Russia has implemented sweeping new requirements for biometric data collection from foreign nationals, making facial and voice recognition scans mandatory for obtaining or renewing mobile SIM cards. As of early 2025, over 200,000 foreign residents have already been enrolled in the country’s Unified Biometric System (UBS), according to government data. The new policy requires in-person registration at designated service centers, further entrenching biometric verification into routine services.
The biometric requirement is part of a broader national strategy to integrate UBS into multiple sectors. Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev announced in February that major platforms—including Ozon, Yandex, and Wildberries—should prepare for mandatory UBS integration “in a couple of years.” Although participation remains officially voluntary for now, 16 companies have already been authorized as commercial biometric system operators. Some businesses, however, have pushed back, citing integration costs and unclear practical benefits despite government subsidies and reduced onboarding fees.
The UBS expansion coincides with continued growth in Russia’s biometric payment systems. Sberbank reported that first-quarter 2025 transaction volumes using services like Smile to Pay exceeded the total for all of 2024, reaching $331 million. At the same time, digital identity initiatives are extending to border control: starting June 2025, all foreign nationals will be required to submit biometric data and create digital profiles upon entry. This follows an experimental phase launched at select Moscow airports and a land checkpoint in December 2024.
Government officials present these policies as administrative streamlining measures that help prevent fraud. Foreigners visiting biometric service centers can now complete multiple registrations—such as biometric enrollment, government account creation, and pension insurance number (SNILS) acquisition—in a single visit. However, the expansion has raised significant concerns among privacy and human rights advocates. Critics point to the increasing scope of state surveillance, lack of transparency, and the potential misuse of biometric systems for political control, especially in light of technologies like “Face Pay” used in Moscow’s metro system for facial recognition-based fare payment.
Certain groups are exempt from the biometric data requirement, including Belarusian nationals, diplomats and their families, and children under six years old. Nevertheless, the policy has drawn scrutiny from international observers, especially given Russia’s poor record on data breaches—more than 170 million personal records were reportedly stolen from Russian institutions in 2023. Public trust in biometric infrastructure remains low, compounded by limited public awareness about how biometric data is stored, used, or protected.
Launched in 2018, the UBS was originally positioned as a cornerstone of Russia’s digital governance transformation, beginning with voluntary enrollment at banks. The 2022 mandate requiring financial institutions to submit biometric data marked a significant escalation, and the latest policies suggest a continued shift toward compulsory biometric identification for both citizens and residents across public and private life.
Sources: Infowars, Reclaim The Net, Tengrinews
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April 10, 2025 – by the ID Tech Editorial Team
