Buying a Russian SIM card to connect to Internet or to make calls in or from Russia is very economical. You can do it online before your trip or in Russia going to one of the many Russian mobile stores. In this article I explain how to do it both ways and what is the cost.
Article updated on August 22, 2019. Published on January 4, 2016
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1. Is it worth buying a Russian SIM?
If you are spending a stay in Russia, surely you’re set to buy a Russian mobile phone SIM card to get internet connection anywhere and make cheap calls.
If you use your mobile phone line in Russia, the invoice can be very expensive, which is why it may be interesting to purchase a SIM card from any Russian mobile phone providers.
For about 500-1.000 rubles (just over 5 dollars), you can purchase a Russian SIM with 400 minutes of calls and 10 Gb Internet connection. In addition, they are easy to acquire and you only need your passport.
If you’re making a short trip of a few days to Moscow or St. Petersburg, it is likely that you don’t need a mobile phone SIM card because hotels usually have Wi-Fi and many cafes, restaurants and public areas have free Wi-Fi.
Now if you are spending a long stay in Russia or if you are going to make a longer trip on the Trans-Siberian trip or you simply want to be permanently connected with your phone, then it is worth acquiring a Russian SIM card as they are cheap and easy to acquire.
Also, you can buy online a Russian SIM card before traveling to Russia with the company Simcorner that ships worldwide.
2. What does it cost to buy a Russian SIM card and which companies offer it?
In Russia there are dozens of mobile phone companies, but the three most common are MTS, MegaFon and Beeline, though there are many others: Tele 2, Yota, Rostelecom, etc).
I can’t say which one is the best and the less expensive since they are constantly changing their rates. MTS is a bit more expensive and MegaFon is perhaps the most popular. Beeline is usually the cheapest. In any case, the price difference is not very significant.
To my knowledge there is no fee especially aimed at tourists by the Russian companies. I guess they don’t consider it an interesting market.
But this is not a problem when purchasing a SIM card with any of the prepaid rates aimed at the resident population and you pay only for what you anticipate you’ll consume.
To my knowledge only Beeline has a rate for foreign tourists that costs 700 rubles with unlimited Internet and even 30 minutes for calls abroad. The rest of the companies have rates for the resident population and which you can also receive with prices between 500 and 1,000 rubles and Internet during your stay in Russia (between 5 and 15 Gb).
3. Where to buy a Russian mobile phone SIM card?
Mobile phone companies have an extensive network of offices that are easily recognizable on the street. You can find them at the airport, near metro stations, in shopping streets or in large shopping centers. Choose the first that you see. You will find many. You can also find them integrated into other businesses or even down the street in summer.
You have to make the payment in the office itself, according to the package you’re hiring, and then you can recharge it at any office or through their websites by credit card.
Acquiring a SIM card via the web is only possible for the local population, since only ships within Russia. However, if you live in Russia you can also get it.
4. What documents do you need to buy a Russian SIM card?
All you need is your passport or registration certificate in Russia. With your passport you should have no problems in acquiring a SIM. It is rare for stores to negate the sale to a foreigner, but if you have problems, just go to another store and problem solved.
Finally, you must take into account the size of the SIM card that you will need (standard, micro or nano for iPhone). I recommend that you ask the vendor to put the SIM in your device and activate it.
5. Can I buy a Russian SIM card before traveling to Russia?
If you want to buy a Russian SIM card before traveling to Russia, you have the option to buy it at an online store to have it sent to your home. It has the advantage that you will arrive in Russia with the SIM card (without having to find a store) and the disadvantage that it will cost you a little more expensive.
The best option currently available is Simcorner, a company with which you can buy a Russian SIM card with 4 Gb, a duration of 15 days and coverage throughout Russia. You can buy it with a 5% discount with the code AFL-IZNF (offered by this company to the readers of this blog).
They ship worldwide: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, etc.
This Russian SIM card can be used in Mobile Phones, Apple iPads, Tablets, Dongles and Mifi devices.
In summary
If you are spending a long stay in Russia or if it’s a short stay but you will make an intensive use of your mobile phone, it’s worth buying a Russian SIM card, as they are cheap and easy to acquire in any mobile store. You only need your passport. If you want to buy it in advance before your trip, you can purchase a Russian SIM card in an online store with Simcorner.
Hi, I’m currently in St Petersburg and due to fly home to London on Monday 23. When I was in Moscow on 5 september I purchased a SIM card for 300 roubles (charged to my credit card) from Megafon. I believed it to be a one off purchase to cover me for 3 weeks maximum. However I then received a text saying I’d be debited 400 roubles a month. When I returned to the original shop they said it was ok and if I removed the card and didn’t use after leaving Russia I wouldn’t be charged. When I arrived in St Petersburg I was still unsure so I went to a megafon store there and was told the same thing as apparently different rules apply to sims bought in Moscow. They finally agreed to remove sim, destroy SIM card and block. I also contacted my credit card provider who informed me that no reoccurring payment was set up on my card to megafon. Does this all mean that no further payments will be taken or do I need to do anything else before I leave St Petersburg on Monday?
