Do you want to relax in Crimea and are planning your vacation in advance? This is very correct, because in 2021, after the referendum, this autonomous region joined the Russian Federation. Therefore, even if you entered the peninsula without problems before, now you may need additional documents. In this article we will figure out whether a foreign passport is needed to Crimea in 2021; what to do if you are going on vacation with children; and what mode of transport should be preferred depending on where you are coming from.
Entry to Crimea for Russians: features
In 2021, Russians can enter Crimea at any time and stay there for any time - at least a year, at least two or more. Such rules are due to the fact that the peninsula has been part of the Russian Federation for four years now. That is, from the point of view of the law, going to Crimea from anywhere in Russia is the same as going to the nearest town.
But you will still have to take several documents with you. Every traveler must have:
- internal passport of the Russian Federation (will be needed if you have to undergo a police check, book a hotel, or go to a medical facility;
- medical insurance;
- domestic driver's license if you are driving a car or intend to rent one.
Additional documents will be needed if you are taking children with you (read more about this below). Also, save and take receipts with you if you have purchased and/or are taking any valuable item from home. And, naturally, a license will be required for service weapons, a doctor’s prescription for specific drugs, and so on.
Separate rules apply to travelers who are not citizens of the Russian Federation, but who have settled in the country on the basis of a residence permit or temporary residence permit. Such people, like citizens, can move freely throughout the territory of Russia. But do not forget that from time to time the status will have to be confirmed and extended at the place of registration, so it will not be possible to stay in Crimea for several months, seasons or even years.
Which countries are open to Russians and where can you go abroad now?
At the moment, 127 countries have moderate restrictions for Russians. That is, for entry they may require a certificate of a negative test result for COVID-19. Some states in this category may require quarantine upon arrival or upon return.
Istanbul is now in the red risk zone for coronavirus, but measures have been relaxed for tourists
98 countries have now introduced strong restrictions for residents of the Russian Federation. This means that entry is allowed only to citizens and holders of residence permits or work visas. The border may either be closed completely, or the requirements there are so strict that there is no point in traveling for tourism purposes.
Check the quarantine measures of different countries, find out whether a certificate of absence of COVID-19 is needed for travel, and monitor when Russia will open its borders completely, conveniently using our map:
Look at the countries open to Russians
Do Ukrainian citizens and foreigners need a passport to Crimea?
Citizens of Ukraine and people who have the status of a residence permit or permanent residence in this state will have to take a foreign passport with them. Ukrainians can de jure enter Crimea using their “native” passport, but it’s better to play it safe.
A foreign or internal document will need to be presented at a checkpoint (checkpoint) to Crimea, and in return you will receive a migration card to fill out and present at the border when returning home.
Since Crimea is now a foreign country for Ukrainians, they will have to leave the peninsula no later than in 90 days. If entry is from the territory of Ukraine, then you need to visit the representative office of the local migration service and obtain a special pass. Such permission is issued only on certain grounds:
- if you have a residence permit;
- ownership of real estate in Crimea;
- residence of relatives on the peninsula.
Foreigners from countries with which the Russian Federation has a visa regime need to obtain an entry visa. There are no railway connections between Ukraine and Crimea in 2021, and the authorities do not plan to resume them. Yes, theoretically, you can take a train to one of the settlements bordering the checkpoint, go through customs control there and continue your journey in another country.
However, in practice, few people use this method: there are too many difficulties. Therefore, you can get to the peninsula by car or bus.
There are several checkpoints between Ukraine and Crimea where drivers and passengers must get out of their cars. This is necessary to check documents and undergo inspection. Immigration services await travelers at the following points:
- "Chongar"
- "Kalanchak"
- "Chaplinka"
The latest checkpoint is not for everyone. It is better to travel through it only for citizens of Ukraine. Foreigners who hold residence permit or permanent residence status will most likely not be able to travel here to Crimea.
Problems may also arise if you bring with you products or medicines that are allowed for sale in Ukraine and prohibited in Russia (and vice versa). Be sure to check out the list of items prohibited from being transported through a “car” checkpoint:
- piercing and cutting objects;
- electronic devices weighing over 50 kg;
- fresh vegetables and fruits;
- indoor plants, as well as seeds, bulbs and seedlings;
- “homemade” farm products (milk, meat, lard, sausages);
- stew in cans;
- fish and shrimp;
- large amounts of alcohol (over 5 liters) and tobacco products (more than 10 packs of cigarettes);
- food products worth over 200 €;
- a large number of medications (5 or more packages of the same name);
- cash in any currency if the amount exceeds €10,000;
- weapons, means of self-defense, pets (in the absence of permits).
. You can do this quickly, safely and online using a proven service
It is impossible to predict in advance which point to go through to save time. On good days, travelers spend only 60–90 minutes at the border. But if a particular shift of border guards is particularly strict, or a violator is identified on the road, or any other incident occurs, you will have to stand in line for almost half a day. But no one is stopping you from scouting out the situation at the checkpoint in advance by going to sites that broadcast video from surveillance cameras.
