SIM cards in Russia can now be unlocked immediately upon arrival from abroad.
From November 28, 2025, Russia's largest mobile operators are offering foreign users the ability to quickly restore mobile internet and SMS services that are temporarily blocked when a SIM card enters Russian territory. Previously, a 24-hour "cooling-off" period applied upon arrival in the country, intended to ensure security and protect against drones. Voice calls remained available during that time. Now subscribers only need to complete a short verification: an SMS with a link will be sent to the phone, where they must confirm that the SIM card is being used by a person — for example, by solving a simple captcha or selecting an image with a specified object. After successful authorization, internet and SMS become available within a few minutes. The mechanism is similar to an existing feature for Russian SIM cards and is intended to improve the convenience for foreign nationals using roaming in Russia.
Другие Новости Кирова (НЗК)
SIM cards in Russia can now be unlocked immediately upon arrival from abroad.
Russian operators have launched a verification mechanism that allows foreign subscribers to immediately regain access to mobile internet and SMS upon arrival in the country.
