The Ministry of Finance has developed rules for self-locking of SIM cards

Telecom operators will not be able to issue a SIM card to a client if he has set a self-ban on concluding a contract for the provision of mobile communication services. The relevant document was published on April 14 on the portal of draft regulatory legal acts.

"If, during verification, the telecom operator finds that an individual subscriber has established a ban on concluding contracts for the provision of mobile radiotelephone services, the telecom operator is obliged not to provide communication services for this subscriber number," the resolution says.

According to the document, the operator must also inform the subscriber that he has a self-lock installed.

"In this way, important measures will be implemented to control SIM cards and protect users from potential threats and fraud," the Russian Ministry of Finance said in a Telegram post.

Service for checking SIM cards on "Public services": when it starts working, limits, how to find "gray" numbers

The number and registration of SIM cards can be checked in your personal account.

Since April 1, the Gosuslugi portal has launched a service that allows Russians to check all SIM cards issued in their name. The new tool will help identify unaccounted-for numbers that can be used by fraudsters. It is recommended to use the service to increase protection against criminal schemes.

On March 27, it was reported that a self-locking service for remote registration of SIM cards for citizens could be launched on the Gosuslugi portal in the spring of 2026.