New passport rules for children traveling to 5 countries in 2026

Russia has introduced amendments to the federal law «On the Procedure for Exit from and Entry into the Russian Federation». Starting January 20, 2026, it will be impossible to travel abroad with a child under 14 using just a birth certificate, even if it has a citizenship stamp; a foreign passport will be required. The changes affect CIS countries: Abkhazia, Belarus, South Ossetia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Meanwhile, children aged 14 and older can still enter using an internal Russian passport.

Here is how the new rules will affect holidays in these countries and what to know when buying tickets now, as explained by 93.RU.

«Our tourists simply don»t know about the changes«

Sergey Romashkin, Vice President of the Association of Tour Operators and head of the Dolphin travel agency, which sells tours to Abkhazia, Belarus, and Kyrgyzstan, said the 2026 changes will negatively impact tourist flow, with demand expected to drop by at least 5–7%.

«Many of our tourists, we know this for sure because we»ve surveyed them, are unaware and simply don«t know about the changes. Many airlines and tour operators have already changed their booking forms; now you can»t book without entering foreign passport details. But we fear that at some point, for example, at the Russian-Abkhazian border, tourists will appear and say, «We»re hearing about this for the first time,«» says Romashkin.

At the same time, tour operators note that the innovation will not affect tour prices. According to Romashkin, accommodation is typically free for children under 2, 50% of the adult price for ages 2–6, and 70–75% for ages 6–12. However, there is no single standard, and some offer free stays for children up to 6 or even 12 years old as a promotion.

Another tour operator, Space Travel, offers tours to Belarus. The company«s press service told 93.RU that the changes will not significantly impact holidays.

«In general, the changes to the entry rules for the Republic of Belarus will not create serious obstacles for organized tourism, since the overwhelming majority of minor tourists traveling abroad already have their own passports. A separate document for minors is now required in most countries, except perhaps Turkey and Egypt. Moreover, people most often travel to Belarus with children to visit relatives, meaning independently, without tour operators. Organized tourists mainly travel for sightseeing and medical purposes, and most often without children,» the tour operator«s press service said.

What should parents know?

Those planning a trip abroad are advised to apply for a child«s foreign passport in advance. Processing the document usually takes at least a month. An application can be submitted on Gosuslugi.

«Children who have already left using a birth certificate before January 20, 2026, will be able to return home with it,» assured Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children«s Rights. By the way, from that date, Russian consulates in the specified countries will not be able to issue a birth certificate if it is lost or if a child turns 14 abroad.

Note that children aged 14 and older can still enter Abkhazia, Belarus, South Ossetia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan using an internal Russian passport after January 20, 2026.

Regarding already purchased tickets, passenger details can be changed before departure. At Russian Railways (RZD), this service is usually paid—about 200 rubles ($2 at current rates), while with airlines it can be done for free.

«Passenger document details can be changed for free on the airline»s website, at the airline«s sales office, or through the agent who made the sale,» noted Sochi Airport.

93.RU attempted to purchase tickets on the RZD website for a child using a birth certificate for trains from Krasnodar to Minsk and Sochi to Sukhum (Abkhazia). For dates up to and including January 19, the system allowed ticket purchase without issue, although a note popped up advising careful study of exit requirements and stating that «the carrier is not responsible for passengers» failure to comply with these rules.« However, for dates after January 20, buying a ticket is impossible—a notification pops up stating »exit from the Russian Federation on a birth certificate is impossible, a passport is required.«