Month: January 2021

Let’s imagine you met a girl from Russia on a dating site and she asks money for a Russian passport to meet you. In this article we’ll explain how much does it cost to issue a Russian passport. True cost of Russian passport.

Having of a passport for Russians is something must have. People leave Russia on business, in search of to study, on scientific trips, they travel etc.

Russian passports for travel abroad: types and cost of issuance

According to the Russian law “On the procedure for leaving the Russian Federation and entering the Russian Federation,” a passport is the main document according to which citizens can leave the country and return. This document also serves for identification of a citizen outside Russia.

RF Ministry of Internal Affairs authorities issue two types of Russian  passports for travel abroad that are legally equivalent: the old model and the new (biometric) one. This is due to the fact that since 2009 a gradual transition to biopassports has begun in Russia.

Clarifying how much the state duty for the replacement of a passport costs, it should be said that everything will depend on the type of document. In 2021, Russian citizens have the opportunity to choose a biometric passport or an old generation document at their discretion. Each of the documents has its own benefits:

It should be added that a biometric passport allows you to reduce to a minimum the time for passing through passport control, while a paper passport involves passing the border in a general manner. In addition, every year an increasing number of states require incoming foreigners to provide their biometric data.

Federal paperwork fee

Every citizen of the Russian Federation must pay a federal document processing fee. The amount of this fee is different. The state duty on a Russian passport of a new sample for 10 years should cover all costs incurred by the state for the production of a document. The complication of the manufacturing procedure, the use of modern technologies and materials objectively led to an increase in costs. The last increase in the federal fee for the issuance of a new generation passport occurred in 2021. The fee for the provision of this public service is 5,000 rubles (53 USD) for citizens of the Russian Federation from the age of 14.

The Tax Code of the Russian Federation allows former citizens of Ukraine not to pay the state duty for issuing a new passport of the Russian Federation if:

• they acquired Russian citizenship in accordance with the constitutional law of the Russian Federation of 21.03. 2021 No. 6-FKZ (part 1 of article 4);
• they are applying for the first time for registration of a Russian passport on the territory of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol;
• they have a valid (at the time of application) Ukrainian passport for travel abroad.

The state duty for an old-style Russian passport for 5 years is 2000 rubles (21 USD) for citizens of the Russian Federation from the age of 14. For citizens of the Russian Federation living in the Kaliningrad region, the state provides the opportunity to issue Russian passports of both new and old models without having to pay a state fee.

An urgent passport of Russia is required: the cost of the solution

The administrative regulations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation clearly prescribe the timing of the issuance of a passport:

• 30 days – upon submission of documents at the place of registration;
• 90 days – if submitted at the place of registration, if the applicant has access to the state secret (military, civil servant, scientist, etc.);
• 120 days – when applying at the place of residence.

The processing time of the submitted documents and the production of a Russian passport do not depend on its type – it does not matter whether it is old or new model. The countdown starts from the date of application.

Acceleration of the process is possible only with the registration of an old-style passport (there are no ready-made forms for biometric passports). The document will be ready within three days, provided that:

• official confirmation of the need for urgent surgery or emergency treatment in a clinic abroad (when delay can lead to serious consequences);
• a certificate or document confirming the death / serious illness of a close relative in another state.

The amount of the state duty on such a passport remains the same: no additional money will be required for the urgency.

Fees can be paid at bank branches, through payment terminals, Internet banking and the State Service portal (GosUslugi).

Need to check if Russian passport is real

My girlfriend sent me a copy of her Russian passport. I don’t trust her and want to verify her Russian passport. We can help you. Use our service of Russian passport check. We have the necessary knowledge and experience. Get the result within 24 hours.

Updated for late 2025. If you lost money to a woman you met online (fake passport, fake emergencies, “solvency deposits,” bar/restaurant traps), this page explains in plain English how such conduct is normally treated under Ukrainian criminal law, what documents you need, how to file a police report, and what realistic outcomes look like for foreign victims.

What Counts as “Fraud” in Ukraine (Plain-English)

Under Ukrainian criminal law, fraud is the deliberate obtaining of your money or property by deception or abuse of trust. The label “fraud” does not require physical force—only proof that the other side intentionally misled you to make you pay. Online dating scams fall squarely within this logic when money is requested under false pretexts (robbery at the airport, visa fines, medical bills, “proof of solvency,” etc.).

Penalties scale with circumstances: the higher the loss and the more organized the scheme (e.g., multiple actors, repeated episodes), the harsher the potential liability—ranging from fines and restrictions to real prison terms in aggravated cases. Courts also look at restitution and cooperation, but these are not automatic shields against liability.

