The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation issued more than 5 million foreign passports in 2022

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia issued more than 5.4 million foreign passports in 2022, which is one and a half million more than in 2021. This is reported on the website of the ministry.

We are talking about the largest number of foreign passports issued in Russia since 2014, when the Ministry of Internal Affairs, according to its data, issued more than 7 million of these documents. In 2018, slightly more than five million passports were issued. In addition to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, foreign passports are issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – in particular, in Russian consular offices abroad. This department, however, issues significantly fewer passports than the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The increase in the number of foreign passports issued to Russians last year may be related to both the lifting of entry and exit restrictions related to COVID-19 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to RBC, the most foreign passports were issued in one month in March, the next month after the invasion – more than 550 thousand. “Meduza” notes that in October, after the start of mobilization, there was also growth, uncharacteristic for autumn.

After the start of the war and especially the mobilization, according to estimates, several hundred thousand people left Russia. At the same time, EU countries have tightened their visa policy for Russians, and a number of countries of the Schengen Agreement have almost stopped issuing visas to them and allowing their holders to enter their territory.

According to statistics, about 30 percent of Russian citizens have a foreign passport. According to surveys, about 70 percent of Russians have never been abroad.