From 30 June 2025, Russia will introduce new border-crossing procedures for foreign nationals as part of a pilot project. Below is a summary of what you need to know before your journey.
Advance Notification
- For visa-free entry, foreign nationals must submit notification of their trip through the ruID application no later than 72 hours before their travel.
- For urgent entry (emergency medical treatment, serious illness, or the death of a close relative), notification and supporting documents may be submitted up to 4 hours before travel.
- Foreign nationals, who are already in Russia, are not required to submit an application through ruID.
The ruID Mobile Application
The application will be available in English, Armenian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Russian, Tajik, and Uzbek. It can soon be downloaded from RuStore, Google Play, AppGallery, and the App Store.
How to Submit Your Application
- Register with an email address (no Russian phone number or SNILS required).
- Enter your personal details and the purpose of your travel.
- Take a selfie directly in the app.
- Upload a photo of your ID document.
- Record a short voice sample.
- Wait for the verification of your details.
A separate application must be submitted before each trip.
Your verified data will automatically create a Gosuslugi profile, which stores your passport details, photo, purpose of travel, period of stay, and other essential information.
Exemptions
The new rules do not apply to:
- Citizens of Belarus;
- Children under 6;
- Diplomats and staff of diplomatic or consular missions of foreign states in Russia;
- Staff of international organisations and their accredited offices in Russia, as well as their family members.
For more information on entry rules and services for foreign nationals, please visit: https://www.gosuslugi.ru/landing/new_entry_rules
