How a Foreigner Can Get a SIM Card in 2025

Since January 1, 2025, the rules for the purchasing and using of SIM cards for foreigners in Russia have changed:

- Now a contract can only be concluded in person

- One person can register no more than 10 numbers for himself

- Now the registration will require SNILS and an account on the Gosuslugi site https://www.gosuslugi.ru/ and confirmation of identity by biometrics registered in the Unified Biometric System

- Payment for a cellular communication can only be made by cashless payment

- The contract will contain a unique 15-digit device number - IMEI ((International Mobile Equipment Identity) - a unique 15-digit number assigned to each mobile device that supports cellular communication).

In advance, you need to register on the Gosuslugi portal, and then take biometrics. For this:

1. Translate your passport into Russian at a translation agency and have it notarized
2. Issue a SNILS:

- at the Social Fund of Russia (The nearest office is Vladivostok, 16 Fontannaya St., 1st floor)

- at the MFC (the nearest office is Vladivostok, Partizansky Prospekt 28A).

Take your passport and its Russian translation with you. SNILS will be ready at once

3. Write your e-mail.
4. Register on Gosuslugi:

- Through the Gosuslugi site https://www.gosuslugi.ru/  if you have a Russian number and are a client of a Russian bank

- In person at the MFC. Take your passport, its Russian translation and SNILS with you. The officer will create a personal account in your name and send the documents for verification

After verification, you will receive a password for the first login to Gosuslugi on your phone or e-mail.

5. Make biometrics - voice data and facial scan. To do this, take your passport, its Russian translation and SNILS and go to the bank. Recording biometrics in the Unified Biometric System will take a few seconds

If you already have a SIM card

Those who already have a SIM card will need to confirm their identity at a telecom store before July 1, 2025 follow 5 steps.

1. Make a translation of your passport into Russian and have the translation notarized.
2. Register your SNILS, if you do not have one.
3. Go to the Gosuslugi portal https://www.gosuslugi.ru/ and make an account there. It must be confirmed at the offices of the MFC, the Social Fund of Russia or through your bank''s application.
4. Register your biometric data at a Russian bank office.
5. Go to a mobile operator''s office and sign a contract for the use of your sim card or for the new one.

Confirm your data before July 1

If you miss the deadline, your SIM card will be blocked.

If more than 10 SIM cards have already been issued

Foreigners who have already issued more than 10 SIM cards will need to withdraw from their contracts in order to be able to use the SIM card. If this is not done, from July 1, 2025, services for all SIM cards will be halted.