The procedure for entry of foreigners without a visa has changed in Russia. What you need to know

Starting from June 30, the entry procedure for foreigners who do not need a visa is being changed in Russia. They can submit an application for entry to the Russian Federation using the ruID mobile application. It will allow you to access some government services in Russia and purchase a SIM card. What foreigners need to know before crossing the border is in the Izvestia article.

How to register in the app

• Until June 30, 2026, an experiment is being conducted at all Russian border checkpoints on the entry of foreigners and stateless persons who enjoy the right of visa-free entry into the country. The essence of the experiment is that you can use the ruID application to fill out an application for entry to Russia. The experiment started on December 1, 2024 at Moscow's Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky airports, as well as at the Mashtakovo crossing in the Orenburg region on the border with Kazakhstan.

• To fill out the application, you will first need to register in the ruID application. An account created in Russian Public Services is also suitable for logging in. An application to ruID should be submitted no later than 72 hours before entering Russia, but also no earlier than 90 days in advance. In exceptional cases, such as the death of a close relative or emergency treatment, you can apply for entry in four hours.

Without crossing borders: foreigners will be banned from entering for insulting Russia

The State Duma is preparing amendments to the draft law on the seizure of property of citizens who oppose the interests of the Russian Federation abroad.

• To enter using ruID, you need to fill in some information: the country of departure, goals and dates of travel to the Russian Federation, regions of visit, and information about children (indicated by both parents). The application also allows you to submit biometrics: a photo of a face, a voice recording, and a snapshot of an identity document. RuID works in several foreign languages, including English, Tajik and Uzbek. New languages will be added in the future.

• After passing the border control and verifying the data entered into ruID, you will need to visit a bank branch connected to the Unified Biometric System to complete the registration of biometric data. Then you will need to confirm your Public Services account at the MFC branch. You can also apply for SNILS there. After completing these procedures, a digital profile of the foreigner will be created with its own QR code, which can be presented along with the identity card.

What the app provides

• Confirmation of all data will allow a foreigner or a stateless person to purchase a new Russian SIM card or to reissue an old one. This, in turn, opens up access to a number of government services, many of which can be accessed electronically.

• Foreigners who have completed the entire procedure from registration with ruID to obtaining a SIM card will be able to look for work and find employment in Russia, legalize their stay by obtaining a patent, work permit or residence permit, confirm their education, make an appointment with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and officially translate their name into Russian.

• Among other things, foreigners will be able to pay fines, tax debts and state duties. It will also be possible to check in ruID for restrictions on entry to Russia, which will be established by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Who needs to register

• Children under the age of six and citizens of Belarus will not need to fill out an application for entry to Russia through the ruID application. Employees of diplomatic and consular institutions, officials of international organizations, holders of diplomatic and official passports entering for the performance of official duties, as well as family members of all these categories also do not need registration.

Guest entrance: Russia will introduce a digital migrant profile

It will help to control the status of foreigners

• In general, for the duration of the experiment, submitting an application through ruID is voluntary. His absence will not affect the conduct of border control and will not be grounds for refusal of entry. The visa-free travel regime for foreign citizens to Russia does not change.