Russia updates entry rules: what Kazakh travelers need to know

Tengrinews.kz – Russia has introduced updated border-entry requirements for foreigners and stateless persons starting 1 December, with new procedures focused on biometric data collection and mandatory electronic travel notifications.
According to a Russian government decree, the country is launching a pilot program to test the new entry and exit rules from 1 December 2025 to 30 June 2026. The experiment will operate at all border checkpoints equipped with the necessary technology.
The new procedures include biometric registration — fingerprinting and facial imaging — for all arriving foreigners. Exemptions apply only to citizens of Belarus, children under six, diplomats and staff of international organizations along with their families.
Russia first announced plans for biometric screening last September, when its Ministry of Digital Development proposed testing new entry procedures for foreign nationals.
Kazakh citizens may still enter Russia without a visa, but they must comply with the expanded requirements. These now include:

biometric data submission at designated checkpoints (Moscow airports and the Mashtakovo land crossing in Orenburg Region);
completion of an electronic entry form via the ruID application;
mandatory SIM-card registration using biometrics;
medical checks and fingerprinting for stays longer than 90 days.

Russia has also introduced new grounds for denying entry to foreigners. Systematic traffic violations can now lead to a ban on entering the country for up to three years.
The updated rules apply to Kazakh travelers along with all other foreign nationals.