Russian Embassy assures travelers can skip ruID app for entry

According to the embassy, not submitting an application through the ruID app will not be a reason for denial of entry nor will it affect border control procedures.

“The Russian government has approved a voluntary approach to submitting applications via the ruID app as part of a pilot project,” reads the embassy’s official statement. This clarification follows the Russian Government Resolution No. 1510 dated July 11, 2024.

While the app is not mandatory, the embassy outlined several benefits of using ruID:

• Pre-check for entry restrictions into Russia through the Ministry of Internal Affairs database;
• Automatic registration for SNILS, a personal insurance number required to purchase a Russian SIM card;
• Creation of a digital profile to interact with state services online (e.g. registering for voluntary medical insurance, signing up as a sole entrepreneur, etc.).

Previously, the Russian Embassy in Kazakhstan also confirmed that completing the ruID application is voluntary.

However, some ambiguity remains. The official rules approved by the Russian government for using the ruID app do not mention voluntariness. On the contrary, the documentation refers to the pilot program as mandatory for foreign nationals and stateless persons. It is possible that the Russian authorities temporarily relaxed the requirements ahead of the app’s official launch on June 30.

Earlier reports indicated that starting from June 30, 2025, until June 30, 2026, foreign citizens — including minors and legal guardians of persons with disabilities — planning visa-free entry to Russia will be subject to pilot digital registration through the ruID app.

The ruID app is available in seven languages: English, Armenian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Russian, Tajik, and Uzbek. It can be downloaded from RuStore, Google Play, AppGallery, and the App Store.