One Way Ticket Legal Team
Leaving Russia in 2025 demands careful preparation. Since mobilization began in 2022, the situation has shifted repeatedly. This guide was compiled by our lawyers on the basis of current legislation and real One Way Ticket client cases.
Step 1: Check the databases
Before buying a ticket, you need to verify your legal standing. Several databases can create problems at the border.
- •The bailiff database (FSSP): debts over 10,000 RUB can block your departure
- •The military registry: relevant for men aged 18–65
- •The tax debt database: outstanding taxes
- •The bankruptcy registry: bankrupt status restricts travel
- •Enforcement proceedings over child support
⚠️ Important: run these checks 2–4 weeks before your planned departure. The databases don't update instantly, and lifting a travel ban can take up to 5 working days even after the debt is paid off.
Step 2: Moving money and assets
Russia's currency legislation has changed dramatically in recent years. Here are the current rules for taking funds out of the country as of 2025:
- •Foreign cash: capped at the equivalent of $10,000 per person (Decree No. 81/2022) — amounts above the cap cannot be taken out in cash
- •Entering the EU, cash of €10,000 or more must be declared
- •Rubles: up to 100,000 RUB with no restrictions; limits apply for some countries
- •Jewelry: items above a certain value must be declared
- •Card transfers: virtually unrestricted for non-residents; limits for residents
- •Cryptocurrency: regulation changes quickly — transactions must be reported under the rules of your tax residence; legal advice is essential
Step 3: Exit routes
Direct flights from Russia to most European countries are still unavailable due to closed airspace. Here are the current routes, weighed for minimal connections and risk:
- •✈️ Via Istanbul (Turkey) — the most popular hub, Turkish Airlines
- •✈️ Via Dubai (UAE) — Emirates, Flydubai, Air Arabia
- •✈️ Via Yerevan (Armenia) — no border control with Russia
- •🚌 Via Belarus → Poland (bus/car): most border crossings are closed — check the current status
- •🚂 Via Finland (with a Schengen visa): the Allegro train is suspended; road transport is possible
- •✈️ Via Kazakhstan, Georgia, Serbia — the "neutral" routes
“A calm departure is not about panic — it's about systematic, lawful preparation.”
Step 4: What to take with you
- •International passport + a copy (kept separately)
- •Property documents (if any)
- •Employment record book and diploma (originals or notarized copies)
- •Birth, marriage and divorce certificates
- •INN and SNILS (you'll need them to close accounts and settle taxes)
- •Medical records and prescriptions for chronic medication
- •Digital copies of all of the above, stored in the cloud