Typical Romance-Fraud Patterns We See

We have verified thousands of cases since 2010. The same patterns repeat: “airport robbery,” “urgent deposit to cross the border,” “sick relative,” “bar check inflation,” “friend joins for a minute,” or a fake Ukrainian passport presented to gain your trust. If your loss arose from any of these scripts, you already speak the language of a criminal complaint in Ukraine.

Evidence You Should Prepare (Before You Report)

• Full chat logs (WhatsApp/Telegram/Email/Dating site) exported with dates and visible contact IDs.
• Payment proofs (bank/PayPal/Wise/Paysend/crypto exchange confirmations), with recipient names, account numbers, and timestamps.
• Images & files (selfies, “documents,” boarding passes). Keep the original files if possible (metadata helps).
• Call/video records (screenshots or platform receipts), and names/usernames of anyone who joined.
• Timeline in one page: when you met, when money requests started, where funds went, and current contact status.

Where & How to Report

You can file a complaint with the National Police of Ukraine (including cyber units). As a foreigner, you may submit in person while in Ukraine or remotely via a properly prepared statement with attachments and certified translations. A clear, well-structured case with banking traces gets traction faster than emotional narratives.

For a step-by-step strategy (structure of the statement, what to translate, how to reference exhibits, and how to follow up so the case is not ignored), study our dedicated guide: How to Bring to Justice a Ukrainian Scam on Dating Sites.

What Happens After You File

1. Registration: Police register your statement and open pre-trial proceedings if elements of a crime are present.
2. Investigation: Requests to banks/payment providers, interviews, technical reviews of devices and accounts.
3. Procedural decisions: Suspect identification, notice of suspicion, and—if evidence is sufficient—referral to court.
4. Restitution claims: You can declare a civil claim within the criminal case to seek compensation from the offender(s).

Timelines vary. Cases with clean evidence (bank trails, clear identities) move faster than stories with anonymous crypto wallets and burner accounts. Your role is to supply a compact, documented brief that makes investigation efficient.

How We Can Help (Verification & Documentation)

Before or alongside a report, we can verify the person and the documents connected to your loss and prepare an evidence pack that police can use.

• Verification of Ukrainian Woman — full profile check
• Ukrainian Passport Check — confirm if the ID is genuine

If the woman claims to be Russian (or used a Russian document), use our Russia-focused services on Nesting Check; if the woman is from Kazakhstan, use our Kazakhstan verification. Ask us—We’ll direct you to the right form.

Realistic Expectations for Foreign Victims

Not every case ends with an arrest, but a well-built file can: (1) stop further fraud against others, (2) pressure the offender to cooperate or make restitution, and (3) support chargeback/dispute processes in your bank. A documented complaint also protects you if your name appears in related transactions or accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to come to Ukraine to report?
Not always. You can authorize representation or submit a properly formatted statement with translations and notarizations where required. Being available for follow-up helps.

What if I only sent crypto?
Still report. Even with crypto, chats, KYC screenshots from exchanges, and timing can link to suspects and show intent.

She “returned part of the money.” Should I stop?
Partial refunds do not erase prior criminal conduct if deception is proven. Document everything and continue formally.

Can a fake passport alone be a crime?
Using forged documents to obtain money can be part of a broader fraud scheme and trigger additional liability. Keep originals/screenshots for forensic review.

Bottom Line

Ukrainian law treats deliberate, deceptive taking of your money as a crime. Your job is to present a clean, documented case that lets investigators act. Start with verification, assemble evidence, and file a focused complaint using the procedure in our justice guide. That’s how you turn a private loss into a case the system can actually move.

Next steps: build your file with us → verify the woman • verify the passport • follow the strategy in How to Bring to Justice…

What documents are most often forged in Ukraine, what is threatened and how to protect yourself from forgery.

The demand for forged documents in Ukraine is impressive.

Despite the fact that Ukrainian companies are actively switching to electronic document management, most government agencies and enterprises still use paper documents. Therefore, the risk of forgery of passports, power of attorney, certificates, seals and stamps in Ukraine is high.

False passports, diplomas, health books, travel documents, certificate of a participant in hostilities – these are only a small part of the documents that are most often forged in Ukraine. It seems that in the largest country in Europe you can fake almost everything. All you need is money. And to find executors of such “order” is easier than simple, because in order to buy a fake certificate, certificate or driver’s license, it is enough to find ads online:

After all, only last year in Ukraine, 300+ facts of forged documents were revealed during the provision of services in the service centers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

How and for what purpose are documents forged in Ukraine?

The legislation of Ukraine stipulates that not only completely false documents are considered forged (complete forgery), but also real documents in which any changes are made that distort their content (partial forgery).

There are also different ways to forge documents.

