OREANDA-NEWS. By the end of 2022, it is planned to launch electronic passports in three regions of Russia. The head of the Ministry of Finance Maksut Shadayev told about this. The draft decree of the President of the Russian Federation on the launch of the project of digital passports will be issued by the end of the year.

According to him, the documents will be issued to the Russians in two versions. It could be a smart card that will replace the traditional paper passport, or a smartphone app with a QR code. He will confirm the right to perform certain actions. In particular, with its help it will be possible to buy alcohol.

Earlier, the Ministry of Internal Affairs told about the main difference between electronic passports and ordinary ones. It consists in the format of production in the form of a plastic card, in addition, they will contain fingerprints.

During the issuance process, digital photographing of the citizen will be required. In addition, you will need to scan the prints of the papillary patterns of two fingers. The department indicated that the document may contain an electronic signature.

Russian officials assure that there will be no obligation to switch to electronic passports. “It was decided not to make the replacement of a paper passport with a smart card mandatory. Those people who are ready to exchange a paper passport for a smart card, for a digital copy of a passport in a smartphone, this will be their decision. There is an agreed position that it will not be mandatory, ”the government stressed.