Migrants in Russia are facing the imminent blocking of their SIM cards if they fail to complete biometric registration by July 1. Thousands of foreigners in Yekaterinburg have already received notifications from mobile operators regarding the impending restrictions.

This measure is part of a federal law amendment requiring foreigners to register SIM cards using biometric data. All SIM cards obtained before the new regulation must be re-registered by July 1, 2025. Failure to comply will result in the blocking of phone services.

To comply with the new requirements, migrants need to obtain an SNILS (insurance number of individual ledger account), create a verified account on “Gosuslugi” (the public services website), and register their biometrics at an accredited bank. The biometric registration process involves visiting a bank branch with a passport (and its translation) and the SNILS. A bank employee will then photograph the client and record their voice.

Migrants also have the option to submit an application through “Gosuslugi” to the Ministry of Digital Development to confirm their identity. However, some users have reported initial rejections due to data discrepancies between the “Gosuslugi” platform and mobile operator records.

The new regulation follows previous actions targeting migrants, including the blocking of bank accounts for those illegally residing in Russia. Banks in Yekaterinburg began blocking accounts in February for individuals on the list of foreigners illegally staying in the country. Authorities have also increased raids to identify and apprehend illegal immigrants in Yekaterinburg.