New Hotel Check-In Regulations in Russia
In a significant shift for the hospitality sector, hotels across Russia will soon be mandated to utilize the state-supported messaging application, Max, for checking in guests who lack an internal passport. This announcement was made by Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov on Tuesday.
As part of the new regulation, establishments with over 50 rooms are required to invest in the necessary hardware and ensure their staff are adequately trained to operate Max prior to the law’s implementation on September 1. Reshetnikov assured that VK, the technology firm behind Max, is prepared to assist hotels during this transition period.
This initiative builds upon a framework introduced earlier this year on April 1, which permitted Russian citizens to check into hotels using alternative forms of identification, such as a driver’s license, biometric data, or via the state services portal, Gosuslugi. However, it is important to note that foreign guests are still obliged to present their physical passports for mandatory migration tracking when checking in.
The introduction of this hotel requirement is part of a broader government strategy to promote the adoption of Max, which was launched in the spring of 2025 as a Kremlin-approved alternative to popular messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram. In a bid to encourage users to switch to Max, Russia’s media watchdog has been actively limiting functionalities on competing apps.
Max is already mandated to be pre-installed on all smartphones and computers sold within the country, with access restricted to Russian citizens possessing domestic phone numbers, as well as users from nations classified as “friendly” by the Kremlin.
Looking ahead, officials have ambitious plans for Max, envisioning it as a “super-app” that will integrate private messaging, digital payment solutions, and a range of government services, further embedding it into the daily lives of Russian citizens.
