Foreign nationals arriving in Russia through four Moscow airports and a land border checkpoint with Kazakhstan will be required to provide biometric data—including photos and fingerprints—beginning next month, as per a new decree from the Russian government.
The new regulations, set to take effect on December 1, are part of a pilot program that will continue at least until June 30, 2026. Starting June 30, 2025, biometric requirements will be expanded to include all Russian border checkpoints.
Foreigners who can enter Russia visa-free will need to submit their biometric information via a mobile app, which can be downloaded for the purpose. Those requiring a visa to enter the country will have their biometric data automatically entered into a central database and linked to Russia’s unified biometric system, which is accessible to law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
According to the decree, biometric data from foreign nationals and stateless persons will be transmitted to government information systems for identification and authentication purposes. The data will be stored and accessible by authorized bodies participating in the biometric experiment.
Exempt from the new requirements are diplomats, employees of international organizations, citizens of Belarus, and children under six years of age.
However, rights organizations have raised concerns about the invasive nature of Russia’s biometric system, citing privacy issues and the potential for misuse.
