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State Duma adopted a law on biometrics in real estate transactions
The government bill allowing the use of biometrics in remote real estate transactions was adopted in the second and third (final) readings.
The bill provides for the possibility of submitting an application for state registration of rights in the form of electronic documents signed with an enhanced qualified electronic signature, subject to the identification of the parties through the Unified Biometric System.
State Duma deputy Alexey Govyrin (United Russia) said that the statutory provision covering real estate transactions in electronic form would come into force in Russia from July 1, 2026. According to him, the bill adopted by the State Duma allows filing applications for registration of rights and attaching all the necessary documents online if they are certified with an enhanced qualified electronic signature.
“But the key point is that it will now be possible to use biometric identification through the national Unified Biometric System, avoiding unnecessary paperwork and additional approvals necessary to work with an electronic signature. What does this mean in practice? Previously, even if the parties to the transaction wanted to formalize everything remotely, they were required to specify in advance their consent regarding the use of the electronic form. Now this will not be required if the identity is confirmed through biometrics. That is, it is enough to upload documents, sign them with an e-signature and go through recognition in the UBS – by face, voice, or other parameters. And this will be enough to register the transfer of ownership, lease and other rights to real estate,” he noted.