Sweden Ceases Recognition of Russian Non-Biometric Passports from 1 October 2026

Current rules

From 1 October 2026, an ordinary Russian passport without biometric functionality will no longer be recognised by Swedish authorities. A person holding such a document will therefore need another recognised travel document to use the normal Swedish entry, visa or residence-permit processes. For people already holding relevant permission before the implementation date, Sweden has established a specific transitional period. Between 1 October and 31 December 2026, an ordinary non-biometric Russian passport will still be accepted if it contains a valid visa issued before 1 October 2026 by Sweden, another EU Member State or another Schengen country. The same transitional treatment applies where the person holds a valid residence permit issued before 1 October 2026 by Sweden, another EU Member State or another Schengen country. The exception therefore covers both qualifying visas and qualifying residence permits, provided they were issued before the implementation date and remain valid during the transitional period. The transitional arrangement ends on 31 December 2026. From 1 January 2027, Sweden will also stop recognising Russian non-biometric diplomatic and service passports.

Overview

As of 1 October 2026, Sweden will no longer recognise ordinary non-biometric passports issued by the Russian Federation. This means individuals holding such passports cannot use them for entry into Sweden or to obtain visas or residence permits for purposes such as study, visits, employment, or family reunification. A transitional arrangement allows for the acceptance of these passports until 31 December 2026, provided the holder has a valid visa or residence permit issued before 1 October 2026 by Sweden, another EU Member State, or another Schengen country. From 1 January 2027, this non-recognition will extend to Russian non-biometric diplomatic and service passports.

What changed in the latest version

This change will significantly limit the ability of Russian nationals who have non-biometric passports to travel to and live in Sweden. If you plan to enter Sweden for any reason after 1 October 2026, you must make sure you have a recognised travel document, such as a biometric passport, or meet the specific conditions of the temporary period. If you continue to rely on non-biometric passports after these dates, you risk being denied entry to Sweden and won't be able to apply for visas or residence permits. It's really important for anyone affected to apply for a new biometric passport from their country's authorities as soon as possible. This will help avoid problems with your travel plans or immigration process. The temporary period gives a short break for those with existing valid visas or residence permits, but this temporary measure will end at the close of 2026.

Explained simply

Imagine your passport is like a special ID card for travelling. From 1 October 2026, Sweden won't accept older Russian ID cards that don't have a special computer chip inside. If you have one of these older cards, you'll need to get a new one with the chip if you want to visit or live in Sweden. There's a short grace period until the end of December 2026 if you already have a valid Swedish or EU/Schengen visa or residence permit.

Frequently asked

Version history

1. v1Effective 1 Oct 2026EffectiveHigh impact
   Sweden Ceases Recognition of Russian Non-Biometric Passports from 1 October 2026

   Effective from 1 October 2026, Sweden will no longer recognise ordinary non-biometric passports issued by the Russian Federation. This means individuals holding such passports cannot use them to enter Sweden or be granted visas or residence permits for purposes such as studies, visits, employment, or family reunification. A transitional arrangement allows recognition of these passports until 31 December 2026 if they contain a valid visa or residence permit issued before 1 October 2026 by Sweden, another EU Member State, or a Schengen country. From 1 January 2027, the non-recognition will also apply to non-biometric Russian diplomatic and service passports.