Estonia to Ban Non-Biometric Russian Passports Starting March 2025

Estonia has announced it will stop recognizing non-biometric Russian passports starting March 31, 2025, marking a significant shift in the country’s border security policies. The decision, made by the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, comes amid growing international concerns about travel document security and follows similar measures already implemented by Denmark and the Czech Republic.

The policy change requires Russian nationals holding Estonian or EU residence permits to transition to biometric passports by September 30, 2025. Estonian authorities cited security risks associated with regular Russian passports, noting they don’t comply with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recommendations for travel documents.

The move reflects Estonia’s broader commitment to enhanced security measures, following the country’s implementation of biometric ID cards that store fingerprint data on secure chips. The transition to requiring biometric passports reflects a growing global trend, as market research indicates significant growth in the adoption of e-passport technologies worldwide.

The requirement specifically targets non-biometric foreign passports issued by Russia, with Estonian officials emphasizing the security vulnerabilities associated with these documents. The grace period until September 2025 aims to provide adequate time for affected individuals to obtain compliant documentation.

“Persons who have a residence permit in Estonia or another EU member state and currently use a regular Russian passport must apply for a biometric passport by September 30, 2025,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in their announcement.

The policy change comes at a time when technological solutions for passport verification are becoming increasingly sophisticated, allowing for more reliable authentication of travel documents that meet ICAO standards.

Source: Oreanda News

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March 21, 2025 – by the ID Tech Editorial Team