The national messaging app recently launched a “Digital ID” check-in system for hotels. Guests no longer need to fill out a paper form or present their passports; they can simply show the barcode in the app to the staff. The pilot project has already been launched in several hotels across the country.
How do I book a room and check in through MAX?
Currently, the priority feature is simplifying the check-in process itself using ” Digital ID .” To use it, you must first confirm that your chosen hotel is participating in the pilot project (including the Four Seasons Hotel Moscow, Sochi Park Hotel, and Cosmos hotels). The procedure itself is as follows:
- At the reception desk, open the MAX app, go to your profile and select the Digital ID section .
- Open the “Passport” tab and click the “Present” button, after which a dynamic QR code will appear on the screen.
- A hotel employee will scan this barcode and your information will be automatically uploaded into the accommodation system, eliminating the need for you to fill out paper forms.
How to open a door with a digital key?
Currently, digital ID technology primarily replaces the paper form at the check-in desk, rather than a physical room key. However, the service’s potential for development is enormous: regional authorities, such as those in Tatarstan, are already announcing that the next step will be issuing fully functional electronic keys directly in the app. For now, the “digital passport” at MAX allows you to quickly complete the check-in formalities, after which you receive a regular room key.
What to do if problems arise?
While the service is in test mode, the hotel and its staff have every right to ask for your paper passport for verification. Don’t consider this a problem—it’s a standard security procedure during the transition phase. However, the process itself is already highly secure: the Digital ID is protected by biometrics through the Unified Biometric System (UBS), and the QR code updates dynamically, preventing counterfeiting. If the app freezes, simply restart it and open the Digital ID section again.
