Minzifra Develops Draft Decree on Electronic Passports for Russians
Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media (Minzifra) has released a draft decree on the implementation of electronic passports. If passed, Russians will be able to use digital versions of their passport from public services, rather than carrying the paper original. The draft decree has been published on the portal of legal regulations.
According to the explanatory note that accompanies the decree, the digital copy of the passport can be used, for example, when purchasing alcohol and cigarettes. The decree stipulates that the electronic passport will be equivalent to the presentation of a paper document in cases determined by the government.
“The use of a mobile application for presenting information is carried out by citizens voluntarily,” the authors of the draft decree said.
Minzifra first published a draft decree on digital passports in March 2019. The plan was that Muscovites would be able to issue and receive electronic passports from December 1, 2021, and that for all Russians, this opportunity would appear no later than July 1, 2023.
However, due to international sanctions and military operations of the country, the project was put on hold by June 2022. The reason behind the suspension was financial, as the electronic passport costs 1,000 rubles, while the paper version costs only 300 rubles.