SNILS or INN: Which Russian Number Your Foreign Bank Wants
When a foreign bank asks you for your Russian tax number, it almost always means the INN (individual tax identification number), not the SNILS (social insurance number). Both exist, but they prove different things. We explain what each one is, how to obtain confirmation remotely, and why apostille is usually unnecessary for bank compliance checks.
When you open an account at a foreign bank or investment firm, the compliance department may ask you to provide your Russian tax number or proof of tax registration. You may not be sure which document they actually need. Many clients receive a vague request like “provide your Russian TIN” and then send the wrong certificate—sometimes a SNILS (social insurance number) instead of the INN (tax identification number), or vice versa. The confusion is understandable — both are strings of digits issued by a Russian state body, and neither is labelled in English on the document itself. But they prove completely different things, and the Russian tax number for a foreign bank is always the INN. This article explains the difference, how to obtain official confirmations for both, and whether you need an apostille to satisfy your bank’s compliance requirements.
When a Foreign Bank Asks for Your Russian Number
The request usually comes as part of the bank’s know-your-customer (KYC) or customer-due-diligence process. Banks in the EU, US, Canada, and other countries are required by law to verify that they know who their customers are and where their money comes from. For clients who are Russian residents or citizens, this means confirming your tax registration and insurance status with Russian authorities.
The bank’s form typically asks for one of three things: your “Russian tax identification number,” your “insurance number,” or “proof of Russian tax registration.” The majority of the time, this is a request for the INN. However, some banks word the request vaguely, and it may not be clear which document you actually need. The safest approach is to ask your relationship manager or compliance officer to clarify exactly which Russian government number or certificate they need. Once you know, you can obtain the official confirmation and arrange a certified translation if the bank requires it in a specific language. Note that some banks also request Russian tax certificates (such as annual income proof) or other documents in addition to the INN—always check what the bank has specifically asked for.
INN vs SNILS: What Each One Proves
The INN (ИНН, Individual Tax Identification Number) is issued by the Federal Tax Service (ФНС, Federal’naya Nalogovaya Sluzhba). If you are a Russian citizen, permanent resident, or foreign national who has worked or held property in Russia, you almost certainly have an INN. For an individual it is twelve digits, and it proves you are registered as a taxpayer in Russia. When a foreign bank asks for your “Russian tax number,” this is what they mean. An INN certificate is an official document from the Federal Tax Service showing your INN, full name, and the date of your registration. Banks use this to comply with international tax reporting rules and to verify that you are who you claim to be.
The SNILS (СНИЛС, individual insurance account number) is issued and managed by the Social Fund of Russia (СФР, Sotsial’nyy Fond Rossii, formerly known as the Pension Fund). It is eleven digits, written in the pattern XXX-XXX-XXX YY, and it proves your registration in the Russian social insurance system. The different length is the quickest way to tell the two apart on paper. The SNILS is used for pension claims, employment records, and formal benefit applications. Employers register their employees for SNILS automatically. If you were ever employed in Russia or have lived there as a resident, you have a SNILS. Originally, SNILS was issued as a green plastic card; today, the Social Fund issues a registration notification instead, though old cards remain valid.
In summary: the INN is your tax number, issued by the tax authority, and is what banks ask for. The SNILS is your insurance number, issued by the social fund, and is what pension systems and Russian employers use. When a foreign bank asks for “proof of Russian tax status,” they want the INN, not the SNILS. However, some visa applications, employment verifications, or pension inquiries may specifically ask for the SNILS. The key is to read the request carefully and, if it is unclear, ask the receiving institution which document they need.
How to Obtain Confirmations Remotely
You cannot obtain a new INN or SNILS remotely if you do not already have one—both require Russian registration, which typically requires a visit to Russia or work with a Russian resident. However, if you already have an INN or SNILS (which most people who have lived or worked in Russia do), you can obtain official confirmations and certificates without leaving home.
For the INN, you have two options. If you have access to your Russian personal tax account (lichnyy kabinet), you may be able to download an INN certificate directly from the Federal Tax Service portal. If you do not have access or prefer not to navigate the Russian online system, we can file a request on your behalf using a power of attorney, retrieve the official INN certificate from the ФНС, and provide a certified translation. For SNILS, the process is similar: you can sometimes check your SNILS status online if you have a Russian digital ID (gosuslugi), but getting an official certificate for foreign use usually requires filing a request with your local Social Fund office. Again, we can handle this via power of attorney, retrieving the official registration notification or certificate and arranging translation. Typical turnaround is 10 to 20 business days for retrieval from the Russian authority, depending on the office’s workload, plus 2 to 5 business days for certified translation.
The SNILS and INN retrieval service covers the entire process: we draft and file the power of attorney, follow up with the relevant Russian authority (the ФНС for INN, the СФР for SNILS), retrieve the official certificate, verify its authenticity, arrange certified translation into the language your bank needs, and handle courier delivery. If you already hold a certificate or partial statement, send us a scan and we can provide translation only, which is faster and less expensive. Once you receive the translated certificate, you submit it to your bank to satisfy their compliance requirements.
Apostille for Bank KYC: Usually Unnecessary
One question clients often ask is whether the INN or SNILS certificate needs to be apostilled—that is, whether it needs the Hague Convention certification stamp that many countries recognize as proof a document is authentic. The answer depends on your bank’s specific requirements, not on whether the certificate is “official enough” without an apostille.
