Russia has officially launched its nationwide biometric screening program for foreign nationals and stateless persons entering the country, with new rules taking effect today. Under the policy, travelers must submit fingerprints and facial images at border checkpoints as part of tighter security controls and digital integration of migration data. The move follows a pilot phase that began in December at key Moscow airports and one major land crossing.
System Expands Nationwide with Digital Requirements
The rollout of biometric checks has unfolded in two phases. The initial phase, from December 2024 through June 29, 2025, covered four major airports in Moscow – Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo, and Zhukovsky – as well as the Mashtakovo land checkpoint on the Kazakhstan border. With the start of today’s second phase, biometric requirements now apply at all Russian border entry points nationwide.
Russia’s Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev said the new procedures “mirror the biometric requirements already in place for Schengen visas and will enhance national security.” The rules require most visa-free travelers to use the multilingual ruID mobile application, available in seven languages, to submit personal details before arrival. However, diplomats, children under six, and citizens of Belarus are exempt from both biometric submission and mandatory pre-registration.
Official guidance indicates that foreign nationals without a Russian visa must register with the Unified System of Identification and Authentication (USIA) and file an arrival notice at least 72 hours before entering the country via the Gosuslugi portal or the ruID app. In emergencies such as medical situations or family bereavement, the notification can be submitted as late as four hours before arrival.
Digital Profiles, Privacy Concerns, and Enforcement
Travelers who complete registration receive a digital profile linked to Russia’s national systems, including a SNILS (individual insurance account number) and a basic Gosuslugi account, which is required for accessing services like purchasing a SIM card. Since January 2025, foreign nationals have been limited to holding a maximum of ten SIM cards and must re-register any previously issued cards by July 1, 2025. Russian authorities have emphasized that these measures are aimed at curbing illegal migration and improving security controls.
Despite the policy’s scope, privacy concerns remain. Biometric templates collected at the border are stored in Russia’s Unified Biometric System, but officials have not yet specified how long the data will be retained, raising questions among privacy advocates. Nonetheless, the ruID declaration is valid for 90 days and can be used for multiple entries during that period. Travelers arriving without prior digital registration may still complete the process on-site, but they risk facing longer wait times.
The current framework is classified as an “experiment” running from June 30, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Russian authorities plan to review the program’s effectiveness over the coming year to decide whether to adopt it permanently.
Source: Fergana News
–
By Ali Nassar-Smith
