If you travel to Russia with a foreign eSIM like Yesim, you won’t have mobile internet or SMS during the first 24 hours. It’s the so-called “cooling-off period”, a measure Russia has applied since October 2025 to all foreign cards roaming in the country. The good news is you don’t have to wait a whole day: since November 21, 2025 you can remove the block in a few minutes by verifying your identity from the link that arrives by SMS.
Below is the whole process explained step by step, with real screenshots, for a Yesim eSIM that connects to the Beeline network in Russia.
Why does internet get blocked when you enter Russia?
Since October 1, 2025, Russia has applied the “cooling-off period” to foreign cards: as soon as a SIM or eSIM shows up roaming in Russia and connects to a local operator’s network, a 24-hour block on mobile internet and SMS kicks in automatically. It’s a security measure.
Since November 10, 2025, the same block also affects subscribers with a Russian card when they return from a trip abroad, or if their SIM has been inactive for more than 72 hours. So it isn’t something exclusive to tourists: it happens to almost anyone arriving from outside the country.
Can the block be removed before the 24 hours are up?
At first it was announced that early unblocking would only be available to Russian subscribers. However, on November 21, 2025 Beeline confirmed that foreigners can also remove the block in advance by verifying their identity from the link they receive by SMS.
Step by step: how to remove the block with a Yesim eSIM
1. A warning SMS arrives with the block
As soon as you activate the eSIM and turn on data, a Beeline SMS arrives instantly. It comes in Russian and English and warns that roaming — internet and SMS — is restricted for 24 hours for security reasons, with a link to verify your identity and regain access. The message itself stresses one key point: turn off Wi-Fi and your VPN first.
2. Turn off Wi-Fi and your VPN, and open the link
Before opening the link, disconnect your VPN. Beeline’s identification link (balance.beeline.ru/guest/) opens without problems even with your internet blocked, so you don’t need Wi-Fi. When you open it, a screen appears, in English or Russian (you can choose the language), explaining that internet and SMS are limited for 24 hours and asking you to verify your identity to lift the restriction.
3. Tap “Remove restriction” and pass the verification
When you tap the “Remove restriction” button (or “Снять ограничения” in the Russian version), a very simple verification appears: type the characters from an image. In this case they’re friendlier than the usual captchas, just five numbers.
4. Confirmation that the block has been lifted
After passing the verification, a message appears on screen saying the restrictions have been lifted, with one important nuance: the unblock only applies to that device. The whole process takes just a few minutes.
5. Toggle airplane mode and you’re done
At first internet may still not work. A few minutes later a second SMS arrives confirming that all roaming services are now available and asking for one last action: turn airplane mode on and off so the phone re-establishes the connection.
After turning airplane mode off and on, the eSIM connects on LTE and starts working normally, loading every website, including the ones that won’t open with a Russian SIM and no VPN.
In short
The 24-hour block is automatic, but with a foreign eSIM like Yesim you can lift it in a few minutes by following Beeline’s SMS verification.
