Over 200,000 Foreigners Register in Biometric System for SIM Cards in 2025

Starting from January 2025, over 200,000 foreign nationals have registered in the Unified Biometrics System (UBS) to obtain SIM cards. This information was reported by TASS, citing representatives from the Biometrics Technology Center, which operates the UBS.

According to the center, citizens from more than a hundred countries have completed their registration in the UBS, including individuals from Australia and Japan. However, the majority—approximately 80%—are residents of neighboring countries. It has been noted that there has been an increase in the number of foreigners registering in the UBS compared to the same period last year.

The organization emphasizes that foreign citizens do not need to pronounce a numeric sequence in Russian to register their biometric data, as the system can recognize voice regardless of the language used.

Additionally, efforts are underway to streamline the registration process. It is planned that obtaining a SNILS number, creating a verified account on «Gosuslugi,» and registering biometric data will all be possible during a single visit to the service center, which will expedite the SIM card registration process.

It’s important to remember that starting from January 1, 2025, foreign citizens will only be able to receive a SIM card after obtaining a SNILS number, creating a verified account on «Gosuslugi,» and registering their biometric data at a bank branch. If a foreign national obtains a SIM card prior to January 1, 2025, they must re-register it using biometric data by July 1, 2025. Each foreign national can hold no more than 10 SIM cards. As previously announced, these measures aim to combat the illegal SIM card market.