Second half of 2025: Entry application via ruID for visa-free travelers and disconnection of foreign citizens’ SIM cards that have not undergone biometric registration

All foreigners who plan to come to Russia from 30 June 2025 under a procedure not requiring a Russian visa will need to fill out and submit an entry application in advance. 

The requirements do not apply to: 

• Foreign citizens entering on the basis of a visa
• Citizens of the Republic of Belarus
• Holders of diplomatic and service passports
• Children under 6 years old.

Application deadline: 90 days – 72 hours before entry. 

The application will need to be completed and submitted via the “ruID” mobile app. The app is now available on App Store, Google Play, RuStore and AppGallery. An application may also be completed on the State Services Portal. 

In emergency cases (death of a family member or close relative, illness or treatment of the person entering), the application must be made no later than 4 hours in advance accompanied by supporting documents. 

Applications must be submitted before each entry into the Russian Federation.

To register in the app, you will need to open an account on the State Services Portal of the Russian Federation. To do this, you will need passport data and SNILS number (where a foreign citizen does not have a number, it will be generated automatically). 

If a foreign citizen already has an account on the State Services Portal, they will need their Portal login and password to log in on the ruID app.

The following details must be given in the application form: 

1. Details of the passport (or other document) with which you plan to enter the Russian Federation
2. Regions to be visited in Russia
3. The purpose of the trip
4. The planned period of stay in Russia
5. Information on children (if they are entering with the foreign citizen).

The next step is to register biometrics. This involves taking photos of your face and passport and making 3 voice recordings. Biometrics do not have to be submitted for children. If biometrics have been submitted before, a simplified procedure applies.

The data will then be sent for checking.

If the check reveals entry restrictions, this will be reported in the app.

After a person has entered Russia and their account on the State Services Portal has been confirmed, a QR code containing information from the application form will be generated in the app. This may be presented to police officers upon request. 

Our team is already starting to fill out the first application forms and will monitor developments in the use of this innovation. 

From 1 January 2025, foreign citizens (of all categories, including citizens of the Republic of Belarus) may purchase new Russian SIM cards only by submitting biometric data.

From 1 July 2025, Russian SIM cards purchased by foreign citizens before 1 January 2025 that have not been re-registered using biometrics will cease to work.

The registration of a SIM card involves multiple steps, and various difficulties can arise: discrepancies between data on a foreign citizen held in different government databases, errors in completing forms, technical problems with equipment for recording biometrics, not all MFC offices/banks provide the required services to foreign citizens, etc.

Our team has the skills and knowledge needed to address any problems that may arise in this process. Although in most cases we manage to complete all the steps in 1 day, we recommend allowing a margin of time (at least 3 days) for this process.

It should be noted that the idea of registering foreign employees’ sim cards to another employee with Russian citizenship to simplify the process is contrary to the spirit of the law and carries risks. We do not recommend doing this. Furthermore, Russian citizens are subject to a limit of 20 customer numbers.