Russia is planning to introduce a mandatory “exit fee” for every Russian citizen traveling abroad, it has been claimed. according to kirillo shevchenkoThe Kremlin is going to introduce a fixed fee that every Russian citizen will have to pay into the state budget every time he crosses the border to leave the country, the former governor of the National Bank of Ukraine said in a post on X on Wednesday (March 18).
This applies to all non-business or non-diplomatic travel – effectively imposing a tax on tourism and private travel. According to Mr Shevchenko, the move is aimed at boosting domestic tourism and keeping holiday spending “inside the country”. “The Kremlin is desperately short of cash,” said the banker, quoted by the Moscow Times, who added that Russian oil and gas revenues are “collapsing under the pressure of sanctions.” “The wartime economic boom is fast waning, and the 2026 deficit is looming. Instead of cutting defense outlays, Moscow is imposing new tariffs and increasing existing taxes.”
This includes raising VAT to 22% – a move taken by the Kremlin in January – higher corporate rates and progressive income taxes, when Russia implements a five-tier progressive personal income tax (NDFL) system in January 2025, replacing its previous flat 13% rate. Rates now range from 13% to 22% depending on annual income, with higher earners targeted to boost state revenues. The 13% base rate applies to annual income up to 2.4 million rubles (just under £21,500).
Mr Shevchenko said the changes were “quietly passing the burden onto ordinary people” in Russia.
The Russian government is trying to stem the outflow of currency from the country at a time when energy revenues are stagnating and the costs of the ongoing war remain high. Since the invasion of Ukraine and subsequent sanctions, thousands of middle-class Russians have spent their savings abroad, including in countries such as Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Central Asia.
“As far as I’m concerned, the best way to stop the (Russian) narrative is an iron curtain: let every Russian remain locked inside their borders and never travel anywhere again. #MakeRussiaPay #RussiaEconomy,” he said.
Last week it was revealed that Vladimir Putin and the extremist government of Iran have reportedly formed an alliance to “hijack the global economy”, according to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. Speaking to the Press Association during a visit to Saudi Arabia, the Foreign Secretary linked the threat from Iran to Russia, Tehran’s key ally. He said: “We have seen these relations between Russia and Iran for a long time.
“We’re looking at it in terms of technology, we’re looking at it in terms of approach, we’re looking at it in terms of this type of strategy, and we’re looking at it in the way these two states try to support each other and try to benefit together from trying to take over the global economy.”
He said: “We have been very clear about the threat to the global economy and our well-being from both Russia and Iran.”
