Driver's license instead of a passport: an important new rule for all drivers from January 5
Photo: SM.News news agency January 4 – SM.News news agency. As of January 1, 2026, an important change for millions of motorists has come into force in Russia. Now the national-format driver's license has acquired an additional function.
An alternative to the passport
Under the new rules, a driver's license can be used as an identity document when checking in to temporary accommodation facilities. These include: hotels, motels, hostels; sanatoriums, boarding houses, holiday homes; campsites, tourist bases. Previously, only the Russian citizen's passport was accepted for these purposes. Now guests have a choice.
How it works and why it is needed?
The innovation was reported by State Duma deputy Nikita Chaplin. According to him, the administration of an establishment will be able, via secure communication channels, to verify the authenticity of the presented driver's license against GIBDD databases.
This serves two main purposes:
- Improved convenience. The change is intended to simplify the check-in procedure, especially in situations when the passport has been forgotten at home or is being processed by another agency.
- Combating fraud. The ability to quickly verify data against an official database reduces the risk of using forged documents and enhances security.
What drivers should know?
- It is precisely about choice. You can still present your passport, but in its absence the driver's license will serve as a legal alternative.
- The innovation applies only to the national Russian-format driver's license. International driver's licenses are not suitable for these purposes.
- The rule applies only to check-in at temporary accommodation facilities. For notarial acts, banking transactions, purchasing train or plane tickets and other legally significant procedures, a passport will still be required.
The new rule is a step toward greater convenience for citizens, allowing them to use an already available document (the driver's license) in additional everyday situations.
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Driver's license instead of a passport: an important new rule for all drivers from January 5
Photo: SM.News news agency January 4 – SM.News news agency. An important change for millions of motorists came into effect in Russia on January 1, 2026. 05.01.2026. Kazan.Sm.News. Republic of Tatarstan. Kazan.