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The Kremlin is on the verge of implementing a mandatory “exit fee” for every Russian citizen wishing to travel abroad.
This measure is intended to both bolster state revenues and curb capital outflows from the country.
According to Kyrylo Shevchenko, the former Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, this proposed fee would be a flat-rate charge applicable to all private travel, effectively functioning as a tax on tourism and non-essential journeys outside Russia.
Notably, exceptions would be made for business-related travel and diplomatic missions, which would remain unaffected by this financial obligation.
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Shevchenko emphasised the pressing financial crisis at the Kremlin, stating on X that “The Kremlin is desperately short of cash.”
This statement aligns with reports from the Moscow Times, which indicate that the Russian state is grappling with diminishing revenues from oil and gas exports, coupled with escalating defence expenditures.
These financial challenges have compelled the government to explore innovative solutions to bridge the budget deficit, especially as the anticipated economic benefits from wartime activities have started to wane.
This potential introduction of an exit fee coincides with a broader trend of increasing taxes within the Russian economy. Earlier this year, in January, the government raised the Value Added Tax (VAT) from 20% to 22%.
Additionally, corporate tax rates were increased, and a new five-tier personal income tax system was introduced, with rates spanning from 13% to 22%. This system replaced the previous uniform flat tax rate of 13%, thereby amplifying the financial burden on individual citizens.
Economic analysts argue that these fiscal adjustments disproportionately affect the everyday Russian populace. They suggest that such policies aim to shift financial pressure onto ordinary citizens, thereby incentivising domestic consumption and local spending while discouraging spending abroad.
Since the onset of the invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent imposition of extensive Western sanctions, a significant number of middle-class Russians have been utilising their savings to fund overseas travel, with popular destinations including Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and various Central Asian nations.
❗Russia is planning to introduce a special “exit fee” on every trip abroad for its citizens. Officially pitched as a way to boost domestic tourism & keep vacation spending inside the country, the real driver is far simpler & more urgent: the Kremlin is desperately short of cash.… pic.twitter.com/9lnpRXurIk
— Kyrylo Shevchenko (@KShevchenkoReal) March 18, 2026
The introduction of the exit fee is perceived as part of a broader strategy to stem currency outflows and encourage individuals to retain their financial resources in Russia.
In a pointed commentary on this issue, Shevchenko remarked, “As for me, the best way to contain Russian narratives is through an iron curtain: let every Russian stay locked within their borders and never travel anywhere ever again.”
His statement underscores the Kremlin’s desperation to control both economic and informational narratives amid a strained geopolitical landscape.
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