The hospitality industry in Russia is poised for a dramatic transformation with the pilot launch of “Migom,” a cutting-edge biometric check-in service that leverages the Unified Biometric System (UBS) to streamline guest registration. Announced by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Grigorenko on May 23, 2025, the Migom service eliminates the need for paper documents and manual form-filling, allowing travelers to check into participating hotels in as little as 20 seconds—down from an industry-average of five minutes. This development signals a broader push by the Russian government and technology partners to modernize tourism infrastructure, enhance guest experience, and strengthen national biometric data ecosystems.
A New Era in Hotel Check-In
Traditionally, hotel check-in involves waiting in line at the reception desk, presenting passports or IDs, and completing a series of handwritten or electronic forms. For many travelers, especially those arriving late at night or during peak seasons, this process can be time-consuming and frustrating. The introduction of Migom addresses these pain points by enabling travelers registered with the UBS to simply look into a specialized terminal camera at the hotel desk. The system captures the guest’s facial biometric data, cross-references it with information stored securely in the UBS, and automatically populates all required registration fields. The hotel staff receive a digital record; guests receive their room keys—all within roughly 20 seconds.
This radical reduction in check-in time—from about five minutes to under half a minute—promises to boost guest satisfaction and free up hotel personnel to focus on personalized service rather than administrative tasks. For business travelers with tight schedules and international tourists navigating unfamiliar paperwork, Migom represents a welcome innovation that aligns with global trends toward contactless and seamless travel experiences.
The Unified Biometric System: Foundations and Function
At the core of Migom lies the Unified Biometric System, a nationwide database jointly maintained by the Russian government and financial institutions. Originally conceived to facilitate secure digital identification for banking transactions, UBS requires individuals to register their biometric identifiers—primarily facial scans and voice prints—at designated bank branches. Once enrolled, users can authenticate themselves for a variety of services, ranging from remote banking logins to government e-services.
UBS relies on high-resolution imaging, encrypted data storage, and strict privacy safeguards mandated under federal law. Registration involves a one-time visit to a participating bank branch, where an enrollee’s facial geometry is captured under controlled lighting conditions. The data is then encrypted and stored in centralized servers, with access strictly logged and audited. Subsequent biometric verifications—such as those performed by Migom terminals—compare live captures against these stored templates using one-to-many matching algorithms.
By integrating UBS with hospitality operations, Migom extends the utility of existing infrastructure, delivering economies of scale while maintaining rigorous security standards. Users benefit from a unified identity framework, and service providers tap into a robust verification mechanism without having to build their own biometric databases from scratch.
Pilot Implementation in Moscow Hotels
The Migom service has launched as a pilot in select four- and five-star hotels across Moscow, chosen for their high guest turnover and technical readiness. Participating properties have installed dedicated biometric terminals at reception areas, complete with privacy screens and multilingual user interfaces. Hotel staff have received specialized training on operating the system, troubleshooting common issues, and assisting guests unfamiliar with biometric check-in.
Initial feedback from hoteliers indicates strong interest. One Moscow luxury hotel reported that during the first week of the pilot, 60 percent of UBS-registered guests opted for biometric check-in, with the remaining 40 percent preferring traditional procedures—often due to unfamiliarity with the system or lack of prior registration. The hotel noted that even among seasoned travelers, the promise of a sub-30-second check-in was enough to prompt widespread adoption.
From a technical perspective, the integration involved minimal disruption. Hotels connected the Migom terminals to their property management systems (PMS) via secure APIs, enabling real-time room allocation and digital key issuance. The only prerequisites were a stable internet connection, power supply, and a discreet installation footprint that preserved the aesthetic of reception areas.
Dramatic Reduction in Check-In Time
One of Migom’s most tangible benefits is its drastic cut in check-in duration. Traditional processes—requiring ID scans, form completion, and manual data entry—typically take around five minutes per guest. Migom’s biometric terminal, by contrast, compresses all these steps into a single facial recognition event:
- Identity Confirmation: The guest approaches the terminal and looks into the camera.
- Data Retrieval: The system retrieves the guest’s stored biometric template from UBS.
- Information Transfer: Upon successful match, the guest’s personal and travel document data is transmitted securely to the hotel’s PMS.
- Key Issuance: The PMS allocates the guest’s room and commands the key-card dispenser (or issues a mobile key) electronically.
From start to finish, the process lasts approximately 20 seconds—an 87 percent reduction in time. Over multiple check-ins per day, this efficiency translates to significant labor savings and improved guest throughput, particularly during busy check-in windows.
Enhancing Guest Experience and Safety
Beyond speed, biometric check-in elevates the overall guest experience in several ways:
- Contactless Interaction: In a post-pandemic world, minimizing surface contact is a priority. Guests no longer need to handle shared pens, paper forms, or room-key encoders.
- Personalized Service: With administrative tasks automated, front-desk staff can devote more time to personalized greetings, local recommendations, and concierge services.
- Reduced Queues: Fast biometric check-in alleviates congestion in reception areas, enhancing privacy and comfort for all guests.
- Enhanced Security: Biometric verification reduces the risk of identity fraud and stolen passports, as only the registered individual can complete the check-in process.
