New Regulations for Foreigners Buying SIM Cards in Russia Starting January 1, 2025
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Moscow, Dec 26 (NationPress) The process for foreigners to acquire SIM cards will tighten in Russia starting January 1, 2025, according to an announcement made by the Ministry of Digital Development on Thursday.
The forthcoming regulations are designed to strengthen measures against fraudulent activities and the use of gray SIM cards.
Under the updated guidelines, the communication contract must be completed in-person at a communication store; an individual can register a maximum of 10 numbers, including corporate ones; and it will be necessary to have SNILS, a State Services account, and undergo biometric identification verification recorded in the Unified Biometric System. Furthermore, the contract must include a unique 15-character device number — IMEI.
These changes are exclusive to foreign citizens and stateless individuals and will not impact Russian citizens.
Foreigners who currently hold SIM cards must verify their identity at a communication store by July 1, 2025, and must complete the SNILS process.
SNILS is an individual personal account insurance number assigned to each citizen by the Social Fund (SFR). This number consists of 11 digits and is permanently assigned, remaining unchanged even if documents are lost or names change. It is utilized for pension contributions and for registration on State Services and department websites. This digital document can be used to apply for and receive electronic services.
To acquire SNILS, a foreign citizen or stateless individual needs an identity document. For foreign citizens, a notarized translation of their passport into Russian is also required.
The ministry has indicated that foreigners who have obtained more than 10 SIM cards must terminate any excess contracts to maintain service. Failure to do so will result in the suspension of services for all numbers starting July 1, 2025.
For registering confirmed biometrics in the Unified Biometric System (UBS), a non-Russian individual will require their passport and its notarized translation into Russian or an identity document of a stateless person; SNILS, and a verified account on Gosuslugi. If an account does not exist, a bank employee will facilitate its creation during the biometrics registration process.
