Russia is planning to phase out paper passports within three years as part of its national digitization program, according to the official government website, drawing support as well as criticism over privacy concerns.

The government resumed discussions on issuing digital passports last fall, five years after it initially considered the idea. Cost estimates for the overhaul range from 114.4 billion rubles ($1.8 billion) to 144 billion rubles ($2.2 billion).

The first digital passports, which will take the form of plastic cards, will be issued next July in Moscow, Deputy Prime Minister Maxim Akimov said Wednesday.

“Those who don’t want to change their paper passports…can keep them to the grave,” Akimov told reporters.