Russian authorities are urging citizens to renew their travel documents and obtain biometric foreign passports as the European Union’s upcoming Entry/Exit System (EES) moves closer to full implementation. Public messaging tied to the rollout has emphasized that older Russian five-year, non-biometric passports may face acceptance problems for travel into Schengen countries as EES requirements expand.
The Moscow Times reports that Russia’s Embassy in Warsaw issued guidance advising holders of five-year, non-biometric passports to apply for ten-year biometric passports “in advance” to avoid disruption. In the embassy’s framing, Poland is expected to adopt the EES starting April 1, 2026, and entry into the European Union using older-style Russian passports would no longer be possible after that date. The report also links the warning to the broader EES rollout schedule, noting that Schengen states are expected to reach full implementation by April 10, 2026.
A separate report from Caliber.az similarly cites an embassy notice in Poland and repeats the April 1 timing, stating that Poland will no longer recognize non-biometric Russian passports beginning April 1, 2026. The report presents the shift as an operational change linked to EES deployment, and urges travellers to obtain biometric passports to avoid being denied entry or facing complications at the border.
The warnings reflect a wider reality emerging around EES: as the system scales up, border checks are expected to become more tightly bound to machine-readable identity documents and biometric enrolment workflows. While EES is designed to register eligible non-EU travellers through biometric capture and automated entry-exit records, the surrounding guidance highlights a related concern for travellers: whether their passport type will be treated as sufficiently modern and compatible for consistent cross-border processing during the transition period.
As member states advance their deployment schedules, Russia’s embassy messaging suggests authorities expect the practical effects of EES to be felt unevenly, with some entry points tightening acceptance expectations earlier than others.
Sources: The Moscow Times, Caliber.az, Government of the Netherlands
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By Ji-seo Kim