Complete forgery:

• making a document or its form
• entering false information into the document
• forgery of the signature of the person certifying the document
• forgery of imprints of seals and stamps

Partial forgery of documents:

• mechanical removal of part of the text
• removal of text by chemical reagents and various solvents
• introduction of new words, phrases or individual characters into the document
• pasting of separate sheets, gluing of a photo, replacement of sheets

And if everything is clear with completely false documents, then the choice of the method of partial forgery of the document depends on the purposes of the attacker who decided to forge it.

Forgery of documents appears in fraudulent schemes, when criminals by deception want to illegally and gratuitously seize someone else’s property. And you don’t have to have a raider appetite. Fraudsters encroach on apartments, houses, land and cars.

A classic example is buying / selling / renting real estate. Attackers pretend to be real owners and investors. They change the last name, first name, patronymic, year of birth, or keep this information, but replace the photo in the Ukrainian passport.

Black “notaries” are often involved in forging documents. Authorized notaries or even those who forged a license certify false documents. As a result, the fictitious seller of the apartment provides buyers with a full package of false documents. It does not look different from the real ones, because notarial seals are affixed, and the design seems to correspond to the letter of the law.

The situation is the same with car sales. It may seem that the deal is fair and the owner of the car is “clean”. But after buying the desired car, it turns out: the car is stolen, the owner is not real. Although there is no corresponding entry in the register.

By evading alimony, people change the relevant entries in the Ukrainian passport. In particular, forged blank sheets are stamped with counterfeit stamps of registration, residence permit and other data.

Forgery of statutory documents is a favorite method of raiders, fraudsters, who thus try to seize a certain enterprise, company office and other property.

When forging statutory documents, they often indicate another owner, then enter false data into the state register of legal entities.

And then, often armed criminals come with a court order or a state executor to the checkpoint of the plant or enterprise, to the office or warehouse building. They claim to be the owners of the enterprise, as evidenced by the relevant entry in the register of legal entities.

Criminal liability for forgery of documents in Ukraine

Ukrainian legislation qualifies forgery of documents, stamps, seals or forms as a set of crimes under Part 1 of Art. 358, part 1 of Art. 14, parts 2, 3 or 4 of Art. 190:

However, if someone forged documents in order to exercise their real right based on current legislation, it is still considered a violation of the law under Article 358.

In such a situation, there is an encroachment on the established procedure for documentary evidence of facts that have legal significance. So, this is also a crime.

Despite the fact that almost every day in the Ukrainian media there is information that the police have caught another criminal group for forging documents, this does not stop others from actively engaging in such fishing. It is, among other things, about forgery of Ukrainian passports for fraud on dating sites.

Probably, the reason is that this service is not only highly paid, but also very popular. But many of them do not think that by turning to such tricksters and buying a fake document from them, they themselves become violators of the law.

And all because Article 358 of the Criminal code of Ukraine defines that the crime is considered committed in case:

• forgery of a certificate or other document (making changes to it)
• sale of a forged document
• production of a counterfeit seal, stamp
• sales of a stamp and the press
• use of a knowingly forged document

That is, the responsibility lies with the person or group of people who made the document, and the one who bought it from them and uses it.

As for punishment (criminal liability), according to the same article, such actions are punishable by a fine of up to seventy tax-free minimum incomes or arrest for up to six months, or restriction of liberty for up to three years.

If the violator forged the documents again, he will be sentenced to up to 5 years in prison or imprisonment for the same term.

How to protect yourself from forged Ukrainian documents

Are you going to buy an apartment and have already found an option? Do not rush to bring money to the developer or seller. Check if he’s real, if he has documents to prove it. Check the authenticity of these documents and the accuracy of the data.

An investor’s reputation is another signal of whether to buy real estate from him. Start small. Read customer reviews, look for articles in the media about whether the developer was involved in suspicious financial trials, bankruptcy cases.

If you suspect that documents may be forged, use a simple algorithm:

1. Check the seller
2. Check the notary
3. Check the documents
4. Check the owner
5. Read everything you sign

Be sure to check the identity of the girls from Ukraine or Russia you meet online on dating sites. After all, the number of frauds is very high. There are special companies that even with the minimum information you have (name, photos) will help you understand whether this person is real or fake.

Everyone can face false documents in everyday life or professional activity. How to determine their authenticity? It is difficult, but still possible.

Consult experienced professionals. They know the weaknesses of the documents and how they can be checked. Second, if you have good reason to believe that the document is clearly forged, contact law enforcement. It may turn out that you are not the only one who has suffered from the actions of fraudsters. In such cases, a class action lawsuit is filed and the chance of winning the case increases.

When buying real estate, ordering certain services or signing an important contract with a partner, you always run the risk of falling into the hands of fraudsters.

That is why in such important matters it is better to reinsure and contact an experienced company that will check the necessary documents, their legality and authenticity – Ukrainian-Passport.com