Most foreign banks for know-your-customer purposes accept a certified translation of your INN or SNILS certificate without requiring an apostille. A translation by a qualified translator, with the translator’s signature certified by a Russian notary, is generally enough for that purpose. Some banks or in some countries do ask for an apostille on the notarized copy—they may require extra assurance of the document’s authenticity, or their jurisdiction’s rules may demand it. A few banks ask for nothing beyond the certified translation in English or their local language. Before you order any apostille work, ask your bank or compliance officer what exactly they need. Once we know the requirement we can arrange exactly that, quoted separately. The apostille itself is issued by the regional Ministry of Justice, not by us, and adds roughly 2 to 3 business days. As everywhere on this site: we apostille originals issued in the Krasnodar region, and for documents from other Russian regions we apostille a notarised copy or refer a trusted partner.
SNILS
- Social insurance account number (registration notification)
- Issued and managed by the Social Fund (СФР)
- Proves you are registered in the Russian social insurance system
- Used for pension claims, employment records, and benefits
- Obtained through employer registration or direct application in Russia
- Not a tax document; does not prove tax status
INN
- Individual tax identification number (ИНН)
- Issued and managed by the Federal Tax Service (ФНС)
- Proves you are registered as a Russian tax resident or taxpayer
- Used for bank KYC, tax compliance, and international tax reporting
- What a foreign bank means by "Russian TIN"
- A tax document; does not prove insurance or pension status
What You Need to Gather for INN or SNILS Confirmation
- Your INN or SNILS number (check your existing certificates, passport, or tax notices)
- A scan of any existing INN or SNILS certificate or statement you hold, even if expired
- The name of the country and the specific institution (bank, tax authority, pension fund, visa officer) asking for this document
- Your full name exactly as it appears in Russian government records and your date of birth
- A copy of your passport or ID matching your Russian records
- Your mailing address abroad and a contact method (phone, email, Telegram) for delivery and status updates
You May Also Need
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Russian Tax Certificates & Income Proof
If your bank also asks for proof of Russian tax-declared income or your annual tax returns, that requires the 2-НДФЛ certificate—a different document managed by your former employer's accounting department.
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Power of Attorney for Russian Authorities
If you prefer to authorize us formally to request any Russian government documents on your behalf, we can obtain, apostille, and deliver a power of attorney for use with ФНС, СФР, or other Russian offices.
Frequently Asked Questions
My bank asks for my Russian tax number—which document do I send?
Your bank wants the INN (individual tax identification number). An official INN certificate from the Federal Tax Service (ФНС) is the proof. If you have an existing certificate, send us a scan for certified translation. If you do not have one but know your INN number, we can file a request with the ФНС to obtain the official certificate and provide translation.
What is the difference between SNILS and INN?
The INN is your Russian tax identification number, issued by the Federal Tax Service—this is what banks ask for. The SNILS is your Russian social insurance number, issued by the Social Fund—this is used for pensions and employment records. You likely have both if you have lived or worked in Russia, but they prove different things — and they are different lengths, so the number itself tells you which one you are holding.
Can I get a new INN or SNILS without going to Russia?
No. Both require registration in Russia, which typically requires a personal visit or work with a Russian resident. However, if you already have an INN or SNILS (most Russian residents and former residents do), we can retrieve official confirmations and certificates remotely using a power of attorney, and provide certified translations.
Does my INN certificate need an apostille for my bank?
Usually not. Most banks accept a certified translation without an apostille. However, some banks or some countries do require one. Before you order anything, ask your bank or compliance officer what format they need—then we can arrange exactly that. If apostille is needed we arrange it and quote it separately.
How long does it take to get an INN or SNILS certificate if I need retrieval from Russia?
Retrieval from the Russian authority (ФНС for INN, СФР for SNILS) typically takes 10 to 20 business days. Certified translation adds 2 to 5 days. If apostille is needed, add another 2 to 3 days. The combined package—retrieval, translation, and apostille if required—typically runs 14 to 25 business days. Courier delivery to the EU or US adds 2 to 5 weeks on top of that.
My bank asked for 'proof of Russian tax residency'—is that the same as an INN certificate?
Possibly. If your bank means 'proof that you are registered as a tax resident in Russia,' yes, an INN certificate from the Federal Tax Service is the correct answer. If they mean 'proof of your income or current tax returns,' they may be asking for the 2-НДФЛ (annual tax certificate) instead, which is issued by your employer's accounting department. Always confirm with your bank exactly which document they need.
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Send us your INN or SNILS number, or a scan of an existing certificate. You will receive a fixed price and delivery timeline within 2 hours during working hours. You pay only after you approve.
We are not a Russian government agency, a bank, or a tax authority, and nothing here is legal or financial advice. The INN is issued and managed by the Federal Tax Service (ФНС); the SNILS is managed by the Social Fund of Russia (СФР). We retrieve official confirmations and certificates from these authorities using a power of attorney when necessary and provide certified translations for foreign use. We cannot issue a new INN or SNILS for anyone who does not already have one—that requires Russian registration and is not something we can do remotely. What apostille, notarization, or additional certification your bank requires is determined by your bank and their jurisdiction, not by us—we can arrange whatever the bank specifies, but you must confirm the requirement with them first. Typical door-to-door courier delivery to the EU or US takes 2 to 5 weeks on top of processing time.
