The Russian Ministry of Health is planning to amend the list of documents that verify age when purchasing tobacco and nicotine-containing products. If the relevant draft order is adopted, starting from September 1, 2027, another document will be added to the list — a temporary identity card for a stateless person.
According to current regulations, to verify their age, a buyer can use a foreign citizen's passport, a residence permit (VNZH), a temporary residence permit (RVP), a refugee certificate, or a certificate of temporary asylum. The list also includes the Russian internal passport, international passport, driver's license, seaman's passport, diplomatic and service passports, military ID, or military service card.
The goal of the updated list, which includes a total of 14 documents, is to ensure compliance with age restrictions when purchasing tobacco products. These changes provide for the inclusion of a specific type of identity document for stateless persons in the official list.
It should be noted that if this procedure comes into force, individuals purchasing tobacco products at retail outlets will be required to present one of the documents listed above.
