How to opt out of biometrics and check what is already in the Unified Biometric System (EBS)
Refusing biometrics means deleting your biometric template (a face image and/or voice sample) from the Unified Biometric System (EBS; ЕБС), whose operator is the Center for Biometric Technologies. You can do this in two ways: through your personal account on Gosuslugi (Госуслуги) or through an MFC (МФЦ) during an in-person visit. In both cases, the procedure is free (see the Gosuslugi help page on biometrics).
Refusing biometrics is a fully legal right. It does not deprive a person of civil rights and does not restrict access to standard government services, bank accounts, or medical care. What refusal does restrict is remote biometric identification: payment by face (Face Pay), remote opening of bank accounts, biometric access to the metro, and similar services that require an active template in the EBS.
Below is a step-by-step refusal guide, a way to check what you currently have in the EBS, and an explanation of whether you can submit biometrics again later.
In brief
- Refusing biometrics means deleting the template from the EBS; it is done free of charge.
- There are two routes: Gosuslugi (online) or an MFC (in-person visit).
- Refusal does not deprive you of civil rights and does not block basic services.
- Only remote biometric identification is restricted (Face Pay, remote account opening).
- You can submit biometrics again later, at the same or another bank.
What the EBS is and where to view your data
The EBS is a state information system that stores citizens’ biometric templates. A template is not the photograph itself, but a mathematical “imprint” (vector) of a face or voice. A template enters the EBS only when submitted voluntarily — for example, at a bank branch when you are offered “biometrics registration.”
Where to see what is in the EBS
There is a “Biometrics” section in the Gosuslugi personal account. It shows whether you have a template, when it was submitted, which organization registered it, and which services use it. If the section shows “biometrics absent,” there is no template in the EBS.
How the template differs from Face ID on a phone
Face ID / fingerprint on a smartphone is local biometrics. The template is stored in the device’s secure chip and is not sent anywhere. The EBS is a centralized system; the template is stored on the operator’s servers and used for identification in banks and other organizations.
Step-by-step guide: refusal through Gosuslugi
The fastest route if you have a verified account and access to your personal account.
Step 1. Sign in to Gosuslugi
On gosuslugi.ru or in the official Gosuslugi app. Sign in with your verified account.
Step 2. Go to the “Biometrics” section
In your personal account or through search using the query “biometrics.” A page will open with the current status of your biometric data.
Step 3. Submit a refusal application
On the “Biometrics” page there is a button to refuse processing of biometric personal data. Submit the application — it is signed with a simple electronic signature through ESIA.
Step 4. Wait for processing
Usually this takes several business days. As a result, your personal account will show the status “biometrics deleted” or “refusal registered,” depending on whether there was a template in the system.
Step-by-step guide: refusal through an MFC
An alternative route for those who do not have a verified Gosuslugi account or who prefer an in-person visit.
Step 1. Make an appointment at an MFC
On the Moi Dokumenty (Мои документы) website (мфц.рф) or by phone with your regional MFC. The service is called “Refusal of processing of biometric personal data in the EBS.”
Step 2. Visit with your passport
At the appointed time, bring your passport and SNILS. The MFC employee will prepare a paper application, and you will sign it.
Step 3. Receive confirmation
The MFC forwards the application to the EBS operator. Confirmation arrives by email or through your Gosuslugi personal account (if you have one).
What changes after refusal
| Service / situation | Before | After refusal |
|---|---|---|
| Civil rights (passport, SNILS, INN) | Valid | Remain valid without changes |
| Standard government services (MFC, medical care, taxes) | Available | Available without changes |
| Opening a bank account in person | Available | Available — biometrics are not required |
| Remote account opening through biometrics | Possible | Unavailable until biometrics are submitted again |
| Payment by face (Face Pay) in the metro, cafés, shops | Possible | Unavailable |
| Biometric access to offices | Possible | Unavailable |
| Ability to submit biometrics again | — | Available — at a bank or another authorized center |
How to check right now
Open Gosuslugi → “Biometrics.” If a template has already been submitted, it will be listed together with the registering organization and date. If you want to delete it, click “Refuse” and confirm. If there is no template, the section will show “biometrics absent,” and no action is required: you are already not in the EBS.
At the same time, if this is about digital hygiene in general, it makes sense to check whether your full name is in the public wanted database of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD; МВД) — this is a separate database, not connected to the EBS, but important in the broader context of interacting with state systems.
Warning signs vs false alarm
A warning sign is when the “Biometrics” section lists a template that you did not submit (for example, the registering organization is shown as a bank you have never visited). This is a rare but possible situation: submit a refusal and, in parallel, file a complaint with the EBS operator asking them to determine how the template got into the system.
A false alarm is messages saying “the bank will require biometrics to log in to the personal account.” Biometric identification in banks is an option, not a mandatory requirement. Basic access to the account by login and password or a one-time code remains available.
What to do next
- If you submitted biometrics at a bank and no longer want them there, submit a refusal through Gosuslugi or an MFC.
- If you plan to submit a refusal, decide in advance whether you need remote identification services; after refusal, they will be unavailable until you submit biometrics again.
- At a bank, when offered to “submit biometrics,” ask which specific services this will enable — and whether you personally need them.
- Keep confirmation of refusal (a PDF from Gosuslugi or a paper copy from the MFC) in case disputes arise.
- Regularly check the “Biometrics” section on Gosuslugi: resubmission without your knowledge is an abnormal situation that requires a complaint to the EBS operator.
- Refusal from the EBS does not affect the device’s local biometrics (Face ID, fingerprint for unlocking a smartphone) — they remain on the device and are not sent to centralized systems.
Disclaimer: this material is for informational purposes and is not legal advice. For a specific situation, consult a lawyer. The refusal procedure and the list of services available through the EBS may change; for the current procedure, check the Gosuslugi help page on biometrics.
Conclusion
Refusing biometrics is a standard procedure available through Gosuslugi or an MFC. It does not restrict civil rights and does not block basic services; it only closes access to remote biometric identification. The decision to “submit / refuse” is personal and reversible: the template can be submitted again later. The main thing is to make the decision consciously, understanding which services are enabled and which risks arise as a result.