What the Russian international passport is
The international passport (zagranpasport) is the travel document that citizens of the Russian Federation use to cross borders, apply for visas and get consular help abroad. It proves the identity and nationality of the holder and is recognised around the world. It is separate from the internal ID booklet that people use inside Russia; for that document, see our internal passport photo page. The modern biometric passport also has a chip that stores the holder's personal information and biometric data.
Russian passport photo size explained
The standard photo size is 35×45 mm, the same as 3.5×4.5 cm. In our template the head takes about 33 mm from chin to crown, and there are about 3 mm of white space between the top of the head and the upper edge of the photo. This leaves room for the shoulders at the bottom and keeps the face centred. A print at 600 DPI stays sharp at this small size, and the digital photo file stays under 300 KB so it passes the Gosuslugi upload. A passport photo made for another country may have a different size, so check the format before you reuse an old print.
Applying on Gosuslugi or at the MVD office
Russian citizens can apply in person at a local office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) or online through the State Services portal (Gosuslugi). When you apply online, you attach a digital passport photo to the form. When you go to the office, you bring printed passport photos in the 35×45 mm format together with your documents. Our maker gives you a file for both: download it for the online form, or print it at 600 DPI for the office.
Uploading your passport photo to Gosuslugi
The Gosuslugi form opens a "Crop photo" window after the upload. This window currently shows an incorrect line for the top of the head, so press Save under the photo right away. Do not scale or crop the passport photo we give you: it already has the right head height and margins. If the portal shows "An error occurred while processing the photo check request" or "Failed to check the attachment for integrity", that is a problem on the Gosuslugi side, not with your photo. Log out, clear cookies and history in your browser, sign in again and repeat the upload, or try another browser or device.
Documents you need for the application
- A completed application form from Gosuslugi, the Russian State Services portal.
- Your valid Russian internal ID, or a birth certificate for minors.
- Recent passport photos in the 35×45 mm format.
- The receipt for the Russian state duty payment.
- Extra documents for special cases, such as a marriage certificate after a name change.
State duty, processing time and validity
The state duty in Russia depends on the type of passport (biometric or the older non-biometric version) and on the applicant's age; you can pay it through a Russian bank or online. Processing usually takes about 1 to 3 months, and expedited service may be available for urgent cases. Some first-time applicants are asked for an interview or extra information. When the passport is ready, you are notified and collect it from the issuing authority with your ID and receipts. An adult biometric passport is generally valid for 10 years, and a passport for minors for 5 years.
Renewal, replacement and children
Renewing an expired passport or replacing a lost or stolen one follows the same process as the first application, sometimes with extra paperwork. Each time you need a fresh passport photo that shows how you look now. Children who are citizens of Russia apply with a birth certificate, and their passport is generally valid for 5 years. Their photo uses the same 35×45 mm format and white background as an adult photo.
Travelling abroad from Russia
Holders of the Russian passport may need a visa for certain countries, so check the visa rules for your destination in advance and follow travel advisories. A visa application for another country usually asks for its own photo format, which may differ from the Russian one on this page. If you are a foreign national going the other way, see our Russia visa photo page or the Russian e-visa photo page.
Passport photo checklist
- Correct photo size: 35×45 mm, head about 33 mm tall.
- Plain white photo background with no shadows or patterns.
- Neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open.
- Head straight and centred, face fully visible.
- Sharp colour photo with no filters.
- File under 300 KB for the Gosuslugi upload.