Russians located on the territory of Ukraine
Certain unspoken rules apply to Russian citizens who are on the territory of Ukraine or who are planning to enter there from another country. Whatever your hometown is, you should not return there via Crimea. The immigration service will probably have additional questions for you, and you will have to spend a lot of time and effort to prove to the customs officers the honesty of your intentions.
In other words, if you live, say, in Moscow or St. Petersburg and are going to Ukraine as a tourist, then going straight from there to Crimea to also swim in the sea is not the best idea.
In general, any trip to Crimea for a Russian citizen located on the territory of Ukraine poses a certain danger. This also applies to those citizens of the Russian Federation who decided to travel to European countries and return to their homeland through Crimea in transit.
In any case, traveling to Crimea from anywhere in Russia will be faster, cheaper, calmer and safer than from Ukraine.
When will Russia's borders with Europe, Asia, CIS countries and the rest of the world open?
Since the beginning of August 2021, the Russian Federation has resumed flights with Turkey, the UK and Tanzania. They were followed in September by Egypt, the UAE, the Maldives, Greece, Morocco, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and South Korea.
Starting from October, you can go to Uzbekistan (as part of an organized tour group of 5 to 15 people) and Mauritius. Air traffic with Serbia and Cuba has been resumed since October 15.
As of November 1 last year, travelers from all over the world will be able to enter any corner of Cuba. And from January 10, 2021, for holidays in Cuba, all foreigners undergo PCR testing within 72 hours before departure. This does not cancel the mandatory coronavirus test at the airport of arrival and again after five days of self-isolation in Cuba. Coronavirus insurance will also come in handy.
In November, flights from Russia to Japan, South Africa (there are no direct flights yet), to the Seychelles, Ethiopia and Chile were also resumed.
On December 10, Oman opened to foreign tourists. A visa is not required for entry for up to 10 days. Here's what you need: confirmation of your hotel reservation, insurance for a month covering treatment for coronavirus, and return tickets.
From December 22, 2020 until April 16, 2021, Russia closed flights with the UK, where a new strain of coronavirus was discovered. From 11 January 2021, a negative PCR test result is required to enter the UK. It must be submitted no earlier than 72 hours before departure. Otherwise - a fine of 500 pounds.
To find out when the country you need will open, click on the picture and subscribe to notifications from Skyscanner
Opening of borders - latest news. Which countries have opened for Russians in 2021
From December 28, 2020, a negative PCR test result is required to enter Turkey. Biomaterial must be taken no earlier than 72 hours before arrival. A certificate with a laboratory QR code can be either electronic or printed, and must be in English. Children under 6 years of age are exempt from taking the test.
In mid-January 2021, Armenia opened to tourists. To enter, you need a negative PCR test done no more than 72 hours before crossing the border by land or air. The certificate must be in Armenian, Russian or English on the official letterhead of the medical institution and indicating the personal data of the tourist. If there is no PCR test, you can get tested at the checkpoint and self-isolate until you receive the results.
From January 21, 2021, Sri Lanka is open to tourists. Check the new entry rules: among other things, you will need PCR tests and an electronic entry permit.
From January 27, flights with Finland, Vietnam, India and Qatar will resume. So far this news does not concern tourists. The borders are open to citizens of these countries, holders of study and work visas or those traveling for humanitarian purposes.
From February 1, Georgia is open to all foreign tourists who have completed a full course of vaccination against coronavirus. From March 1, unvaccinated Russians with a PCR test will be allowed in.
Since April 1, Cyprus has been open to Russians and flights between the Russian Federation and Germany, Venezuela, Syria, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Sri Lanka have been resumed.
Countries open to Russia
Many states are changing entry requirements in real time due to COVID-19. The list below is for general information purposes only.
When planning your trip, look at our map. And also check the current entry conditions and the latest recommendations on the official government websites of the countries or regions where you are traveling.
Which countries are open to Russia:
- Afghanistan
- Armenia (PCR test required for entry)
- Belarus
- Brazil
- Great Britain (flights between Moscow and London are frozen until April 16, 2021; from January 11, a fresh certificate with a negative coronavirus test result is required for entry)
- Gibraltar
- Greece (from March 22, 4,000 Russians are allowed in weekly, not 500 as before)
- Georgia (from March 1 - new entry rules)
- Egypt
- Jordan (now without quarantine, double testing in force)
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Cyprus
- Kyrgyzstan
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Kosovo
- Cuba
- Maldives
- Mexico
- Nauru
- United Arab Emirates
- Oman
- North Macedonia
- Seychelles
- Serbia (from December 20, you need to take a COVID-19 test to enter)
- Tanzania
- Tonga
- Tunisia (now both tests and quarantine)
- Türkiye (from December 28, a certificate with the results of the PCR test is required)
- Uzbekistan (currently only accepting tour groups)
- Ukraine
- Chile
- Switzerland
- Sri Lanka (air traffic with the Russian Federation resumed on April 1)
- Central African Republic
- Equatorial Guinea
- Ethiopia
- South Korea
- Japan
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Rules for entry into Crimea for minors
As mentioned above, a foreign passport for traveling to Crimea is required for citizens of states that have a visa regime with the Russian Federation. This rule applies to every child, regardless of who he is traveling with - parents or guardians. The passport, of course, must be valid for at least a few more months after the expected end of the trip.
