Unauthorized migrants in EBS without proper registration face termination of communication services.
In a move to enhance security and combat fraud, Russia has introduced stricter rules for foreigners regarding mobile service registration and entry procedures starting from 2025. These measures aim to prevent unregistered SIM cards and improve migration control.
### New Requirements for Foreigners' Mobile Service Registration
Foreigners in Russia are now required to register with the Unified Biometric System (UBS), submitting biometric data such as photos and voice recordings. Those who purchased SIM cards before 2025 must visit their mobile operators to register in the UBS and verify their identity.
In addition, foreigners need to provide a SNILS number (Russia’s social security equivalent), register on the Gosuslugi public services portal, and submit their device's International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. A maximum of 10 SIM cards can be registered to one person.
### Phased Disconnection for Non-Compliance
Starting July 1, 2025, foreigners who have not submitted biometric data will first lose international and long-distance calling, followed by internet speed reductions, and after 30 days, complete service termination for non-registration.
Inactive phone numbers will also be deactivated after more than three months of inactivity.
### Consequences for Violations
Failure to register biometric data leads to phased service disconnection, ending with full termination of mobile service. Numbers inactive beyond three months will be disabled to curb misuse.
From September 1, 2025, migrants in Moscow and the surrounding region must register in a special mobile app, giving consent for geolocation tracking and regularly reporting their location. Failure to report geolocation for more than three days leads to loss of registration, inclusion in a controlled persons registry, and likely deportation.
### Purpose of These Measures
The Russian Digital Development Ministry states these rules aim to prevent fraudulent activities and the use of unregistered SIM cards. Biometric registration and geolocation tracking are part of broader migration control measures, intensified after security concerns such as the March 2024 terrorist attack.
The new entry and registration rules also seek to create digital profiles of foreign visitors to better monitor and control migration flows.
In summary, foreigners in Russia must comply with biometric registration and mobile service rules by 2025 to maintain access to mobile networks. Non-compliance results in service disconnection, legal restrictions, and potential deportation, reflecting Russia’s effort to combat fraud and improve monitoring of foreigners within its borders.
- The new biometric registration requirements for foreigners in Russia include providing a SNILS number, registering on the Gosuslugi public services portal, and submitting their device's International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, as part of a broader crackdown on general-news topics like politics and migration control.
- From July 1, 2025, foreigners who fail to comply with these new measures will face a phased disconnection of their mobile services, with the loss of international and long-distance calling, internet speed reductions, and full service termination, making the issue of news regarding Russia's news landscape and political climate even more crucial.
