My T-bank SIM card I got in October 2025
Getting a Russian SIM card isn’t as easy as it used to be. Gone are the days when you could pick one up at the airport in two minutes. Since January 2025, travelers can no longer buy a SIM card freely upon arrival.
Now, you must have a Gosuslugi account – Russia’s national platform for administrative services – which complicates things for everyday tourists like you and me.
This article isn’t a step-by-step tutorial, but a personal account of how I finally got a Russian SIM card on the second-to-last day of my visa, the obstacles I faced, and the new rule introduced in early October 2025: foreign SIM cards, including eSIMs, are now blocked for at least 24 hours after arriving in Russia.
If you’re planning a trip to Russia soon, keep reading, this will definitely interest you.
Foreign SIM Cards blocked for 24 hours since October 2025
Starting in October 2025, Russia implemented a new security measure that temporarily blocks all foreign SIM cards, including eSIMs, as soon as they connect to a Russian network.
“Why?” you wonder. The official reason: to prevent drone attacks. They are using mobile networks.
In theory:
• The block lasts at least 24 hours after arrival.
• No internet or SMS access is available during this period.
• Voice calls usually still work.
In practice:
• The block can last much longer – 5 days, 12 days, or even the entire stay, according to reports online.
• A new block may occur if the SIM is unused for several days or disconnected from the network (airplane mode, for example, what I did …).
Source : Meduza, Reddit / my own experience
Minkomsvyaz – Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media
Gosuslugi account: The key to getting a Russian SIM
Since January 2025, you cannot buy a Russian SIM card upon arrival without a Gosuslugi account.
This is Russia’s official platform for all administrative services : healthcare, taxes, banking… and now, mobile phone registration.
Required documents and info:
• A passport: must be translated into Russian and notarized.
• A valid email address: for registration and verification.
• Biometric data: photos, fingerprints, and even a voice recording. Yes, really.
Without a Gosuslugi account, no Russian mobile operator, MTS, Beeline, Tele2, MegaFon, you name it, will sell you a SIM card.
I share the behind the scenes of my travels (real-time stories, messy bits etc) on Telegram
My experience getting a Russian SIM through T-Bank
During my last trip to Russia, I spent a month without a SIM card, connecting only in hotels at night, taking screenshots of bus routes, downloading offline maps… it felt like traveling back to 2012. Definitely not easy.
In September, I read that T-Bank (formerly Tinkoff) now helps its clients create a Gosuslugi account and get a Russian SIM card. I have a T-Bank account since 2022, so I contacted them to check my eligibility and required documents.
Their answer: all I needed was my passport, visa, migration card, and… a Russian phone number. (What the heck?!) If not, a Russian friend with a local number had to attend the meeting.
Back in Moscow, at my friend’s flat, I booked an appointment with a T-Bank representative. This service is only available in certain major cities.
The first representative, Maxim, never showed up, nor did he call us back. One afternoon wasted.
Second attempt: same Maxim, same story.
On the third day, the day before my visa expired, I insisted (got a bit mad) on sending someone else.
This time, Denis, a young but professional representative, arrived slightly late but he arrived. We sat in my friend’s tiny kitchen.
For about 30 minutes, he filled all the paperwork on his tablet, took my photo, recorded my voice (in French, reading a series of numbers), and installed the Gosuslugi app* directly on my phone via PlayStore.
No verification code was required from my friend’s phone. At the end, he handed me the Russian SIM card. Done.
And the best part? It was free.
Apparently, more Russian banks are now offering this service: they handle the administrative process, and as you pay for the mobile monthly plan, it’s profitable for them in the long run.
Honestly, it wasn’t that difficult in the end (I did nothing but book an appointment and wait), but I wouldn’t recommend this if you’re in Russia for just a week, or even a month, without plans to return anytime soon.
* 1. The entire app is in Russian.
2. I feel officially watched (next FSB meeting, they’ll ask for my Gosuslugi number 😅).
Gosuslugi app interface
Gosuslugi and T-Bank apps installed on my phone
FAQ – Getting a Russian SIM Card in 2025
What about you? Are you planning to get a Russian SIM card during your trip? Share your experience in the comments below!
