Free eSIM for Russia 
3 GB of free mobile data across Russia's main urban centres — Moscow, St Petersburg, Kazan, Yekaterinburg. Install before you travel, connect automatically on arrival. No Russian passport or SNILS required for activation. Check your government's travel advisory before planning any trip.
Free for new users · Credit card for identity verification only — never charged · Valid 3 days
Why an eSIM avoids Russian SIM paperwork
Russia has some of the strictest prepaid SIM registration rules in the world. Since 2014, all SIM sales require presenting a passport, and since 2021, foreign visitors also need to link the SIM to their biometric registration. In practice that means 45–90 minutes at an MTS, Beeline or MegaFon salon, with Russian-language paperwork. A 99esim roaming profile sidesteps the entire process — you're using international roaming, not a Russian-registered line. Before booking any trip, please verify your country's current travel advisory for Russia, as many governments advise against non-essential travel.
- No passport registration at a Russian SIM office
- No SNILS, no biometric enrolment required
- Works on the Moscow and St Petersburg metro DAS systems
- Your home number stays on the primary line for outbound calls
How Russian networks handle 99esim
Russia's big four operators — MTS, MegaFon, Beeline and Tele2 Russia — cover the populated west and urban corridors densely, with thinner coverage across Siberia. 99esim routes primarily through MTS, with automatic fallback to the others. 4G is standard in all federal subject capitals. 5G deployment has been limited by sanctions on Western vendor equipment and remains mostly absent commercially.
Arriving at a Russian airport
International flights to Russia have reduced significantly since 2022 — most Western carriers no longer serve Russian cities. Routes primarily run via Istanbul, Dubai, Belgrade and Yerevan. Your eSIM connects to MTS as soon as you leave airplane mode on the tarmac.
Largest airport by traffic. Aeroexpress train to Belorussky Station (35 min) keeps 4G throughout. Terminal B (domestic) and Terminal C (international) both have good MTS coverage.
Aeroexpress to Paveletsky Station. 4G solid in the main hall; the tunnel into the station has brief drops. Download your hotel address offline beforehand.
Closest Moscow airport to the city centre. Aeroexpress to Kievsky Station. MTS 4G reliable throughout.
Single compact terminal. Bus 39 or 39E to Moskovskaya metro — 4G holds the whole route. Yandex Go works well from arrivals.
Direct Aeroexpress to Kazan railway station (30 min). 4G reliable and UEFA-2018-era upgrades are still in place.
Where your free eSIM works best
What 3 GB covers in Russia
Many Western apps (Google Pay, some banking apps, Netflix) have withdrawn from Russia since 2022. Local alternatives (Yandex, Mir Pay, Tinkoff, VK) dominate and generally use less data than global equivalents. 3 GB is realistic for a one-week trip.
Russia-specific travel tips
Check travel advisories first
Many Western governments (US State Department, UK FCDO, EU foreign ministries) currently advise against non-essential travel to Russia. Insurance coverage is often void. Verify your country's guidance before booking anything — this is about safety, not the eSIM.
Moscow metro coverage is excellent
Moscow's metro has full DAS-enabled 4G on all lines — one of the world's best metro mobile networks. Your 99esim works at platform level and between stations. St Petersburg's metro is similar on the newer lines.
VPN and blocked services
Facebook, Instagram and several Western news sites are blocked at the ISP level in Russia. Your 99esim connects normally but those specific services may be unreachable without a VPN. Telegram, WhatsApp and YouTube generally remain accessible.
Yandex is the local Google
Yandex Maps, Yandex Go (taxi), Yandex Eda (food delivery) and Yandex Translate are the defaults. All work smoothly on your eSIM, generally with better local detail than Google equivalents.
Payment method friction
Visa and Mastercard issued outside Russia generally don't work at domestic POS or ATMs since 2022. Carry cash (rubles), and use Yandex Go's cash-payment option. This isn't an eSIM issue but it's the main practical travel constraint.
Travelers who used 99esim in Russia
"Family visit to Moscow. eSIM connected at Sheremetyevo, Yandex Go worked for the drive home. Metro had signal on every line I rode."
"Four-day business trip to Kazan. 4G was fine across the old town and the Kremlin area. Telegram and WhatsApp both reliable for work calls."
"Journalism assignment in St Petersburg. The eSIM meant I didn't need a Russian passport for a local SIM — saved days of bureaucracy."
Frequently asked — Russia edition
Is Russia really covered in the free plan?
Russia is included in our extended European footprint. Verify active coverage in the 99esim app before booking, as availability may change based on operator agreements. Your 3 GB applies identically whether you use it in Moscow or Madrid.
Will my eSIM work on the Moscow metro?
Yes. Moscow metro has one of the world's best in-tunnel cellular networks — full 4G coverage on all lines, platform and between stations. Your MTS-routed 99esim benefits from this directly.
Are Facebook, Instagram and Western news sites accessible?
No, most are blocked at the Russian ISP level (Roskomnadzor blocks). This is independent of your eSIM. WhatsApp, Telegram, YouTube and Google services typically still work. A VPN installed before you arrive restores access, though VPN legality is contested.
Do I need to register the eSIM with Russian authorities?
No. The 99esim profile is issued outside Russia and you're using it as an international roaming line. Russian domestic SIM registration rules don't apply to roamers.
Is there coverage on the trans-Siberian railway?
In major stops (Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Vladivostok), yes. Between stations on the long eastern stretches, signal drops for hours at a time — expected Siberian geography, not an eSIM issue. Pre-download maps and books.
What if my home government advises against travel?
Please follow that advice. An eSIM can't offset political, legal or safety risk. If you're already in Russia for essential reasons (family, journalism, humanitarian work), your 99esim helps maintain communications home.
Free eSIM in other European countries
Your 3 GB works in all 39 countries. Here are a few more popular destinations:
See all 39 countries →
Ready to claim your free 3 GB in Russia?
Install the 99esim app, create a free account, and your data is live in about 90 seconds.