Russia’s Unified Biometric System registered over 200,000 foreign citizens in 2025, requiring biometric data for SIM acquisition. The government is streamlining the process and intends to connect businesses with the UBS. Sberbank has installed 900,000 biometric payment terminals, signaling growing adoption. Concerns among businesses about costs persist, but system usage is rising significantly.
In 2025, over 200,000 foreign citizens registered their biometrics with Russia’s Unified Biometric System (UBS) to obtain or renew mobile SIM cards. This number shows a significant increase from the previous year, highlighting the growing reliance on the UBS. As of January 1st, biometric data submission, including both face and voice recognition, is mandatory for foreigners applying for SIM cards at service centers.
The Russian government is undertaking initiatives to streamline SIM card acquisition. Changes include enabling individuals to register their biometrics, create an account on the Gosuslugi platform, and obtain the unique number for mandatory pension insurance (SNILS) all in one visit to a service center, as reported by media sources. Gosuslugi provides access to various public services for individuals and legal entities.
Apart from personal registration, there are plans to connect businesses to the UBS within the next two years. Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev announced a vision for UBS integration across all businesses, as discussed in a meeting with representatives from major ecommerce platforms like Wildberries and Yandex. However, some businesses contest this due to potential unjustified expenses and lack of practical applications for biometrics in their operations.
Currently, 16 organizations are accredited to operate with biometrics as a Commercial Biometric System (CBS), with approximately 200 entities engaging with the UBS. The total user base for the UBS has reached nearly 3 million, according to the Center for Biometric Technologies.
Sberbank has played a pivotal role in the adoption of the UBS by deploying 900,000 biometric payment terminals for its Smile to Pay service, targeting 1 million installations by year-end. Usage statistics indicate a predominance of active users in major cities, with the 25 to 44 age group comprising over half of its users. According to Dmitry Malykh of Sberbank, transaction numbers have already exceeded those of the entire previous year, reflecting a shift towards widespread acceptance of biometric payments.
Furthermore, Sberbank and the National Payment Card System (NSPK) plan to consolidate their face payment services by late 2025 and introduce more biometric financial services. According to Russian law, all commercial entities must transfer their collected biometric data to the UBS, underlining the system’s significant role in the nation’s digital identity framework.
In summary, Russia’s Unified Biometric System is experiencing substantial growth, with increased foreign citizen registrations and plans to integrate businesses. The banking sector, particularly Sberbank, is actively adopting biometric technologies for payment systems, indicating a clear shift towards digital identity solutions. While the government aims for broader UBS integration, concerns from businesses remain regarding costs and practical use.
Original Source: www.biometricupdate.com
