Leaving Russia to Schengen - which Ukrainian passport to use?
Situation: I'm a Ukrainian living in Russia with permanent residency permit (ВНЖ). I wish to visit a Schengen country (Greece) using my visa-free travel right as a Ukrainian national.
I have two Ukrainian passports for international travel:
- Non-biometric previous generation passport with lots of expired Schengen visas, Russian border stamps (including the latest entry), extensive travel history as well as information on my residency permit in Russia.
- Crisp new never-used biometric passport which allows visa-free Schengen entry, with all blank pages.
So far I can see the following issues:
- The only passport I can use to enter Greece is my biometric passport. The Greeks, however, may have questions because its completely blank.
- If I present my biometric passport to Russian border guard upon leaving, it won't have any information on my last entry to Russia and no residency permit stamp.
- If I leave Russia with my old passport, I might be denied boarding by Russians because I have no valid Schengen visa in it, and it's not biometric.
Which passport should I use to book airline tickets and which one should I present to Russian border guard in the airport? Is it a strict rule that I should use the same passport when booking tickets and passing the passport control?
Best Answer
Which passport should I use to book airline tickets and which one should I present to Russian border guard in the airport?
Show your non-biometric passport to Russian immigration. If asked about Schengen visas, show them your biometric passport in addition to the non-biometric one.
As for the airline, it makes absolutely no difference what details you put in during check-in. As long as you have your biometric passport with you at the time of boarding, they'll let you on board.
Is it a strict rule that I should use the same passport when booking tickets and passing the passport control?
No, there is no such rule.
The only passport I can use to enter Greece is my biometric passport. The Greeks, however, may have questions because its completely blank.
Having a blank passport is not suspicious at all. At worst, you can show them your other Ukrainian passport if asked about it.
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Can I enter Europe with Ukrainian passport?
If you have Ukrainian nationality and a biometric passport, you can enter the EU by presenting your passport at the border.What countries can you go to with a Ukrainian passport?
Visa requirementsCountryVisa requirementAllowed stayCzech RepublicVisa not required90 daysDenmarkVisa not required90 daysDjiboutieVisa31 daysDominicaVisa not required90 days124 more rowsWhat Ukraine is Schengen country?
That allows them to enter any country that is a part of the Schengen Area Treaty. Unfortunately, Ukraine is not a part of that treaty, and while there are a few countries in the world that accept a Schengen visa, Ukraine is not one of them.Can you leave Ukraine without a passport?
Due to the fact that not every refugee has the opportunity to collect identity documents, or no passport at all, representatives of the State Border Service carry out the passage through the border for exit by citizens of Ukraine on internal passports or in exceptional situations even without them.Ukraine orders forces to withdraw from Sievierodonetsk | DW News
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