Changes in Laws Effective as of December 1, 2025

From December 2025, several new legislative initiatives with significant impact on citizens and businesses will come into effect in Russia. Particularly, the recycling fee on imported cars will be increased, and stricter requirements will be imposed on developers regarding breach of construction agreements. Details can be found in the Finance Mail report. Starting December 2025, banks must have a minimum credit rating to participate in the distribution of state financial resources. This measure aims to enhance financial system stability. Additionally, new rules for calculating the environmental fee on vehicles will be implemented. The fee will be based on the engine power of the car, with different rates for vehicles under 160 horsepower and those over. Furthermore, the second phase of digital passport implementation in Russia will begin in December 2025, allowing citizens to use it for identity verification in financial institutions. The digital passport does not replace the physical one, which will still be needed in certain cases as per federal laws or Central Bank regulations.