Travel & Education Abroad | Russia

Recently, the US Consulate General in Vladivostok received an official notice from the Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia reminding us that American citizens may travel in so-called Border Zone Regime Territories (See section 1 below) only under very limited circumstances as regulated by FSB decree # 458 issued on September 10, 2007. In order to enter such Border Zone Regime Territories, a foreigner must have a passport, a migration card, and an FSB permit. An American who does not have the required documents may not enter.

There are also several other restricted areas (See section 2 below.) in the Russian Far East. The information below is, to the best of our knowledge, accurate as of 1 March 2008. The US Consulate, however, strongly encourages American citizens to check with the FSB before traveling to these regions, since access to the Border Zone Regime Territories and other restricted areas is subject to change.

Please note the following Border Zone Regime Territories in the Russian Far East: 

Chukotskiy Autonomous Okrug:

  The entire region is restricted. 

Kamchatskiy Kray:

Specific, limited towns and areas may be visited without special permission: Ivashka, Voyampolka, the south slopes of the Klyuchevskaya Sopka Volcano, the cities of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, Yelizovo, and the villages of Paratunka, and Termalnyy. To enter other territories on the Kamchatka Peninsula, please check with the local Border Guard office.

Khabarovskiy Kray:

The city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur is restricted.

Primorskiy Kray:

The following towns and regions are restricted and require special permission:

Khasanskiy region – Khasan, Lebedinoye, Tsukanovo

  Ussuriyskiy city okrug – Korfovka

  Lesozavodskiy city okrug – Busse, Markovo, Verkhnemikhaylovka
  Also please take note of these other restricted areas in the Russian Far East: 

  Primorskiy Kray: 

  The following areas are restricted: Russkiy Island, Bolshoy Kamen, Fokino, Petrovka, Sukhodol, Dunay, Putyatin.

Americans living or traveling in Russia are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the Department of State’s travel registration web site, https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Russia. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.
For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs web site at http://travel.state.gov, where current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, Travel Warnings, and health-information resources can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S., or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).