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Communication under control: how the new procedure for registration and verification of SIM cards will work
Starting from November 1, 2025, new rules for the registration and use of SIM cards will begin to apply in Russia. Now it will be possible to register no more than 20 rooms per person, including corporate ones. Telecom operators were required to check subscriber data and block cards in case of exceeding the limit. The innovation is aimed at combating fraud, "gray" numbers and illegal telephone schemes. How exactly the new system will work and what citizens need to do to avoid being blocked is described in the Izvestia article.
How will the new limit on the number of SIM cards work?
Starting from April 1, 2025, Russia has a limit on the number of SIM cards that can be issued per person. Telecom operators were required to check the number of rooms already issued per person and the accuracy of personal data when concluding a new contract. This was reported to Izvestia by the press service of the Ministry of Finance of Russia.
If there are 20 subscribers on one subscriber, they will not be able to get new SIM cards. In addition, citizens who exceed the limit must cancel their extra rooms by November 1, 2025. These provisions are enshrined in Article 5 of Federal Law No. 303-FZ of July 31, 2023, which amended the Law On Communications.
We are talking not only about personal, but also about corporate SIM cards. In the event that the limit is exceeded, operators are required to suspend the service of excess numbers. You can check the number of registered numbers.:
— through the Gosuslugi portal in the Sim Card service;
— in the support service, personal account or office of the telecom operator.
You can terminate an outdated contract through Gosuslugi or at a communications store. The procedure takes several days, and if there is a debt, the number can be turned off only after it is paid off.
The previously established limit of no more than 10 SIM cards remains in place for foreign citizens and stateless persons, Alexey Karpunin, head of the Operational efficiency and Business Digitalization practice, partner at 5D Consulting, recalled in an interview with Izvestia.
How will the verification and verification of SIM card data take place?
At the same time, starting from November 1, the numbers used to log in or register on Gosuslugi are planned to be checked for user affiliation. If the number no longer belongs to the specified owner, it will be detached from the account.
At the same time, biometric identification and IMEI binding are not provided for Russians — these requirements apply only to foreign citizens.
"In the fall of 2025, an important ban will come into effect — it will be impossible to transfer SIM cards to third parties without reissuing the contract. A violation may lead to the number being blocked," said lawyer Alexey Karpunin.
Why are there restrictions for SIM cards?
Experts note that the new order in the field of SIM cards is designed to combat fraud and the use of "gray" numbers, which are often used to deceive citizens, send phishing messages and financial fraud.
Kirill Grechkin, an IT expert, noted that fraudsters massively issued SIM cards to "drops" and used them for phone attacks, spam, embezzlement of money from bank accounts, registration of fictitious services and other frauds. Thus, the new rules make it impossible to issue dozens of cards per person, which significantly limits the capabilities of intruders.
"According to some reports, "gray" SIM cards are used in almost half of all IT crimes. By getting rid of the "gray" Sims, we will achieve a reduction in the level of cybercrime. And such SIM cards are also used for telephone fraud and even sabotage," Anton Tkachev, first deputy head of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Information Technology and Communications, told Izvestia.
Experts remind that this measure cannot be considered an innovation — it is the next logical step in the fight against telephone fraud. Previously, attackers actively used corporate SIM cards, issuing them to fictitious companies, Anton Tereshonkov, director of security at Cyberdom, said in an interview with Izvestia. After amendments were made to the Law on Communications in 2023, corporate channels were blocked, and the limit for individuals became the final measure, closing the last way for mass registration of anonymous numbers, he added.
"The introduction of a limit of 20 SIM cards per person is not the first, but the final measure, which is designed to block the last major supply channel for "anonymous" numbers," explained expert Tereshonkov.
What to do if you have "extra" cards?
Experts advise citizens to check in advance the number of SIM cards registered in their name and put them in order. If you find unfamiliar numbers, you should block them immediately.
If you find numbers that are not familiar to you, feel free to block and terminate the contract with the operator, Anton Tereshonkov pointed out. Detailed step-by-step instructions:
— check the number of numbers through the Gosuslugi portal in the Sim Cards section or from the telecom operator;
— check the correctness of the data — if the main number is not displayed, then it is possible that it is issued on an old passport. In this case, it is necessary to update the data in the office or in the operator's application;
— reduce the number of numbers if there are more than 20 of them: block unnecessary numbers through Gosuslugi or apply for termination of the contract at the telecom salon;
— reissue "family" SIM cards - if the rooms are designed for one person, but are used by children or parents. To do this, both parties must come to the communication salon with their passports;
— update passport data — when changing the document, the operator must update the information in the system;
— do everything in advance — the shutdown or renewal procedure may take several days.
The expert also recommended strengthening the protection of operators' personal accounts: enable two-factor authentication and avoid using simple passwords. In addition, it is important to make sure that the eSIM QR codes are with the owner and, if necessary, reissue them with the operator.
Verification of SIM cards in new regions
The verification procedure for residents of new regions does not differ from the nationwide one. When buying or issuing a SIM card, you must verify your identity using a passport and authorization through Gosuslugi using the ESIA. Biometric identification may be required if necessary. Kirill Grechkin, a business partner at the edna IT company, recalled this in a conversation with Izvestia.
Verification can be performed in person at the MFC, bank branches, Russian Post, or offices of mobile operators. After confirming the identity, the operator transmits the data to the Roskomnadzor registry, which ensures full-fledged room service throughout Russia.
It is noteworthy that the specifics of the application of legislation in the new regions are not provided for — all the rules apply the same way, said lawyer Yuri Telegin. The procedure fully complies with the standards of federal operators and provides access to a full range of communication services.
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