Where to go and what actions to take ...

... if you lost your passport

In the event that a Russian citizen who has gone abroad on a short trip is without a passport identifying a citizen of the Russian Federation outside the Russian Federation as a result of his loss, he will be issued a certificate of entry (return to the Russian Federation). The procedure for issuing a certificate is governed by the Regulation on issuing a certificate of entry (return) to the Russian Federation, approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1142 of October 1, 1998 "On the implementation of certain provisions of the Federal Law" On the procedure for leaving the Russian Federation and entering the Russian Federation " .

If during your stay abroad you were left without a passport (stolen, lost, etc.), you must contact the Russian diplomatic mission or consular office in the country in which you are located. Instead of a lost passport in a Russian foreign office, you will be issued a certificate of return to Russia. The certificate is a temporary document proving the identity of a Russian citizen and giving him the right to enter (return) to the Russian Federation.

In order to facilitate and speed up the issuance of a certificate and, accordingly, return home, it is recommended to take certain measures in advance.

First of all, even before the trip, we recommend that you find out the address and phone number of the Russian diplomatic mission and consular posts in the state where you are going. In case of loss of a passport, you should contact the nearest Russian foreign agency.

Before the trip, you must also make photocopies of the main pages (with photo, personal data, registration mark) of the foreign and domestic Russian passports and take them with you. During the trip, it is recommended to keep copies separately from the passport. In case of loss of documents, a copy of the passport will greatly simplify the procedure for issuing a certificate of return to Russia. It is also useful to leave a copy of the passport with relatives or friends, so that if necessary it could be quickly sent by fax. Two witnesses who are citizens of the Russian Federation can confirm your identity if you do not have documents.

The issuance of a certificate in exchange for a lost passport is carried out by the Russian diplomatic mission or consular post upon a written application of a citizen of the Russian Federation for a period required to enter Russia, but not more than 15 days, against receipt.

When applying for a certificate, the applicant shall submit:

- a document (protocol, certificate, etc.) issued by the competent authority of the host country (for example, the local police, law enforcement agency) confirming the loss of a passport;

- an application of a standard form (an application form is issued at a Russian foreign institution);

- two photos;

- documents allowing to identify the applicant’s identity, establish his place of residence or place of residence on the territory of the Russian Federation (for example, military ID, driver’s license, etc.) or duly certified written statements of at least two citizens of the Russian Federation confirming the applicant’s identity.

A certificate of return to the Russian Federation can be issued only after the consul has received all the necessary information about the applicant, excluding any doubts about his identity and citizenship of Russia.

If the applicant does not have documents confirming his identity, citizenship of the Russian Federation and place of residence in Russia, and it is not possible to submit written statements of Russian citizens who can confirm the identity of the applicant, the Russian diplomatic mission or consular office sends the appropriate request to the internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation. In this case, you will have to wait for an answer about the results of the verification of the applicant’s identity by the Russian police. This procedure can take quite a long time. It can be accelerated if, for example, relatives or friends turn directly to the internal affairs bodies at their place of residence in Russia.

If the nearest Russian foreign agency is located far from your location, we recommend that you first contact its employees by phone and get appropriate clarifications, which will help to collect all the required documents in advance and expedite the issuance of a return certificate upon arrival at the consular post.

A consular fee is charged for the issuance of a certificate of return, as well as for the commission of other consular actions, by a Russian foreign agency. The cost of issuing a certificate of return to Russia varies depending on the country (from 50 to 100 US dollars).

Upon arrival in Russia, it is necessary to hand over a certificate with the marks of the border checkpoint (placed at the border crossing) to the organization to which the lost passport was issued within three days. The certificate is valid for 10 days from the moment of crossing the border and can serve as an identity card for this period.

... if you have suffered as a result of an offense

If a theft or attack has been committed against you, you must first report the incident to law enforcement authorities for a possible investigation of the crime in hot pursuit and an investigation. It is necessary to draw up a protocol, in case of theft - indicating the list of missing things and their approximate cost. It is recommended to report the incident to the group attendant, if any, or to the representative of the travel company.

In the event of a traffic accident, it is necessary to wait for the police / transport police. It is recommended to insist on a protocol at the scene. Sometimes, an additional investigation is required to determine the cause of the accident and the degree of guilt of each party.

In the event of unforeseen situations related to threats or an attack from others, traffic accidents, and detention by local law enforcement agencies, you should immediately inform the embassy or consular office of the Russian Federation. You have the right to require law enforcement or police agencies to provide the opportunity to contact the nearest Russian consular post, or to send him a written notice of the fact of the incident. It should be understood that consular posts cannot always ensure the immediate arrival of a consular officer (for example, if the scene of the incident is located at a great distance from the consulate).

There should be no resistance during detention or arrest, as this can aggravate the situation and provoke special services / police officers to use physical force or even weapons. It is not recommended to speak with representatives of local law enforcement agencies, as well as to sign any protocols and other documents in a foreign language in the absence of a lawyer or lawyer, since such evidence under the laws of several countries can form the basis of a charge of a crime.

The mechanism for providing consular and legal assistance begins to operate from the moment the Russian diplomatic mission or consular institution receives information from the competent authorities of the host country about the detention of a citizen. Such a procedure is provided for by the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963. Specific assistance from Russian consular posts may include assistance, if necessary, in transferring, establishing contacts with relatives and friends of the detainee, monitoring compliance with procedural rules, including from the point of view of their compliance with local law and international law, finding lawyers, clarifying all the circumstances of the case .

Before leaving home, leave a copy of the protocol and your installation data at the consular post so that the consular staff have the opportunity to monitor the progress of the investigation and inform the victim about the results.

... in the event of a natural disaster or terrorist attack

In cases of emergencies outside the Russian Federation, the state provides assistance, taking measures to protect the interests of Russian citizens, including measures to evacuate from the host country.