Theresa
Hi, I’m currently in St Petersburg but leaving Monday to fly back to London.
When I was in Moscow I purchased a SIM card from Megafon. I asked for one for 3 weeks and believed I was paying a one off fee for this. I was charged 300 roubles from my credit card. I went away but then received a text saying I would be debited 400 roubles every month. I went back to the store to query this twice and was told to remove sim when I no longer needed it and no further money would be taken. When I arrived in St Petersburg I went to a megafon shop and was told the same thing. As if purchased it in Moscow, I didn’t need to cancel the contract as removing and destroying sim would suffice. As I was still unsure, the assistant blocked it, removed sim and destroyed saying this was enough. I contacted my credit card provider and they confirmed no reoccurring payment set up on my card. Does this mean no more payments will be taken as blocked and destroy sim and nothing set up on my credit card?
Theresa
Hi I be travel to moscMo I want buy a phone sim an a phone if I be there for 6 months so what can I get something that covers from Moscow an 400 miles to a village in there what kind would I need to make phone calls an maybe tex. Email me info [email protected] thanks.
hi Irena – is there a Megafon outlet at Vnukovo airport?
Hello Irena,
I want to recharge phone of my friend from another country. But i dont know russian. I tried to find Megafone english web site but its still in maintaince process. https://uploads.disquscdn.c… Could you please help me for open this page. ?
Kindly Regards
Mehmet
Here is:http://moscow.megafon.ru/pa… (use machine translator)
Hi Irena! Thank you for all your tips about Russian Phone Companies, it was very helpful. However, I just have a few questions left. I am going to live in St. Petersburg for a month and I was planning to buy a sim card there, how can I deactivate it when I will go back to my home country? Is it ok to use it just for a month?
Cheers!
Chiara
Of course!
Thank you so much for your feedback!
Hello Irena, I am going to Moscow and Saint Petersburg on December and have tried to buy tickets for events at Kassir.ru website and directly at the State Kremlin Palace Theater. Payment was rejected because they only take Russian cards. I was able to pay at Faberge Museum, Hermitage, Russian Railways and other sites, but not for theater tickets. I asked the Concierge at my hotel to buy them and charge my card and they said that by Russian law that could not be done. It is something that is regularly done in the US, I have gotten tickets to Broadway through the concierge several times. I even tried to see if I could get a prepaid virtual card from Sberbank but had the same problem as it would not take my Bank of America US issued card, only Russian and several neighboring countries cards. Any ideas of how could I get to pay for the tickets? I want to purchase them in advance because the shows sell out and will not be able to get tickets on the day of the show. Thank you very much for any suggestions.
Hi Irena, sorry for misspelling your name in my previous post
Hi Irina,
I found your post incredibly useful. It helped me a lot in order to get the VISA.
I am travelling with two friends to Moscow and St. Petersburg in a couple of weeks and I would like to buy a prepaid SIM mostly for data use on my phone. I’ve read somewhere else that most of the companies/packages apply roaming if you move to another province even inside Russia and therefore you run out money fast. We will be visitng St. Peterburg and Moscow. Is there any company/prepayment package you would suggest that covers both of these cities and therefore doesn’t apply roaming? Thanks in advance!
Try with Beeline: http://moskva.beeline.ru/en…
Can is Use this with any US phone or is it limited to certain types? Thank you!
Hi, Irena, loved you post and yes, it definitely saves big when you switch to Russian SIM when in Russia.
My question is, however, 180 degrees removed from your post. What about using Russian SIM card overseas, Sam in the US? If you have a Russian SIM and phone number, is it possible to, for example, text to Russia? Any ideas?
Yes, but it’s very expensive, better use a SIM from US
Thank you. This is very helpful.
Hi, I am going to Sochi next week and will be transferring to Sochi from Sheremetyevo Airport. Given this, will it be better to buy a SIM card at the airport in Moscow or Sochi? Also, I will only be in Sochi for 4 days, so which type of SIM card should I buy? I am basically looking for one with a data plan to access the Internet. Thanks.
Buy a SIM card in Sochi
What a very helpful web site! Thank you for writing it. I want to ask if it is possible to buy a SIM card that works in both Moscow and St Petersburg and on the train between?
I will traveling to Moscow and Pete in May. Even though I have my own phone and will have Wifi where I’ll be staying, some people have suggested I buy a prepaid “burner” type phone to use to prevent possible security hijack of my phone and its data by criminal hackers while there. Any thoughts on this Irena or anyone else?
Thank you
No idea. Just enjoy your trip
Спасибо Ирена
Pretty good info
Everyone who need Russian SIM card for travel Russia can order one or more from Ebay. All offers in one place.
http://www.ebay.ie/sch/ling…
All cards legally registered to business .Very quick and helpful support
Stop spamming there! GREAT surcharge!