Check-in at the hotel with a driver's license

It has become easier to register at the hotel — now it is not necessary for a guest to have an internal Russian passport with him. An international passport and a military ID will be suitable for identification, and from January 1, 2026, it will be possible to check into a hotel with a driver's license.

Previously, the law regulated that if a person permanently lives in the Russian Federation, it is impossible to register at a hotel without an internal passport. Even if the guest had a passport or driver's license with him, they were not considered identity documents. This made travel more difficult and created unnecessary stress for customers.

Now, on vacation or business trip, a person can check into a hotel using the document that is at hand right now. The new rules make registration less formal and more customer-oriented, and this is an important factor for the growth of tourist activity.