Starting June 30, 2025, New Rules for Foreigners Entering Russia Take Effect

GOAL: To create digital profiles of foreigners and stateless persons (hereinafter “foreigners”) in order to facilitate the resolution of various issues requiring application to Russian state, municipal and other institutions, in particular:

• Informing about your visit to Russia;
• Receiving information about the process of getting services in Russia, electronic applications for services (for example, obtaining a voluntary medical insurance policy (DMS), signing an agreement with a Russian communications operator, signing up to visit the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs authorities);
• Submitting documents from the digital profile in form of a QR code together with the passport or other ID.

Who is affected by the rules:

• Foreigners entering or leaving Russia;
• Foreigners who entered Russia who are not staying or living in Russia.*

* Under Decree No.1510 of the Russian Government dated 07.11.2024, the rules also apply to foreigners with a temporary or permanent residence permit. At this point, no additional explanations are available.

The rules do not apply to:

• Citizens of the Republic of Belarus;
• Foreigners under age 6;
• Heads of diplomatic missions, holders of diplomatic and service passports, their family members, etc.;

! Registering a trip without biometric data is impossible. With each new trip, a new photo of your face needs to be added to the existing biometric data

What to do when crossing the border

• Present your ID document;
• Have your photo and fingerprints taken.

At entry, the data is automatically compared to the data entered when submitting the application for the trip. Based on the information received, a digital profile will be formed – a unified collection of data about the foreigner, including passport details, photo, biometric data, purpose of the trip, length of stay and other important information.

What to do after entering Russia

• Complete the registration of biometric data in the Unified Biometric System within 10 days of entering Russia. The Gosuslugi service recommends visiting a bank branch for this;
• Confirm your Gosuslugi account;
• Obtain a Russian SIM card (not required).

This procedure has been in effect since December 1, 2024 in Moscow airports Sheremetyevo (SVO), Domodedovo (DME), Vnukovo (VKO) and Zhukovo (ZIA), as well as at the vehicle checkpoint Mashtakovo in Orenburg Region.

! Starting June 30, 2025, this procedure will apply to all checkpoints in Russia. Also, all foreigners (whether entering with a visa or under a visa-free regime) will be obligated to complete the registration of biometric data within 10 days of entering Russia.

Additional information

Should any questions arise in connection with the above or if you need any additional materials, please contact the CLS office in St. Petersburg or Moscow.

This information letter keeps clients of CLS and other interested parties abreast of information that may, to some extent, affect their activity or cater to their interests. The opinions and commentaries expressed in this information letter shall not be deemed legal advice and do not cancel the need to obtain legal advice or legal opinion on separate issues.

https://www.cls.ru/

https://t.me/LegalRecipes