According to the Russian Federation President’s order 1222 as of October 19, 2005, Russian citizens willing to go abroad must obtain new-format international passports containing special information microchips. All Sverdlovsk Region dwellers may apply for these new generation passports at the Federal Migration Service’s head office at 2 Krylov St., Yekaterinburg beginning from January 14, 2008. At the same time, all the other outlets as well as the head office will be issuing old-format passports: these will be valid until their expiry date. In addition, new passports will have become available from fifteen more offices in Sverdlovsk Region by the end of 2008.

The law states that the new generation passport must be issued within thirty days of application. To apply, one needs to fill in two copies of application forms, pay a 1,000-ruble fee at any of Sberbank’s outlets, and supply the copies, the receipt, one’s previously issued international passport, and one’s Russian passport. Men aged 18 to 27 must also provide a document from the military enlistment office. Children under fourteen need two copies of application forms, the original of their birth certificate and a copy of it, and their earlier international passport. Besides, the fee for them comes to 500 RUR.