According to the new law No. 303‑FZ, in order to issue a SIM card, foreign citizens need:1️⃣Make a notarized passport translation, which will be required for most procedures.:
🔵Visit a translation agency and notary;
🔵Make one certified copy of the passport.
2️⃣Apply for SNILS (passport + transfer) at the MFC (Multifunctional center for the provision of state and municipal services) or SFR (social fund of Russia):
🔵Passport of a foreign citizen and its notarized translation into Russian;
🔵The process takes from 1 to 5 days; data entry into the system can take up to two weeks.
3️⃣Install
Gosuslugi. Register for Gosuslugi (at the MFC). Create an account there:
🔵Possible only in person at the MFC;
🔵You need a Russian email address and language proficiency, as the platform does not support other languages.
4️⃣Submit biometric data at the bank, even if fingerprints have already been deposited at the border:
🔵Biometrics with voice recording is entered into the bank and linked to the Public Services account. The procedure is fast, but in Russian.
5️⃣Buy a SIM card:
🔵Available from only five operators: MTS, Tele2, Megafon, Beeline, Yota, and binds to the device's IMEI, excluding the possibility of use in other devices.
According to the new requirements, starting from January 1, 2025, foreign citizens and stateless persons can issue no more than 10 SIM cards per person from all telecom operators, and starting from April 1, 2025, Russian citizens can issue no more than 20 SIM cards.