Over 20,000 Russians have applied for passports via the Internet, the Russian media and communications minister told Russia 24 TV channel on Thursday.
According to the government plan Strategy on Development of Russia's Information Society, Russia should replace all state services into virtual form by 2015.
The Russian government was quick to launch a test version of the social educational web portal gosusligi.com in December, 2009. Various documents can be applied for through the site, including work permits, internal and foreign passports as well as visas and invitations. In addition, it provides legal information when dealing with "paper chasing" problems.
Commenting on the advanced technology in the traditionally bureaucratic sphere of state services, Communications Minister Igor Shchegolev said: "This [the launch of the online portal] means citizens don't have to wait in lines to file documents, they send them via the Internet and only then come in [to the office] to be photographed and receive their document."
The minister pledged Russians soon would have an ability to register their car online.
MOSCOW, July 8 (RIA Novosti)
