OREANDA-NEWS The Ministry of Digital Affairs proposed starting December 1 to launch a pilot project on the submission of biometric data by foreigners and stateless persons for entry into Russia, the document was published on the website of the draft legal acts.

The experiment will take place in two stages. At the first stage, biometrics will be taken by foreigners crossing the border at several checkpoints — at Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo, Zhukovsky airports, as well as at the Mashtakovo automobile checkpoint in the Orenburg region.

The second stage will apply to all incoming arrivals and will last from June 30, 2025 to June 30, 2026.


For visa-free entry to Russia, all foreigners will submit biometrics in a special application in advance and submit an application with their data and information about the purpose of the visit. To visit the country under the visa regime, visitors will need to submit documents, including a questionnaire with a photo, the procedure for obtaining a visa will remain the same.

The changes will not affect citizens of Belarus, children under six years old, diplomats, employees of diplomatic missions and consulates, employees of international organizations and their representative offices accredited in Russia, as well as family members.

The innovations will not affect Russian citizens in any way, the Ministry of Finance stressed.
If the experiment is recognized as successful, these rules will become permanent.