Ministry of Digital Development explained how the purchase of SIM cards by foreigners will be managed

The head of the department, Maksut Shadayev, announced earlier this week that the ministry is preparing to tighten control over the sale of SIM cards to citizens of other countries.

” < > Everything that has happened obviously requires a tightening of legislation,” the minister said, referring to the terrorist attack on the Crocus City Hall in Moscow, which is suspected of being carried out by citizens of Tajikistan.

Now the Ministry of Digital Development has explained what will change for foreigners if the bill is approved.

Conditions for the purchase of SIM cards by foreigners in Russia:

• Registration in the Unified Biometric System;
• purchase a card only in communication stores and official points of sale without the possibility of concluding an online contract;
• indication in the contract of the device identification code (IMEI) for which the SIM card is purchased. Carriers will deactivate the SIM when it is used in another device;
• Possibility of registering no more than 10 rooms per person.

Contracts that take into account the new requirements will have to be reissued by March 1, 2025. Operators will separately notify their foreign customers of the need to make changes.

The initiative of the Ministry of Digital Development also foresees adjustments for Russians. Citizens of the Russian Federation will be able to track all information about the numbers registered in their passports through Gosuslugi. On the platform you can deactivate numbers that are not in use.

Also, when registering a new number, the operator will need to send SMS and notify the client through his personal account.

The new requirements will take effect on the day the bill is signed. Violations provide for administrative responsibility.