cost of obtaining a foreign passport in place of a lost document remain the same as when receiving a passport for the first time. The only difference is that in the “reason for registration” column they write “to replace the lost one.”

What to do if your passport is lost abroad in the Russian Federation

Losing a document in a foreign country is a serious problem. Issues that arise for citizens outside the Russian Federation are dealt with by a special mission (consulate).

Where to go

The algorithm of actions in case of loss of a passport includes the following steps:

• write a statement about the missing document to the local police department;

  
  Lost passport application form

• receive a certificate (a mark on a copy of the application) confirming the fact of loss (theft);
• contact the representative office of the Russian Federation;
• receive a temporary document.

After returning to Russia, you must submit the certificate issued by the consulate to the migration department at your place of residence within three days. Department employees register the fact of loss and accept an application for the production of a new identity card.

Certificate of return to the Russian Federation

Submitting documents to the consulate

Before issuing a certificate for returning to the Russian Federation, employees of the Russian mission must establish the identity of the citizen.

The administrative regulations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs establish a list of documents for issuing a certificate to replace a lost passport:

• application (drawn up according to a certain sample);
• internal Russian passport;
• 2 photos of the owner.

In addition to your civil passport, you can present a driver's license or other identification.

If all documents are missing, you must go to the consulate with witnesses who can confirm the identity and citizenship of the applicant. In the absence of witnesses, representatives of the representative office send a request through the official channels of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For a minor child, an application for the loss of a passport is submitted by his legal representatives. A copy of your birth document must be attached to your application.

A temporary certificate issued by the consulate is valid for 15 days from the date of receipt. During this time, you can continue your stay in another country. However, you cannot cross the borders of other states (for example, within the Schengen zone) with a certificate instead of a foreign passport. The certificate allows you to leave the host country only for Russia.

Read also: Russian Language Certificate

Service cost

A certificate for returning to the Russian Federation is issued at the consulate free of charge. You must pay for the production of photographs and a fee for sending the request. If necessary, representatives of the representative office provide assistance in filling out a police application in the language of the country of temporary residence.
The cost of obtaining a new passport is:

• 2,000 rubles for an old-style document;
• 5,000 rubles for a biometric ID card.

When paying the fee through the State Services portal, the fee is reduced by 30%.

Receipt times

Registration of a certificate for returning to Russia takes from two to three days. The period increases to two weeks if the consulate sends a request about the applicant’s identity through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Within 15 days, a citizen is obliged to leave the country of temporary residence. If there are valid reasons, the validity of the certificate may be extended.

Payment of state duties and fines

If your passport is lost and subsequently restored through the State Services portal, there will be a discount on the payment of the state fee. By logging into your personal account, the user will see that the inspector has issued an invoice for payment. When a citizen arrives at the FMS office, he will need to show a receipt for payment of existing debts and state fees. If you draw up a document online, the cost of the state fee will be 3,500 rubles, but if you do it in a branch, the amount will be 5,000 rubles.

How to restore a visa if you lose your passport

The visa legislation of each state has its own characteristics.
However, the procedure for resolving problems with loss of documents in any country is similar. If your passport is lost on the territory of the Russian Federation, you must contact the consulate of the state that issued the entry permit. A valid document is required to contact the consulate. Therefore, before applying, you will need to issue a new identity card.

Visas issued within the framework of official activities are restored on the basis of information available at the embassy. In this case, you will not need to collect a complete set of documents.

Guest and tourist visas are canceled if a foreign passport is lost (stolen).

The document owner will need to reapply for the permit. In this case, it is necessary to prepare papers and certificates on the basis of which the visa was previously obtained.

The procedure for renewing a Schengen visa consists of the following steps:

• apply for a new passport;
• collect documents confirming receipt of permission to enter one of the Schengen countries;
• submit an application to the consulate that issued the visa;
• undergo an interview (if necessary).

The visa permit is renewed on the basis of archival data, the storage period of which is five years. However, practice shows that in most cases applicants are denied visa reinstatement. It is often more convenient (and cheaper) for the owner of a new passport to apply for a new permit.

