eSIM for Russia
A prepaid travel eSIM that gets you online the moment you land in Russia. You install it from a QR code we email you, in about five minutes, and you pay for it outside the country, which matters here more than most places.
- 22 data plans work in Russia, from $3.99. Prices checked November 3, 2026.
- There is no plan for Russia alone right now. 7 plans pair it with one or two nearby countries, and 15 regional plans cover it too.
- Most plans start when you first use data, so you can install at home before you fly. A few start at install, and the tables mark them.
- Data only, with no local phone number. Your home number stays on your regular SIM.
Prices by data and trip length
Prices in US dollars, checked November 3, 2026. The plan page shows the current price before you pay.
| Data | 7 days | 15 days | 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | $3.991 GB, 7 daysCovers 2 destinations | $5.992 GB, 15 daysCovers 2 destinations | $7.993 GB, 30 daysCovers 2 destinations |
| 3 GB | $7.993 GB, 30 daysCovers 2 destinations | $7.993 GB, 30 daysCovers 2 destinations | $7.993 GB, 30 daysCovers 2 destinations |
| 5 GB | $9.995 GB, 30 daysCovers 2 destinations | $9.995 GB, 30 daysCovers 2 destinations | $9.995 GB, 30 daysCovers 2 destinations |
| 10 GB | $12.9912 GB, 30 daysRegional plan, 51 destinationsStarts at install | $12.9912 GB, 30 daysRegional plan, 51 destinationsStarts at install | $12.9912 GB, 30 daysRegional plan, 51 destinationsStarts at install |
| 20 GB | $21.9924 GB, 30 daysRegional plan, 51 destinationsStarts at install | $21.9924 GB, 30 daysRegional plan, 51 destinationsStarts at install | $21.9924 GB, 30 daysRegional plan, 51 destinationsStarts at install |
Plans for Russia and nearby countries
- Russia and Belarus: 7 plans, from $3.99 for 1 GB over 7 days.
- Regional plan, 51 destinations, including Finland, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Czechia: from $12.99 for 12 GB over 30 days.
- Regional plan, 98 destinations, including Finland, Georgia, Azerbaijan and China: from $41.99 for 13 GB over 365 days.
- Global plan, 175 destinations, including Finland, Georgia, Azerbaijan and China: from $8.99 for 1 GB over 30 days.
- Global plan, 185 destinations, including Finland, Georgia, Azerbaijan and China: from $15.99 for 1 GB over 30 days.
Network and plan details
- These plans use 4G LTE.
- Of the 22 plans for Russia, 14 start when you first use data and 8 start when you install the eSIM.
- Your data goes out to the internet from Hong Kong on 8 plans and the UK on 7. 7 do not say. Websites usually see that place as your location.
- Hotspot sharing works on every plan here.
- The catalog does not name the local network for these plans.
- Capital: Moscow
- Country calling code: +7
- Plans: 22, from $3.99 to $116.99
Russia has a practical wrinkle for visitors: foreign Visa and Mastercard cards no longer work inside the country, so you cannot easily top up a local SIM or pay for much on arrival. A travel eSIM you buy and pay for in advance, from outside Russia, sidesteps that. Once you land, the Yandex apps handle navigation and taxis.
What you can use the data for
Yandex Maps. Yandex Maps is more accurate than Google Maps inside Russia, with better transit and street detail. It runs on data and is the app locals use.
Yandex Go. The main taxi app, and the simplest way to get a ride without speaking Russian. It books, routes, and prices in the app over data.
Messaging. Telegram and WhatsApp are widely used. Staying reachable on them means staying on a connection.
Translation. Camera and voice translation handle the Cyrillic menus and signs, which is the most useful thing data buys a first-time visitor.
Where it works
Coverage roams on Russia's national networks, strong in the major cities and along the main corridors:
- Moscow, served by Sheremetyevo (SVO), Domodedovo (DME), and Vnukovo (VKO)
- St Petersburg (Pulkovo, LED)
- Kazan and the Volga cities
- Sochi and the Black Sea coast
- The high-speed rail line between Moscow and St Petersburg
Coverage is strong in Moscow, St Petersburg, and the major cities, and holds along the main rail and road corridors. Russia is vast, so it thins out quickly in the remote regions and Siberia. Download offline maps before any long-distance travel.
Common situations
Moscow and St Petersburg trip
Activate at the airport, open Yandex Maps and Yandex Go, and get into the city without needing a local payment method. The high-speed train between the two cities keeps the same eSIM working.
Paying when foreign cards do not work
Because you buy and pay for the eSIM abroad, you are not relying on a Russian card or a local top-up. You arrive with working data already loaded.
Business in Moscow
Stay on email, Telegram, and maps between meetings. The eSIM runs beside your home SIM, so your usual number still rings.
How to install your eSIM before you fly
- Buy the plan. The eSIM arrives by email, usually within a minute. You pay for it outside Russia, before you travel. Install it at home on Wi-Fi with the one-tap link or the QR code in the email. 8 plans start counting at install or purchase, and the tables mark them. Install those close to your flight.
- Name the line Russia and keep it off until you land. Do not delete it after setup, because an eSIM installs only once.
- On arrival, turn the line on, choose it for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it. Turn off data roaming on your home line.
Screen by screen steps for iPhone and Android are in our travel eSIM install guide.
Phones that work
Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked. Check your model on our compatibility page.
Common questions
How much does an eSIM for Russia cost?
Plans start at $3.99 for 1 GB over 7 days, on a plan that covers 2 destinations. A plan with at least 10 GB for 30 days starts at $12.99. Prices checked November 3, 2026.
Is there an unlimited data eSIM for Russia?
Not right now. The largest plan for Russia has 120 GB of data.
Is there a plan for Russia only?
No, not right now. 7 plans cover Russia together with one or two nearby countries, and 15 regional plans cover it too.
Can one eSIM cover Russia and nearby countries?
Yes. 15 plans cover both Russia and Finland, from $8.99. 15 cover Russia and Georgia. 15 cover Russia and Azerbaijan. The section above lists the regional plans.
When does the plan start counting days?
It depends on the plan. Of the 22 plans for Russia, 14 start when you first use data and 8 start when you install the eSIM. The plan page shows the rule before you pay.
Does the eSIM come with a phone number?
No. These plans are data only, and your home number stays on your regular SIM.
Why does buying outside Russia matter?
Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards do not work inside Russia, so topping up a local SIM or paying on arrival is difficult for visitors. You buy and pay for this eSIM abroad, so you land with working data already loaded.
Which navigation app should I use?
Yandex Maps is more accurate than Google Maps inside Russia, with better transit and street detail. Yandex Go is the main taxi app. Both run on the eSIM data.
Will it work outside Moscow and St Petersburg?
The major cities and main corridors are covered. Russia is vast, so remote regions and Siberia thin out fast. Download offline maps before long trips.