Frequently asked questions about the situation in Russia

• The colour code of the travel advisory for Russia is orange and, in some regions, red. Red applies to the regions bordering Ukraine, and to the North Caucasus. This means that you should not travel there, whatever your situation. It is too dangerous.
• The colour code for the rest of Russia is orange. This means essential travel only. It is not safe to go there on holiday.

Read the current travel advisory for Russia (information in Dutch)

The embassy in Moscow is open. The consulate-general in St. Petersburg is temporarily closed.

Check the contact details of the Dutch embassy in Moscow

European airspace is closed to all air traffic from Europe to Russia and from Russia to Europe.

You can however fly to the Netherlands via Türkiye, Dubai or Serbia, for example. The journey distance will be much longer, so expect higher costs and longer travel times. The situation can change suddenly. If Russia closes its airspace, or if flying via other countries is no longer possible, it will be very difficult to leave.

Read about changes to air traffic on the website of the International Air Transport Organisation (IATA).

You cannot travel by passenger train between Russia and Finland, Estonia or Latvia because the borders are closed.

It is not currently possible to leave Russia for an EU country in a private car with a Russian registration plate. Check the Russian exit rules and the entry rules of your country of destination carefully before departure.

Take into account that it may get very busy at border crossings if the situation gets worse. Be prepared: make sure you have enough fuel and cash.

Don’t forget you need green card car insurance before you take your car out of Russia.

Your Dutch debit card or credit card will not work in Russia. The same applies to Visa, Mastercard and American Express cards. Cards issued by many other European banks also do not work. The Dutch embassy can only offer financial mediation in emergency situations.

You can contact the embassy in Moscow by email: mos-ca@minbuza.nl.

You can apply for a new passport at the Dutch embassy in Moscow.

Find out how to apply for a passport in Russia

In some cases, you can apply to the Dutch embassy in Moscow for a laissez-passer at the Dutch embassy in Moscow (emergency travel document valid for a one-way trip to the Netherlands). You can then apply for a regular passport at a border municipality in the Netherlands.

You can only apply for a Schengen visa in Russia for the following purposes of travel:

• visiting family members in the first and second degrees
• business
• seafaring
• a cultural or social purpose

If you want to come to the Netherlands for another purpose you cannot apply for a Schengen visa.

Find out more about applying for a Schengen visa for the Netherlands in Russia

The Russian authorities’ decision of April 2022 to declare Dutch consular officers at the embassy in Moscow ‘persona non grata’ forced the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to limit the regular issue of Schengen visas. Accordingly, it is only possible to apply for visas for a limited number of purposes of travel.

Read about the purposes of travel which a Schengen visa can be applied for under ‘Can I apply for a Schengen visa?’

If you want to visit the Netherlands for a maximum of 90 days to visit family members in the first or second degree you can apply at VFS Global in Moscow, St Petersburg, Vladivostok or Ekaterinburg for a Schengen visa.

The following people are considered to be family members in the first or second degree:

• Family members in the first degree: partner (spouse or registered partner), parent (including adoptive parents and step-parents), parent-in-law, child (including adoptive children and step-children), daughter-in-law, son-in-law
• Family members in the second degree: brother, sister, grandchild, grandparent, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, step-brother or step-sister

Find out more about applying for a Schengen visa for the Netherlands in Russia

You can only apply for a Schengen visa in a country other than Russia if you have a residence permit for that country and are currently a resident there.

You can apply for an MVV visa sticker at the Dutch embassy in Moscow.

Find out how to apply for an MVV visa sticker in Russia

You can make an online appointment with the Dutch embassy in Moscow to apply for an MVV visa sticker. You can still go to the Netherlands.

If you want to change your appointment for an MVV visa sticker send an email to the Dutch embassy where you have the appointment. The embassy can discuss the options with you.

If your application for a residence permit for the Netherlands has been approved and you are in a country other than Russia you can apply for the MVV sticker at the Dutch embassy or consulate-general in your current country of residence. You do not require a residence permit for that country.

Contact the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) to change your application location.