Is it possible to restore a passport?

A person who has lost his foreign passport must obtain a new certificate if he wishes to travel abroad. Full restoration of a passport in case of loss is not provided. The document will have new details. It will be stamped with visa stamps after verification.

The procedure for restoring an identity card after its loss is simple. A citizen does not have to pay a fine for losing a foreign passport in 2021, unlike the situation with the loss of a civil passport. Having a foreign passport is solely his desire and personal need. Despite this, payment of the state fee is required regardless of the circumstances under which the document was lost. If the owner’s children were recorded in the international passport, you will have to re-enter the information into a new document. This service is also subject to state duty.

The Federal Law regulating the norms for leaving the Russian Federation and entering its territory contains information about whether it is possible to have two foreign passports at the same time. Russians have had this right since 2015. Citizens can apply for a second document if they often travel abroad. This foreign passport will be needed for travel when the second foreigner is with the embassy employee for a visa. The second foreign passport must be biometric. The child will have to obtain his own passport. The registration procedure is carried out by a legal representative.

What to do if a minor’s document is lost

If a minor loses their international passport on the territory of the Russian Federation, they will need to contact the migration department of the police to obtain a new certificate.

The petition on behalf of the child is submitted by his legal representative (one of the parents or guardian).

The standard set of papers required for the production of a foreign passport includes:

• birth certificate (a mark on Russian citizenship is required);

  
  Birth certificate

• general passport (for teenagers from 14 to 18 years old);
• representative's identity card;
• notarized power of attorney confirming authority;
• 2 photographs of a minor;
• 2 photos of the representative.

Before contacting the official authorities, you must pay a state fee: 1,000 rubles for a regular document, 2,500 rubles for a biometric version.

If a minor’s international passport is lost while traveling outside the Russian Federation, all issues regarding obtaining a temporary certificate are resolved with the participation of a legal representative. The certificate for returning to Russia is valid for 14 days.

Read also: ​​How to renounce Ukrainian citizenship

Submitting an application through State Services

To submit an application yourself through the online portal, you can use the example. Instructions for filling will speed up the process:

1. Selecting a passport type – a citizen can choose the old or new type of document.
2. For whom the registration is taking place - for an adult or a child.
3. In the “type of service received” column, you must select online registration.
4. It is necessary to indicate personal data, as well as information about the second citizenship, if any.
5. Select the type of application - the place where it will be more convenient for the citizen to receive a new document.
6. Information on labor activity over the past 10 years.
7. Uploading a photo for the application form.

At the end, you need to select the department where the passport will be issued. This may be a department of the Federal Migration Service. Restoring a foreign passport if lost is a responsible and important process, the result of which will determine the further possibility of traveling abroad.

Features of the passport renewal procedure

The procedure for obtaining a second document for traveling outside the Russian Federation is similar to the procedure for issuing a primary passport. However, the recovery process has a number of features.

The design nuances are as follows:

• if a biometric passport is lost, the time frame for issuing a new certificate is reduced;
• If the document is lost outside the Russian Federation, you must present a temporary certificate to the migration service to restore it.

Losing a passport can lead to serious problems if the document falls into the hands of fraudsters. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately notify the official structures of the loss and cancel the validity of the passport.

Requirements and conditions for recovery

To restore a foreign passport if lost via the Internet on the State Services portal, you will need confirmation of local citizenship. A foreign resident temporarily staying in the Russian Federation, for example, a Belarusian or Bishkek resident, will not be able to use this portal. Another condition for reinstatement will be the provision of all required information, including an agreement to take fingerprints. If you are in another country, for example, in the USA, Thailand, Uzbekistan, South Korea or the European Union, you need to contact the consulate for help.

