Latvia bans non-biometric Russian passports
Latvia has banned citizens of the Russian Federation holding international passports without biometric data from entering its territory, effective Tuesday, July 15.
The decision was previously announced by the Foreign Ministry in Riga and is part of a tightening of European policies regarding Russian travel documents, according to DW.
With this measure now in effect, Latvian authorities will no longer issue visas or accept applications for residence permits from Russian citizens presenting old passports without a biometric chip. For those already in Latvia on a long-stay visa or residence permit, the Latvian government has set a six-month deadline to renew their current documents.
As of June 1, Lithuania also stopped recognizing Russian international passports without biometric data and prohibited the entry of Russian citizens holding such documents into its territory. An exception is made only for those traveling by train in transit from the Kaliningrad region to Russia and back.
"By this decision, we are aligning with other European Union member states that have already introduced similar restrictions," emphasized representatives of the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry. Russian passports without biometric data are no longer recognized by Denmark, Czechia, Estonia, France, and Iceland.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
