We are pleased to introduce a new service for our travellers to Russia — assistance with obtaining a local SIM card and opening a Russian bank account.
While you can complete the process yourself by following the steps outlined in our guide, it can be time-consuming and not always straightforward. We offer the support of a reliable local assistant who knows the procedures, works with the relevant authorities and bank staff, and ensures everything is arranged quickly and smoothly.
Why This Service Is Useful
Having a local SIM card and, if needed, a Russian bank account can significantly improve your travel experience:
📱 Reliable mobile internet and local calls;
✅ No reliance on international roaming;
🚖 Access to local apps (taxis, deliveries, services);
💳 Easier payments within Russia;
💱 No need to carry large amounts of cash — simply exchange money upon arrival and load funds onto your bank card once the account is opened.
Important: SIM Card Comes First
Under current regulations, it is not possible to open a bank account without a valid Russian SIM card. However, obtaining a SIM card requires several steps, including identity verification and registration in government systems.
How the Process Works
The procedure follows a clear sequence, and we guide you through each step.
Before your arrival, we ask you to send us a scan of your passport so we can arrange a notarised translation in advance. This allows us to start immediately when you arrive.
On the day, the process includes:
🏨 Meeting our representative at your hotel or accommodation in Moscow (our representative will already have a notarised translation of your passport);
🏛️ Visit the MFC (public service centre) to obtain your SNILS (social security) number and create a confirmed Gosuslugi (Russian government portal) account;
🏦 Visit a bank to register your biometric data (photo and voice);
📱 Visit a mobile operator to issue your Russian SIM card;
🔁 If you want a bank account, a short return visit to the bank is normally needed the following day, once the bank verification SMS can be received. Ask us about the available bank and appointment options.
Timing
The initial appointments for government registration, biometric verification and the SIM card usually take around 2–3 hours, and normally no more than 4 hours. Queues or delays in government systems can add time. You can use the new SIM immediately for mobile internet, calls and other ordinary services. Under the current process, however, bank verification SMS messages may not reach a newly activated SIM for the first 24 hours. That SMS is needed to confirm the bank account opening, so if you want an account, plan for a short return visit to the bank the following day. Procedures change frequently, and we will confirm the arrangements before your appointment.
Possible same-day option: Sberbank now offers a mobile service that can arrange a SIM card together with the bank account. In that process, the 24-hour wait for an account activation SMS may be avoided. Sberbank is subject to significant international sanctions, however; please read the compliance information below before considering this option.
Banking and Sanctions Compliance
Many Russian banks are subject to EU, UK or US sanctions. Depending on the bank and the rules that apply to you, sanctions may prohibit opening or operating an account, making funds available to the bank, or processing particular transactions. Restrictions differ across jurisdictions, and a bank’s status can change. For compliance reasons, we recommend choosing a bank that is not subject to the sanctions applicable to you. OTP Bank and Raiffeisenbank may be options, but check the specific Russian legal entity against the current EU, UK and US sanctions lists before engaging with it. We can discuss practical choices; you remain responsible for complying with the rules that apply to you.
How to Prepare
Passport copy. Take a clear copy of your passport data page – the spread showing your photograph and personal details. You do not need copies of other pages for this preparation. We will still need your passport scan in advance to arrange the notarised translation.
Email. You will also need access to an email address when setting up your account on the Russian government portal. In our experience, verification emails do not always arrive at some providers, including iCloud and certain country-specific domains such as web.de or free.fr. We recommend having an alternative address with a widely used provider; Gmail has worked well for our customers. If you normally use one of the affected domains, set up and test an alternative before you travel.
Where the Service Is Available
At present, this service is available in Moscow only.
Costs
Our role is to make the process smooth and efficient, taking care of the preparation and guiding you through each step. The total cost of the service is 195 USD, 175 EUR, or 150 GBP. This fee includes our assistance with all official procedures, as well as the notarised translation of your passport.
We consider this cost reasonable, especially for longer stays in Russia, as it helps you stay connected at all times, avoid expensive international roaming charges, and use local digital services with ease. A local SIM also adds convenience and security, allowing you to access navigation, communication, and essential apps.
Opening a local Russian bank account can reduce the need to carry cash and make day-to-day payments more convenient, provided the bank and transactions are compatible with the sanctions rules that apply to you.
Order Your Local SIM & Account Opening Service
If you wish to order a Russian SIM and an account opening service, you can send us an email or simply tick the relevant option when ordering your Russian visa invitation or full Russian visa service. If you are travelling with us on a tour to Russia, please inform your travel consultant, and we will add the service directly to your reservation.
Opening a bank account is optional. Under the usual process, the SIM card is obtained first and the bank appointment follows the next day, once the verification SMS can be delivered.