Jabod Do I still need to go to the MFC to set up my Gosuslugi account? I suppose even though I already have a SNILS, I still need a notarized translation of my passport to register for Gosuslugi?
The most confusing aspect of this process is the question of verifying one's Gosuslugi account. I have read all sorts of contradictory information about this process. Some sources say that verification does not require a Russian phone number as it can be done in person at an MFC office, at a bank or through a banking app, or with an authenticator app
Gosuslugi account is created or updated at the MFC. That's where the login credentials are checked.
You must meet in person with your notarized translation of the passport. How can they ID verify you otherwise?
Login, for security reasons, uses a random pair of data in a set consisting of: phone number, email, SNIL, last five digits of passport, along password. When the account is created the MFC agent runs the verifications, you log in/out, receive SMS codes, mails, to unsure all is good. And that's it.
I am OP of this thread, and did the process with my already existing Russian SIMs, so can't tell about foreign SIMs now, but it should be good, because this is the point of the RuID app that is now mandatory for visa-free travelers, who must create a profile on RuID. RuID is a trimmed down version of Gosuslugi. My guess, just a guess, is that when you visit MFC with the RuID data, the agents just do the ID verification against the data you filled on RuID, complete the profile and RuID turns into full Gosuslugi.
The point with the nationality of the SIM, is that in the beginning, it seems they were not aware that the requirement coded into Gosuslugi, for a Russian SIM, created a loop locking foreigners out, hence defeating the idea. Seems this was corrected since.
in order to have a Russian SIM and full features uncapped MIR, EBS profile is mandatory, so either need to visit the bank or do it at the MFC offices that are now equipped for this, as this was also a plan (streamline everything at MFC). For sure Sber does it, and there is a Sber everywhere.
At the bank too, you identify yourself with the notarized translation of the passport, also at the mobile phone operator.
(Gosuslugi app has a lesser level of biometric self-verification, consisting of selfie and voice record, but this is useless for bank and mobile phone. )