Tried it myself: is it really possible to get a passport without nerves and queues?

      May 20, 2026 11:08 Society NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" - Anastasia Nazarova — A business trip to China is planned. Do you have a passport?

      — No… Let me quickly get one!

      — Well, if you can do it in one day…

      — …

      Last summer, I experienced a real loss of losses. A sudden foreign business trip appeared at my new job. "Oh, is that possible?" I thought then. But here’s the catch: I was completely unprepared for the sudden trip abroad. An urgent passport can only be issued in exceptional cases, and my lack of foresight is unfortunately not considered a valid reason. So I was left without my first business trip abroad.

      To avoid getting into such situations again, I decided to get a passport after all. Moreover, I opted for the new model — with biometrics and a state fee of 6000 rubles. The necessary amount didn’t come together right away. And when it did, the internet was already scaring everyone with stories about queues and processing times that could take months.

      At the end of March, a wave of publications rolled through the media: it was said that getting a passport before the vacation season had become a real quest. After reading all this, I decided: it’s time to check it out for myself. I’ll get the passport, and maybe I’ll get material for an article.

      On April 4, I submitted an application for the new model passport through "Gosuslugi". The most tedious stage turned out to be filling out the form. You need to indicate places of work for the last ten years. If, like me, you no longer remember where you worked in the hypothetical 2017, it’s easier to request an extract from your employment record book. The necessary information arrives quite quickly.

      On April 7, I received a notification: the application was accepted for consideration by the migration department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Following that, another message arrived inviting me to appear at the passport issuance department within 15 days.

      When applying through "Gosuslugi", I chose the department at 34 Yubileynaya Street in the Soviet district and a convenient time — 9:00 AM. It seemed like: I came by appointment — walked in — got processed — left. But no. The first challenge awaited at the electronic queue terminal.

      A substantial live queue had formed early in the morning. And it seems that this department always has one — as part of the interior. Many come without a prior appointment, but everyone still needs a ticket. And the terminal, as luck would have it, has a character: it slightly freezes, takes its time, and clearly doesn’t like people. People start to slow down in sync with the terminal, which increases both the queue and the overall tension in the corridor.

      But there’s a life hack. However, it only works at Yubileynaya. If there’s a crowd at the main terminal, confidently head right down the corridor almost to the end. There’s another machine there. For some reason, almost no one knows about it, so getting a ticket there is much faster.

      Although the most optimal option is still to book through "Gosuslugi" in advance. Then you just need to enter the appointment code, and the terminal will instantly spit out a ticket with your queue number. After that, you just have to watch the TV screen, which will indicate which window to approach.

      Another piece of advice for those planning to apply for a passport: allow extra time for the procedure. Even if you’re scheduled for nine in the morning, it’s not a fact that you’ll be done in half an hour.

      I spent almost an hour in the department. And all because of the camera, which categorically refused to turn on at the most critical moment.

      "And do you often have such adventures with the camera?" I asked the staff member.

      "This is the third time this week. And why do you ask? Do you know how to fix it?" she asked hopefully.

      Several staff members took turns rebooting the equipment, pressing some buttons, and thoughtfully looking at the wires. The atmosphere increasingly resembled not document processing, but emergency technical resuscitation. But after prolonged shamanic dances, the camera finally came to life, and the photo session took place.

      Submitting biometrics turned out to be much simpler. For the new model passport, you need to provide fingerprints, but the procedure took literally a couple of minutes. Just placed my fingers — done.

      And just a few weeks later, I received a message: the passport is ready for pickup.

      So the stories about endless queues and months of waiting turned out to be slightly exaggerated. Yes, there were adventures. Yes, the equipment sometimes has a life of its own. But if you submit your application in advance through "Gosuslugi" and don’t wait until vacation or a sudden business trip — getting a passport is quite feasible without losing your nerve cells. Tested on myself.

      If you can’t pay the state fee through "Gosuslugi", do it yourself through your bank's app.

      The correct details are available on the Ministry of Internal Affairs website and at the migration department. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+.