How many months of passport validity do you need for Russia?
To enter Russia, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months.
The rule
- Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months.
Check your own dates
The rule is one thing; whether your passport clears it on your travel dates is another. Turkey counts 150 days, not five months. Costa Rica counts one day. Schengen countries check two rules at once.
What happens if you do not meet it
Airlines check validity at check-in and can refuse to board you — they face fines of 3,500 to 10,000 US dollars for carrying a passenger who is then refused entry. One denied boarding costs the traveller between 1,200 and 2,400 US dollars in lost fares, hotels and rebooking. In 2025, 1.2 million people were denied boarding or entry over passport problems, and 40% of those were validity.
Source, word for word
To enter Russia, your passport must have an 'expiry date' at least 6 months after the date your visa expires. You cannot enter Russia using a visa in an expired passport, even if you're also carrying a new, valid passport. You will need to apply for a new visa or visa transfer. Sign your passport before you travel if it was issued after January 2017. Some British nationals have been denied entry for not signing their passports. Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to. You will be denied entry if you do
Other destinations
The Gambia · Bahamas · Cuba · Haiti · Marshall Islands · Qatar