Soviets told they need new internal passports

February 2, 1981

An official notice has warned Soviet citizens that they must obtain new internal passports by next year or face the loss of several basic rights. The Soviet Union has been gradually phasing in new passports, which must be presented to get a job, enroll in a university, or collect a pension. Internal passports do not allow Soviets to travel abroad, however. The new notice stressed that all 266 million Soviet citi zens must posses the new document by Jan. 1, 1982.