SNILS + Gosuslugi profile + EBS (biometric registration). For SIM, bank, etc.

antoniob · 2025-05-12T04:05:45+00:00

my experience in getting my profile on the Unified Biometric System (EBS). As per the law in vigor since 01.01.2025, sales of new SIM to foreigners and openi...

donFlorero

Stefano
Some of my experiences with SNILS, Gosuslugi, and bank accounts...

You can use Gosuslugi with simple biometrics before arriving to Russia, without having a SNILS (for example, for RuID, which is mandatory if you don't have a visa). This is not enough for getting a SIM-card.
Not sure about lawyers, I've got my SNILS on an MFC. However, not any MFC will work. In St. Peter they told me there are only two MFC in the city that do SNILS (maybe they meant SNILS for foreigners).
Some MFC are overcrowded, some others not. It's better to have an appointment, which you can get for the following day. If you look for an MFC in Yandex in the region you are visiting, you will see their phone number and email address, for that region. There you can find out which MFC is good for you and also make an appointment
I got my SNILS on the spot. The whole process took 45 minutes. I needed, of course, the migration card and the notarized translation of the passport.
Important: let the MFC connect your SNILS to your Gosuslugi profile
(I have to admit I had a Russian speaking person to help me with MFC, but even without it, it should be manageable, using translation apps)
After getting your SNILS, connected to your Goslugi, you can easily do the second level of biometrics (the one you need for a SIM-card) in any bank. I tried SberBank in Moscow and it went very smoothly. Here I was on my own, with my few words in Russian. You don't have to be a customer and it is for free.
Then you can get a SIM card. This is also easy, once you have the biometrics connected to your Gosuslugi profile
Bank accounts are fairly easy to open too. Some send a representative to the place you wish, to hand over the card, configure the app and verify your documentation.
BUT: later I tried to connect my Russian SIM-card to my Gosuslugi profile, online... This is done via your bank, where your number should also be registered. Unfortunately, it doesn't work for non-Russian citizens online, so I will have to go again to the MFC to let them register my SIM-card with Gosuslugi. Without this registration, there are a few things you can't do with the app (like signing for others services). I tried yoomoney, for example, but it won't work with Gosuslugi without the phone number being registered...

Hope that helps.

Cal

donFlorero
Thanks for the updates. I'm just going to wait and next time I'm in Russia I will go to MFC, my bank, MTC,
I already had a phone number from before these requirements. So I'm hoping if they block it, I can still "keep" the number. I already had bank accounts from before these requirements, so I'm thinking this all shouldn't be too hard for me. I got my SNILS while outside of the country and I connected it to my Gosuslugi, "simplified" biometrics and it accepted it. But as you say as a foreigner we can't get the standard biometrics done remotely. Oh well...I really hope they make a way for foreigners to do this process remotely.

Cal

Stefano
It took him about 3 months to do it. You also have to send a Power of Attorney and he can't do it unless he gets the original. So it is not fast by any means.

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