ArmInfo. How will the transition from the current biometric ID system to the new model be organized?
In an interview with CivilNet, Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan detailed how and according to what schedule the transition to a system of biometric passports and other ID cards that fully comply with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards will be organized.
The minister noted that the launch of the new biometric system is scheduled for the fall of 2026. "Our citizens will soon be able to use the new biometric ID system. We've talked about this program repeatedly in recent years, and today I can say that its launch is truly near. Operations with the biometric system will begin this fall. During the first phase, 14 service centers will open, and by March next year, their number will reach 23. Here, citizens will not only receive new biometric documents but will also be able to take advantage of a completely new and modern service culture," noted Arpine Sargsyan.
According to the minister, after the launch of the new system, all ID cards issued by the Republic of Armenia will be biometric. Old-style documents will no longer be produced. At the same time, citizens with a valid passport will not be required to immediately replace them with a new biometric passport. Old- style documents will remain valid until their expiration date, and citizens will be able to replace them earlier if they wish. If a passport is damaged, lost, has visa pages filled in, or needs to be replaced for any other reason before its expiration date, the citizen will be issued a new biometric document.
"Passports that do not meet ICAO standards will be gradually phased out. We have not chosen any harsh or inconvenient solutions for citizens. No deadline has been set at this time, but it is natural that, at some point, only passports that meet ICAO standards will remain in circulation in the Republic of Armenia. This is an internationally recognized standard, and we are consistently moving in this direction," the Minister of Internal Affairs emphasized.
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