From 1 January 2027, Russia stops entering children into a parent’s passport, and federal law No. 113-FZ of 25 April 2026 abolishes the 500-ruble fee for such an entry (text of the law ). A child not yet entered needs their own passport for Vietnam, so apply before picking tour dates.
Some retellings say that every child under 14 needs a separate passport from 2027. The law says something different, and this guide shows who is affected, what the passport costs and how far ahead to apply.
Does my child need a separate passport to enter Vietnam?
For a new trip, yes: a child who is not yet entered can only travel on their own passport, because entries stop in 2027. Russian citizens enter Vietnam visa-free for 45 days until 14 March 2028 (see the consular information ), and the passport must be valid for at least six months on the day you arrive.
If your child is entered in your passport, check its expiry date first: a passport with less than six months left on arrival day does not meet Vietnam’s requirement, so confirm the rule on the embassy site before buying flights. For the age limits that decide child fares on the trip itself, see my breakdown of child prices on a Vietnam tour .
How do I apply for a child’s passport step by step?
A parent submits the application for a child under 14 through Gosuslugi , a multifunctional centre (MFC) or the migration office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
- Choose the type: the new biometric passport or the older five-year one.
- Submit the application on Gosuslugi, at an MFC or at the migration office.
- Pay the state fee for the type you chose.
- Come to your appointment with the child; for the new biometric passport the child must be present.
- Collect the passport and check the name, the birth date and the expiry date.
How long does a child’s passport take and what does it cost?
Processing takes up to one month if you apply where you are registered and up to three months in another region, so I would plan the application four months before departure. The state fee for a child under 14 is 3,000 rubles for the new biometric passport and 1,000 rubles for the older one. From age 14 the fees rise to 6,000 and 2,000 rubles.
| Passport type | Child under 14 | Age 14 and over |
|---|---|---|
| New, biometric | 3,000 rubles | 6,000 rubles |
| Older, five-year | 1,000 rubles | 2,000 rubles |
While the passport is being made, you choose where to fly, and that is the part Gosuslugi cannot solve: some cities have no direct flights, transfers eat whole days and a child needs an easy pace. You can file the application without me, but the Vietnam route built around your child’s age and the passport’s ready date is the part I take over. You only send your rough dates and your child’s age, so message me the dates on Telegram and I will tell you which ones are safe to book.
What changes for children on 1 January 2027?
Law No. 113-FZ amends Article 8 of the law “On the procedure for leaving and entering the Russian Federation” and abolishes the 500-ruble fee for entering a child into a parent’s passport. It takes effect on 1 January 2027, the same date on which the new passport form descriptions under government decree No. 932 of 24 July 2026 start to apply.
Under Russian law, children entered earlier may still leave on the parent’s passport until it expires, and nothing needs replacing. Whether Vietnam accepts such a child without a document of their own has no official confirmation, so a separate passport is the safe choice. A child cannot be entered into a biometric passport even today, and only the older five-year passport accepts such an entry.
Quick plan: what to do before you book flights
Check whether your child is entered in anyone’s passport. If not, apply for a separate passport four months before departure. A child who is already entered can leave Russia on the parent’s passport until it expires, but I would get a separate one for Vietnam and keep six months of validity on the arrival day. Book flights and hotels once the child’s passport is in your hands.
The passport itself needs no middleman. What breaks plans more often is booking on the ground: some foreign platforms do not accept a Russian card, and a hotel or an excursion has to be found again. Message me on Telegram with your dates and the children’s ages, and I will build the trip so that paying for it works.
Frequently asked questions
Can a child enter Vietnam on a birth certificate?
No, a child needs a passport to travel to Vietnam, and a birth certificate does not replace it. The certificate is still worth packing as proof of age for child tickets on excursions and trains.
Can a child's passport be issued urgently?
An urgent three-working-day issue is possible only with documented grounds, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs tells you the list when you apply. A holiday is not such a ground, so build your trip around the standard processing times.
What if we live abroad?
The Russian consulate in your country of residence accepts the application. Processing times differ by consulate, so confirm the appointment and the production time before you buy flights.
What do we need if the trip lasts longer than 45 days?
The 45 visa-free days restart at every entry. For a longer stay you apply for an e‑visa at evisa.gov.vn , which is issued for up to 90 days. The passport still needs six months of validity on arrival day.
