Applies to: All Instra Retail customers and Instra Reseller partners with active .RU, .РФ, or .SU domain registrations.
The .RU registry (Coordination Center for TLD .RU/.РФ/.SU) now requires all registrants of .RU, .РФ, and .SU domains to complete electronic identity verification through ESIA/Gosuslugi, the Russian government's digital identity portal, using Russian government credentials.
Deadline: 1 September 2026.
From this date, operations involving .RU, .РФ, and .SU domains — including registration, renewal, registrant changes, and DNS updates — will only be available where the registrant has successfully completed ESIA/Gosuslugi identification. Domains that remain unverified and are not covered by an appropriate trustee arrangement will be frozen by the registry and will expire at the end of their current registration period, with no option to renew.
Because Gosuslugi verification requires Russian government credentials, registrants located outside Russia are typically unable to complete this step directly and need to choose one of the options below.
Scope: which domains are affected?
This requirement applies only to direct .RU, .РФ, and .SU registrations. It does not apply to second-level extensions such as .COM.RU, .NET.RU, and .ORG.RU — these are unaffected and require no action.
Do I need to do anything?
If you have a Russian address and can complete Gosuslugi verification yourself: Yes — complete verification directly through ESIA/Gosuslugi before 1 September 2026, and make sure your registration details are accurate and up to date. No trustee arrangement is needed in this case. View the ESIA/Gosuslugi Verification Guide
If your domain is .COM.RU, .NET.RU, .ORG.RU (or another second-level extension): No action needed — this requirement doesn't apply to you.
If you do not have a Russian address or Russian government credentials: You have several options, described below. Reviewing whether the domain is still needed is a good first step, since it determines which option applies.
Your Options
1. Review whether the domain is still needed
Confirm whether the .RU, .РФ, or .SU domain is still actively used or required. If it isn't, no further action is needed and you can allow it to lapse (see Option 4).
2. Transfer the domain to a Russian owner
If you have a genuine business or personal connection in Russia — such as a local subsidiary, partner, or representative — the domain can be transferred to that party. Once transferred, the new registrant completes Gosuslugi verification directly under their own credentials.
3. Use the direct Trustee Service through RU-CENTER
As previously communicated, we cannot provide or broker a local presence (Trustee) service ourselves, due to sanctions-related payment restrictions on transactions with Russian entities. However, if a trustee is essential, you can transfer your domain to direct service with RU-CENTER and order their Trustee Service directly.
What this involves:
You'll need your own RU-CENTER account credentials to sign in and manage the domain directly.
- If you don't already have RU-CENTER account access, contact our support team for guidance on setting this up.
- If you need to recover access to an existing RU-CENTER account, you can do so via the RU-CENTER password recovery form.
Once you have access:
- Sign in to your account at nic.ru.
- Transfer the domain to direct service with RU-CENTER.
- Order and pay for the Trustee Service directly through RU-CENTER.
- Send the required documents to RU-CENTER within 7 days of placing and paying for the order. This deadline is strict — missing it may void the order.
A full step-by-step guide is available covering each of these steps, including account access, transferring the domain, ordering the Trustee Service, and completing ESIA/Gosuslugi identification: Read the Full RU-CENTER Transfer & Trustee Guide
Sanctions and payment notice: using this option puts you into a direct contractual relationship with a Russian service provider. Before proceeding, check whether sanctions, payment restrictions, or other legal requirements applicable in your country permit you to enter into this arrangement and make payments to Russia.
4. Let the domain lapse
If none of the above options are possible or the domain is no longer needed, it will be frozen by the registry after 1 September 2026 and expire at the end of its current registration period, with no option to renew.
What We Can Help With
While we can't provide or arrange a Trustee service ourselves, our support team can assist with:
- Guidance on the domain transfer process to a Russian owner or to direct service with RU-CENTER
- Guidance on setting up RU-CENTER account access
- Technical and administrative steps once you've engaged the Trustee Service through RU-CENTER
- Questions about the registry's requirements and deadlines
What We Can't Help With
- We cannot provide or broker a Trustee service ourselves
- We cannot complete Gosuslugi/ESIA verification on your behalf
- We cannot recover your RU-CENTER account access for you (RU-CENTER handles this directly)
- We cannot advise on sanctions or payment-restriction compliance in your country
- We cannot extend the registry's 1 September 2026 deadline
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I miss the deadline? From 1 September 2026, registration, renewal, registrant changes, and DNS updates will only be possible for verified domains. Unverified domains without a trustee arrangement will be frozen by the registry and will expire at the end of their current term with no option to renew.
Can I still renew my domain normally in the meantime? Yes, until the domain is frozen by the registry, standard renewal continues to apply. Verification is a separate registry-level requirement.
Why can't you offer a Trustee service? Sanctions-related payment restrictions on transactions with Russian entities currently prevent us from offering or brokering this service, company-wide, across all our brands.
Is RU-CENTER's Trustee Service the only option? It's the option we can point you to directly, since RU-CENTER is the registry-affiliated registrar. You're also free to engage any other third-party Trustee provider directly if you prefer — we're just unable to recommend or broker one ourselves.
I'm a reseller — does this apply to my end customers too? Yes. Any .RU, .РФ, or .SU domain under your reseller account is subject to the same verification requirement and deadline. We recommend reviewing your affected domains and notifying your customers as early as possible.
Does this affect any other TLDs? No — this requirement is specific to .RU, .РФ, and .SU domains only, and does not apply to second-level extensions like .COM.RU, .NET.RU, or .ORG.RU.
Still Have Questions?
If your situation isn't covered above, please contact our support team — we're happy to help within the limits described here.