SIM cards for foreigners

How to get a SIM card/Confirm your biometrics and IMEI for existing SIM card holders

If you are a Temporary Resident (TRP/РВП), or a Permanent Residence (RP/ВНЖ) holder, your should already have SNILS (СНИЛС) and a verified State Services (Gosuslugi) account. You can skip to Step 3.

This article also contains relevant information for those who already have a SIM card and need to confirm their biometrics and IMEI number with their mobile service carrier before July 1, 2025.

Step 1 - Get SNILS

1. Prepare a notarised translation of your passport
2. Contact the Social Fund of Russia, the MFC or your employer to obtain SNILS. You will need;
3. A valid e-mail address
4. Passport and it notarised translation
5. The document will be ready immediately. In exceptional cases where it may take up to five days to process.

Step 2 - Create an account on Gosuslugi

1. Contact a convenient bank branch or MFC. You will need:
2. A valid e-mail address
3. Your SNILS
4. Passport and its notarised translation
5. The account will be confirmed on the day of application.

Step 3 - Register your biometrics at a bank branch

1. Contact a convenient bank branch. You will need;
2. A valid e-mail address
3. Your SNILS
4. Passport and its notarised translation
5. Verified account on Gosuslugi
6. A bank employee will take a photo of you and record your voice.
7. The biometric status will be displayed on State Services (Gosuslugi).

To verify your biometrics are ready, you need to;

1. Install the application Gosuslugi Biometria (Госуслуги Биометрия) from the AppStore or PlayStore.
2. Log in to the application using your username and password from State Services (Gosuslugi)
3. Scan your passport with your phone's camera
4. Attach your phone to the plastic page of your passport to read encrypted data using NFC.
5. Take a picture and say the three sequences of numbers on the screen. After which, standard biometrics services will be available in a few minutes.

For existing SIM card holders

Before July 1, 2025, you need to visit any convenient mobile operator salon of your service carrier to verify the existence of your biometrics and provide the IMEI number of your mobile deevice. It would be advised to take any relevant documents with you, such as; Passport and its notarised translation, Your SNILS (just in case), and your device you have State Services (Gosuslugi) and Gosuslugi Biometria apps installed to complete the process.

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Article Tags: sim cards, requirements, how-to

Created: last month. Modified: Never.