Task Guides
Choose the task, status, or risk level first. Open a full guide when the step touches SIM rules, payments, migration, documents, or other regulated topics.
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High-risk guides
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These routes cover the most common first decisions.
First day checklist
Internet, money, registration responsibility, transport, and emergency numbers.
Open checklistDecision wizards
Use deterministic questions when the answer depends on status or documents.
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Tourist, student, worker, resident, and business visitors follow different routes.
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Guides that match
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How to Send Money to Russia Legally in 2026
Red risk: before sending, check sender country, recipient bank, sanctions, KYC/AML, fees, timing, refund path, and proof of transaction. Do not use third-party cards, fake recipients, or compliance workarounds.
How to Check a Money Transfer Provider Before Use
A checklist for SendNOW, Swapcoin, Volet, and other services: official domain, sender country, KYC/AML, recipient bank, limit, fee, exchange rate, refund path, support, and small test.
Set up a Russia travel eSIM before arrival
A fast option for tourists and business visitors: buy a data-only eSIM before the trip, install the profile at home, and turn on mobile data after arrival.
Apply for a T-Bank debit card for Russian payments
A practical route for tourists and visitors who need a local bank card for Russian payments. The application starts online, but the bank still runs identity and document checks.
Document checklist for your first days in Russia
A practical document folder for arrival or relocation: what to keep close, what to copy, and where status-specific requirements must be checked.
Cash and foreign cards in Russia
Prepare a payment backup: why foreign Visa/Mastercard cards may not work, how much cash to plan, and when to open a separate banking route.
Gosuslugi, ESIA, and SNILS for foreigners
A safe map of SNILS, Gosuslugi, and ESIA: where SNILS fits, why a verified account may matter, and why SIM, banking, work, or study flows can ask for this identity layer.
First 24 hours after arriving in Russia
A calm first-day order: connection, money, transport, documents, address, and emergency contacts.
Which documents to carry in Russia
What to keep with you, what to store separately, and how to prepare safe copies without sharing sensitive data with Ruvoya.
How to prepare a notarized passport translation
When a notarized passport translation may be needed and how to check names, dates, and pages before using it with SFR, FNS, MFC, a bank, or university.
How to get medical help as a foreigner
What to do in an urgent situation, how to use DMS/OMS or travel insurance, and what to prepare for a first clinic visit.
How to prepare cash and customs declaration
How to plan trip cash safely, check declaration thresholds, and avoid relying only on a foreign card.
What to do if your host refuses registration
Lawful options when a hotel, landlord, or receiving party does not help with migration registration.
Check and apply for a Russian e-visa before arrival
Check e-visa eligibility, apply only through the Russian MFA portal, and keep visa validity separate from the allowed stay.
Migration card after entering Russia
Check your migration card or entry record, keep it with your passport, and do not confuse it with migration registration.
RuID and digital profile for visa-free entry
Who may need RuID for visa-free entry, what to check before travel, and why rules must be rechecked before every entry date.
Book short-stay accommodation that can register foreign guests
What to ask a hotel, apartment, or host before paying so you do not arrive without a lawful address route.
Airport, border, and customs checklist after arrival
What to do after landing: passport control, migration card, customs channel, medicine, electronics, and cash.
Buy intercity train or bus tickets in Russia
How to choose an official route, enter passport data correctly, prepare payment, and save the ticket offline.
Buy museum, show, or tour tickets with less risk
How to check the official channel, payment, refunds, and required documents before buying.
Check vehicle documents and insurance before driving into Russia
A vehicle checklist: OSAGO insurance, documents, temporary import, customs, toll roads, and route.
Prepare backup channels for messaging and video calls
How to avoid losing contact if a messenger, calls, or app stores work unreliably.
How to buy a SIM card as a foreigner in Russia
Step-by-step guide to buying a SIM card in Russia as a foreign citizen. Since January 1, 2025, EBS biometric verification, passport, SNILS, and a verified Gosuslugi account are mandatory.
How to open a bank account and get a card as a foreigner in Russia
Step-by-step guide to opening a bank account and getting a debit card as a foreign citizen in Russia. Requires a passport and KYC verification under Federal Law 115-FZ. INN is legally optional but practically required by most banks.
How to use public transport in Russia
Troika card (Moscow), Podorozhnik (Saint Petersburg), contactless payment, and mobile apps. Anonymous transport cards require no ID — buy at metro ticket offices for 50-80 rubles.
Essential apps for living in Russia
A list of must-have apps for foreigners in Russia: navigation (Yandex Maps, 2GIS), taxi (Yandex Go), translation, banking apps, and backup communication channels.
Emergency numbers and safety for foreigners in Russia
Emergency numbers (112, 101, 102, 103), what to do if you lose your documents, your rights during a police stop, how to report a crime, and embassy contacts.
How to get an INN (tax number) as a foreigner in Russia
INN (Individual Taxpayer Number) is legally optional but practically required for employment, banking, and tax purposes. Free to obtain at any FNS office in 5 working days.
Medical insurance for foreigners in Russia
Separate DMS or travel insurance from OMS state insurance. OMS eligibility depends on status, region, and documents, so do not assume it is available automatically.
How to rent an apartment as a foreigner in Russia
How to search, verify the owner, document payment, and discuss address paperwork before paying. No workarounds or fake registration.
Migration registration for foreigners in Russia
How to register at the real place of stay: the receiving party usually submits the notice, while deadlines and channels depend on status, accommodation, and citizenship.
How to download apps safely in Russia
What to do when Google Play or App Store does not show a Russian app: official website, RuStore for Android, web fallback, and developer checks.
How to install RuStore on Android
Step-by-step: open the official RuStore site, download the APK, allow install from that source, then install Russian apps from the catalog.
How to download and set up Yandex Maps
Where to download Yandex Maps on Android and iPhone, what to do without Google Play, and how to build your first public transport route.
How to download and set up Yandex Go for taxi
Where to download Yandex Go, how to verify a phone number, choose cash payment, and avoid arriving at the airport without a working taxi app.
How to buy and top up a Troika card in Moscow
Where to buy Troika, how to top up by cash or online, why remote top-up must be written to the card, and where to download the Moscow Metro app.
How to buy and top up Podorozhnik in Saint Petersburg
Where to buy Podorozhnik, how to top up online or in the metro, how to activate remote top-up, and where to download the official app.
How to get from the airport to the city
How to choose train, public transport, or taxi after landing and avoid first-hour confusion.