Russian Retirees Are Accessing More Government Services Online
Federal and regional e-government portals are opening up an expanding range of digital services for older citizens. Over time, these tools could largely eliminate the need for in-person visits to public institutions.
Digitalisation for Everyone
In 2025, the Gosuslugi national e-government portal became more accessible and more useful for retirees. Many older citizens who were accustomed to resolving issues through face-to-face visits to government offices discovered both new and existing features that help save time and effort. Where public services were once associated with manual document collection and multiple long visits to institutions, the same procedures can now be completed by opening an app and selecting the required section. First-time users are guided by a clear interface and a built-in virtual assistant, Max.
The list of services available online continues to expand as digitalisation accelerates. One clear sign of this progress is the recently introduced option to apply for a pension entirely through the mobile app, without visiting an office.
No Visits, No Queues
As digitalisation and automation of public services have been designated among the top priorities of public administration, the rollout of new standalone services and bundled “life situation” service packages is expected to accelerate further. Demand for these tools among residents, including retirees, is evident because they save time. Automation also helps reduce or eliminate the impact of human error on service quality.
In the near future, electronic services are likely to cover virtually all interactions that retirees have with public institutions. It is conceivable that all personal retirement data could be consolidated into a single QR code, replacing not only a pension certificate but other documents as well. The portal itself could enable a full social life without visiting offices or standing in lines.
Accessible in Any Situation
At the end of 2025, Gosuslugi introduced digital retiree certificates that are generated automatically in a user’s personal account. Obtaining the document in the form of a QR code requires only a few clicks. The certificate confirms retiree status and provides access to applicable benefits. The service is offered as part of the “Retirement” life situation package.
In October 2025, residents of Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region gained the ability to join the Long-Term Savings Programme through the e-government portal. At present, contracts can be signed with three non-state pension funds, with additional funds expected to join later. Funds can be withdrawn either after 15 years or upon reaching retirement age.
Earlier, strong public interest was generated by the introduction of “life situations”, which bundle services around specific needs. Within each package, users can complete all required paperwork and obtain all necessary services at once, rather than addressing each step separately. Among dozens of federal and hundreds of regional life situations are options designed to support retirees. At the federal level, users can apply for an old-age pension, while in the Sverdlovsk region’s portal section, services include arranging care for a dependent family member.
Already today, it is possible to speak of a fundamentally new level of public service delivery. Given the pace of digital transformation, retirees may be able to abandon most traditional paper documents within the next few years.