Regulations

Table 1. Documents regulating actions to replace a foreign passport

Obtaining a temporary identity card: procedure, conditions, documents, deadlines

If your passport is stolen, you need to restore it as quickly as possible. Features of the procedure:

• a temporary certificate is an alternative to a foreign passport and will be issued if a person is in the territory of another country;
• the certificate is issued urgently, 10 minutes after submission and consideration of the application;
• Another photo of the applicant will be required to issue the certificate.

A foreigner has the right to use this document until his foreign passport is ready. All certificates are registered in a special journal.

Is it possible to fly on a connecting flight with a return certificate?

Yes and no.

There is no uniform standard in the world regarding what document to issue to people who have lost their passport abroad, and what rights such travelers have.

A Russian certificate of return is essentially a certificate on stamped paper that you are such and such a citizen of the Russian Federation and are going to your homeland. Whether you have the right to transit through another country is not written anywhere in the laws.

Other countries have their own rules. For example, a British citizen, instead of a lost foreign passport, receives a temporary passport valid for up to a year and has the right to travel with it to five countries in transit.

The Russian certificate of return is not a standard document in global practice. How the airline and passport control staff will perceive it is not known in advance. Many are lucky - and they fly home via START with a transfer in a Schengen or other visa country, including leaving the transit zone. Some even return home by car, crossing two or three borders.

At the same time, there are many opposite stories - about how the airline refused to board a flight with a transfer and assured that with a return certificate it is only allowed to fly directly to Russia.

If you still want to fly on a connecting flight using a return certificate, choose tickets with a transfer in a visa-free state, or even better, in a country where Russians only need an internal passport (if they have one) to enter.

Another option that is likely to work is a connecting flight with one airline on one ticket, in which you do not need to leave the transit area and go through passport control at the transfer airport. To be sure, discuss the situation with the airline in advance.

What can the loss of a passport and visas lead to?

The most unpleasant consequence of losing a foreign passport is the loss along with it of already issued and valid visas. There are no simplified procedures for their restoration: visas will need to be issued again.

If you have lost your documents, but do not yet plan to leave the territory of another state, you will need to apply for new ones at the consulate of your country.

To obtain a new passport, you will need to present photocopies of old documents, other documents proving your identity, or bring two witnesses who will confirm who you are.

The restoration of your visa will be handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country in which you are located. Having information about you in the consulate’s archives will help shorten the period, but in most cases all certificates and documents have to be resubmitted. And also submit biometric material.

If you are in another country for a short time, it is better to obtain an entry certificate and, after returning, restore your lost passport in Russia.

What is useful to do before traveling

There is no such thing as too much precaution. Most likely, nothing bad will happen on vacation, but if it does, a couple of simple actions will greatly alleviate the stress of troubles.

Scan or photograph important documents and email copies before your trip. Take photographs of all significant pages of your domestic and foreign passports - including pages with valid visas. Don't forget your driver's license and child's birth certificate. Send all this to yourself and your loved ones by email. Make sure you remember your email password and can log in to someone else's computer. Print copies of your passports and place them in different places in your carry-on and luggage. After the flight, take a photo of the entry stamp or entry visa and send it to yourself by email.

Make a note with the phone numbers and emails of loved ones who will be in touch and can help. Save the memo on your smartphone so that you can access it without the Internet - for example, in notes. Also, print it out in two or three copies and put it in your pockets and luggage. Warn your friends and relatives that you are traveling abroad.

Theoretically, before traveling, you can choose an insurance policy that includes insurance against loss of documents. But for this risk, you will only be reimbursed for the cost of replacing your passport. Read more about insuring documents while traveling in a separate article.

Replacement of a foreign passport through the Federal Migration Service

Registration of a passport at the Federal Migration Service is similar to other centers where replacement can be carried out. The same package of documents will be required, as well as a police certificate. You cannot buy a new passport - this is punishable by law and is fraud. It is also not recommended to overstay your new passport, otherwise there will be difficulties in getting it renewed.

If your foreign passport is lost or stolen, you must immediately contact the police department with a statement. Then you should visit the branch of the Federal Migration Service or FMS and submit an application. The production time for a new document varies from 1 to 4 months.