Both Russians and Ukrainians bringing with them a minor need to take his birth certificate. Guardians must also have documents confirming that they are responsible for the child, and family friends must have a power of attorney from the parents (provided that neither the father nor the mother of the young traveler went on the trip).
As for mothers or fathers who are not citizens of the Russian Federation and traveling with the baby, but without a legal spouse, they will have to obtain permission in advance for the child to travel abroad.
More details about the procedure can be found in the article “Permission for a child to travel abroad.”
Who will need a passport to enter Crimea?
Above we talked about three categories of people who need to have a foreign passport to travel to Crimea. We are, of course, talking about people who travel to the peninsula from Ukraine - the document will only be useful when crossing the border. So, to summarize, a foreign passport is required to enter Crimea:
- citizens of Ukraine (not necessary, but desirable);
- citizens of countries with visa entry (even if they have a residence permit or permanent residence permit on the territory of Ukraine);
- minors traveling with the above categories of persons.
A foreign passport at a checkpoint or at the airport, during customs inspection, serves solely as an identification document. Therefore, the type of passport - regular or biometric - does not matter. The main thing is, if you don’t have a document yet, make sure to get it as early as possible.
Ways to get to Crimea for Russians
Russians, unlike citizens of Ukraine, have much more ways to get to Crimea. By the end of 2021, the Kerch Bridge will be built, on which it will be possible to travel by both cars and trains. But for now you need to choose one of two options - by ferry or by plane.
The most profitable and comfortable way to get to Crimea is by flight. Firstly, a plane ticket costs quite little - from 5,000 rubles when departing from Moscow from St. Petersburg. Secondly, it is quite fast: you will have to spend about 3.5 hours in the air. However, this is not relevant for residents of all regions.
If you live in the south of Russia, you can get to Crimea by ferry. To move to the peninsula, you need to purchase a ticket at one of two ports - Anapa and the Caucasus port. Ferries to Crimea also run from Novorossiysk, but only cargo flights depart from there. You can find out the cost of tickets and book them, as well as watch what is happening in the ports using webcams on the official website.
Those who plan to travel to Crimea by car or bus - for example, a sightseeing bus - cannot do without a ferry ticket. If residents of southern cities may not book seats in advance, then motorists need to register with Gosparom as early as possible.
It is clear that it is difficult to calculate the exact time of arrival at the port in your own car. But this is not necessary - you just need to determine the six-hour time period when you are most likely to arrive at your destination (for example, from 0:00 to 06:00). And don’t save money by avoiding toll roads: the road to Crimea from Moscow will, oddly enough, cost less if you periodically choose free bypass routes.
conclusions
In 2021, Russians do not have to worry about the documents required to enter Crimea: all you need is a Russian passport and, just in case, a child’s birth certificate if you have a minor travel companion. But residents of other countries are allowed onto the peninsula only on the basis of a foreign passport.
Travelers from Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan can enter Crimea using an internal document. Also, de jure citizens of Ukraine can only present an internal passport. And yet, to be on the safe side, it is worth having both a foreign document and certificates confirming the purpose of the trip, and for the child, also permission to travel from one of the parents, if the minor is accompanied only by the mother/father or a family friend.
, unpaid housing and communal services receipts, alimony or fines from the traffic police. Any of these debts may threaten to restrict travel abroad in 2021; we recommend finding out information about the existence of debt using a trusted service
When will hotels and resorts open?
Tourist Crimea is waiting for vacationers
From July 1, 2021, hotels and resorts in Crimea will begin operating as normal. Social distancing and enhanced disinfection will be trialled between June 15 and June 30. At this time, hotels will begin operating for Crimeans and Sevastopol residents (registration will be required for check-in). If everything goes according to plan, as the authorities promise, then from July 1 Crimea will open to residents of other regions.
The beaches of Sevastopol and Crimea will open from June 15-17. There they will also monitor the number of people and maintaining distance. But by the beginning of the second month of summer, everything should return to normal, and Russians should not notice the difference.
One of the troubles is the widespread cancellation of the buffet. Hotels are now including continental breakfasts in booking rates, and some are temporarily eliminating meal service. Until the special commission gives the go-ahead.
