Recent survey data show a strong reluctance among Russians toward replacing paper passports with digital ones. About 65% of respondents indicated they are not ready to convert to a digital passport because they do not trust digital technologies to keep personal information secure. In total, 3.6 thousand people participated in the survey, providing a snapshot of public sentiment on this issue.
Many respondents cited concerns about hackers, online vulnerabilities, and the risk of data breaches if a digital analogue of the passport becomes the norm. These fears highlight the balance many people are trying to strike between convenience and security when it comes to official documents stored or accessed digitally.
One participant summarized the mood succinctly: a paper certificate feels more reliable in practice. This sentiment reflects a preference for tangible, offline records that do not depend on network access or device integrity to be valid and usable in everyday life.
Nevertheless, a portion of the population sees potential in digital documents. About 16% of respondents reported no perceived problems with digital documents. They also suggested that both formats should coexist, with parallel systems for the foreseeable future to preserve accessibility for all groups and scenarios.
Conversely, 17% expressed readiness to phase out the traditional paper passport entirely, signaling confidence that digital documents could be adequate replacements. The remaining 2% indicated uncertainty, noting that they had not yet decided which form feels more appropriate or trustworthy to them.
On a policy front, authorities announced progress toward a broader digital framework. Rosobrnadzor indicated they would push forward with the full rollout of the Unified Digital Education Documents Record by the end of 2024. The initial phase, running from March 15 to May 31, involves establishing a mechanism to issue digital documents through the introduction of a Unified Register. This step aims to streamline document issuance and verification across the education sector, reducing administrative friction in the long run.
Earlier statements from the Ministry of Digital Development outlined the status of paper documents in the presence of digital documents. The ministry emphasized that the two formats may exist side by side for a time, allowing individuals and institutions to adapt at their own pace and ensuring that essential services remain accessible to everyone during the transition.