Hotels can further integrate biometric check-in with loyalty programs, enabling seamless member recognition and tailored offers upon arrival. For international visitors, the removal of passport presentation simplifies compliance with immigration and registration rules—a particular boon for polyglot hubs like Moscow, where check-in had previously been a multilingual bottleneck.
Privacy and Data Protection Considerations
The deployment of biometric technology inevitably raises questions around privacy, consent, and data security. Russian law stipulates that individuals must provide explicit consent for the collection and use of biometric identifiers, and that service providers must adopt “stringent technical and organizational measures” to safeguard user data. UBS operates under these regulations, storing encrypted biometric templates that cannot be reverse-engineered into raw facial images.
Migom terminals process biometric data in real time without retaining facial scans locally. Once a match is confirmed, the terminal discards the captured image; only the verification result is transmitted to the hotel’s PMS. All communications between UBS servers, Migom terminals, and hotel systems occur over end-to-end encrypted channels, ensuring that no unauthorized parties can intercept or tamper with personal data.
Nevertheless, experts advise ongoing audits, independent security assessments, and transparent user notifications to maintain trust. Hotels participating in the pilot must display clear signage explaining the biometric check-in process, the voluntary nature of participation, and alternatives for guests who prefer not to use the system.
The Registration Process: Joining UBS
To access Migom, travelers must first register with the Unified Biometric System. The process is straightforward:
- Locate a Branch: Visit any participating bank branch across Russia—major banks like Sberbank and VTB offer UBS enrollment services at all metropolitan and regional offices.
- Identity Verification: Present a valid government-issued ID (passport or national ID card) to confirm identity.
- Biometric Capture: A bank operator captures facial images and voice samples in a controlled setting.
- Consent and Confirmation: Sign consent forms for biometric data use, after which the data is encrypted and uploaded to UBS.
Registration takes approximately 10–15 minutes, and once complete, travelers can use UBS-integrated services anywhere in Russia—ranging from ATM withdrawals and online banking to hotel check-ins and government portals. For many tourists, this one-time investment unlocks a frictionless travel experience domestically.
Broader Ecosystem of Biometric Services
Migom is just one component of a growing ecosystem of biometric services promoted by the Russian government and private technology firms. Other applications include:
- Biometric ATMs: Cash withdrawal and account access via facial recognition at select bank branches.
- E-Government Portals: Secure login to state services such as tax filings, healthcare appointments, and social benefit applications.
- Transportation Hubs: Automated border control and boarding gates at major airports, enabling faster passport control and boarding processes.
- Event Access: Contactless entry to concerts, sports stadiums, and exhibitions through facial recognition turnstiles.
By interlinking these services through UBS, Russia aims to create a unified digital identity framework that balances convenience with security. The continued rollout of biometric terminals across various sectors is expected to accelerate throughout 2025 and beyond.
Challenges and Considerations
While the benefits are clear, several challenges remain:
- Digital Literacy: Some travelers—especially older adults or those from regions with limited digital infrastructure—may be hesitant or unfamiliar with the concept of biometric verification. Clear instructions and on-site assistance will be key to broad adoption.
- System Reliability: Biometric matching algorithms must maintain high accuracy across diverse demographics, lighting conditions, and environmental factors. Hotels must ensure terminals are properly maintained and calibrated.
- Alternative Options: Participation must remain voluntary. Hotels should continue to offer traditional check-in procedures for guests who opt out of biometric registration.
- Data Sovereignty: As biometric data is centralized, concerns over government access and surveillance may surface. Transparent governance and legal safeguards will be crucial for public trust.
By proactively addressing these challenges—through staff training, guest education, and robust technical standards—the Migom pilot seeks to establish a replicable model for nationwide deployment.
Future Prospects for Russian Tourism
The hospitality sector is only one piece of Russia’s broader tourism strategy, which aims to attract an increasing number of domestic and international visitors in the post-pandemic era. Faster, contactless hotel check-in aligns with global traveler expectations shaped by innovation hubs in Asia and Europe.
If scaled beyond Moscow to other major cities such as Saint Petersburg, Kazan, and Yekaterinburg, biometric check-in could become ubiquitous in Russian hotels by 2026. Such expansion would position Russia among the leaders in biometric hospitality solutions worldwide, enhancing the country’s appeal to tech-savvy travelers.
Moreover, the data insights gleaned from UBS interactions could inform targeted marketing campaigns, personalized travel recommendations, and dynamic pricing models, further energizing the tourism economy. As more service providers integrate biometric authentication—restaurants, museums, transportation—Russia’s travel ecosystem may transform into one of the world’s most seamless and digitally advanced.
Conclusion
The launch of Migom marks a significant milestone in Russia’s journey toward a digitized, biometric-driven service landscape. By enabling travelers to check into hotels using only their facial biometric data via the Unified Biometric System, Migom offers unprecedented speed, convenience, and security. While challenges around privacy, accessibility, and system reliability remain, the pilot in Moscow hotels demonstrates compelling benefits for guests and hoteliers alike.
As Russia continues to expand UBS-based services across multiple sectors, tourists can look forward to an increasingly frictionless experience—from swift hotel arrivals to seamless government interactions. For operators on the ground, the promise of streamlined operations and enhanced guest satisfaction makes MIGOM not just an innovation, but a harbinger of the future of travel in Russia.
