Russia has started a new phase of biometric data collection for foreign citizens and stateless persons crossing its borders, expanding an earlier trial into a multi-year pilot that will run until mid-2026. Under a government decree cited by local media, the experiment requires biometric registration at border crossings that have the necessary technical infrastructure, with a particular focus on major international airports.
From December 1, 2025, biometric capture is being carried out at airports including Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo, and Zhukovsky, as well as at the Mashtakovo land checkpoint in the Orenburg region, according to an overview published by regional media. The government resolution reportedly carves out exemptions for Belarusian citizens, children below six years of age, diplomatic personnel, and holders of certain official visas.
The pilot is scheduled to run until June 30, 2026, and builds on a smaller-scale trial that began earlier. Moscow frames the initiative as a way to modernize border controls, although there has been little public detail on what specific biometric modalities are being collected, how long data will be retained, and how it will be shared across domestic security agencies. The policy also sits alongside separate proposals to create digital profiles for foreign nationals, pointing to a broader regional trend toward more intensive biometric tracking of migrants and visitors.
The nationwide rollout of biometric checks for foreign travelers took full effect on June 30, 2025, requiring fingerprints and facial images at border checkpoints as part of tighter security controls and digital integration of migration data.
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
