Russians abroad face difficulties in renewing expired passports. Political refugees receive “Geneva passports,” but what about those who legally reside abroad but cannot approach the Russian embassy?
For such cases, there are travel documents known as the “gray passport,” which is an “alien’s passport” or “stateless passport” (Certificate of identity/travel documents: gray passport, alien’s passport, stateless passport). Each country has its own conditions for obtaining such passports. Standard conditions generally include a residence permit in the country and proof of the impossibility of obtaining a passport from the country of origin, such as anti-war activities. The alien’s passport serves as a replacement for the national passport and allows for free movement between many countries.
The gray passport has its limitations. It is not recommended to travel to the country of origin, as this may result in the document being annulled. Additionally, there may be restrictions on the duration of stay in other countries with a gray passport. Holders of gray passports are prohibited from entering certain countries (often friendly to Russia), such as Turkey, Vietnam, and Serbia. The UN and European Council websites offer lists of countries that accept atypical travel documents and gray passports.
To date, the committee is aware of the practice of issuing gray passports in Lithuania, France, and Germany: politicians, artists, and public figures have received these documents. In theory, gray passports are issued in most European Union countries, as well as in the USA, Australia, Canada, and some other countries.