Leaving Russia with Debts: Lawmakers Propose Raising the Threshold for Travel Bans

Russian lawmakers have proposed increasing the minimum debt threshold that can trigger a travel ban from the country. Currently set at 30,000 rubles, the suggested amendment would raise the limit to 90,000 rubles, according to RIA Novosti.

The initiative was put forward by deputies from various parliamentary factions, who argue that Article 67 of the Federal Law on Enforcement Proceedings should be revised. If passed, bailiffs would only be allowed to restrict outbound travel for debts exceeding 90,000 rubles. For individuals failing to comply with enforcement orders, the threshold would also increase—from the current 10,000 to 30,000 rubles.

The authors of the bill clarified that the proposed changes do not apply to debts related to alimony, compensation for health damage, property losses, or moral damages. For these categories of debtors, the current thresholds will remain in place.

Why the Law Needs Updating

The explanatory note to the bill highlights that the current thresholds were established in 2017. Since then, administrative fines and utility tariffs have increased significantly, while the purchasing power of the ruble has declined. The authors argue that sums of 30,000 or 10,000 rubles are no longer considered critical and are often accumulated from multiple minor infractions—such as speeding tickets or parking violations.

As a result, the travel ban list may include law-abiding citizens who were unaware of their debts due to a change of address or registration issues, and thus didn’t manage to settle them in time. The bill has already been submitted to the government for review, after which it is expected to be introduced in the State Duma.

New Debtor Registry for Alimony Cases Launched in May 2025

While these more lenient rules are under discussion, a new digital debtor registry for alimony cases was launched in May 2025, maintained by the Federal Bailiff Service (FSSP), according to news agency Prime.

This registry includes individuals held administratively or criminally liable for failing to pay for the maintenance of minor children, incapacitated parents, and others specified by law. It is part of the public enforcement proceedings database and is openly accessible online.

Consequences of Being Listed in the Registry

Anastasia Yakovleva, a lawyer at MKA "Sovetnik-Center", notes that inclusion in the registry could lead to additional sanctions such as:

Bans on using government digital services

Restrictions on purchasing premium travel tickets

Disqualification from public service employment

Restrictions on receiving loans or credit—except those specifically aimed at paying alimony debt

Debtors can only be removed from the registry after fully repaying their debts. Employers will be able to verify whether employees are on the defaulters list, and bailiffs will receive automatic employment data via an inter-agency document exchange system.

9.5 Million Enforcement Cases Involve Travel Bans

As of March 1, 2025, the Federal Bailiff Service reported that travel bans were in effect under 9.5 million enforcement cases, an increase of nearly 3 million from the same period in 2024. The agency clarified that this number refers to the number of enforcement actions, not individuals, as one person may be subject to multiple cases.

According to the current version of the Federal Enforcement Law, travel restrictions may be imposed for debts related to loans, taxes, fines, utility bills, failure to pay alimony, or undergoing bankruptcy procedures.

The general threshold is 30,000 rubles

For alimony and non-property-related debts, it is 10,000 rubles

You can check for travel restrictions on the official FSSP website. Once the debt is cleared, the travel ban is lifted, but the data update usually takes 3 to 5 business days.