On November 1, Armenia will officially begin accepting applications and issuing new biometric passports and identification cards.

ArmInfo. Starting November 1, Armenia will officially begin accepting applications and issuing new biometric passports and ID cards. The RA government approved the document issuance procedure at its meeting on October 29.

According to RA Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan, all MIA structures are mobilized to begin processing all applications. According to the procedure submitted to the Cabinet for approval, citizens apply for a passport or ID card through a single electronic platform before visiting an office. In Yerevan, citizens can also provide their biometric data and receive a passport or ID card on Saturdays and Sundays. At least one private partner service center must be open in Yerevan on Sundays. A private partner is involved in the passport issuance and denial process. If the applicant wishes to obtain a passport or identity card in a shorter period of time for an additional fee, they must make a corresponding note on the unified electronic platform. If, as a result of the review of the initial electronic application, inconsistencies in the data are discovered and the applicant has not initiated their correction in accordance with this procedure within 30 days of notification thereof, the applicant's initial application shall be cancelled, of which the unified electronic platform shall notify the applicant. In this case, the state fee shall be refunded to the citizen. In case of refusal to issue a passport or identity card, the state fee shall not be refunded. After the final review of the initial electronic application, the private partner collects the person's biometric data. For an additional fee or in other cases stipulated by a government decision, the person's biometric data shall be collected at the place of residence (location) of the person located in the territory of Armenia. A passport or ID card must be ready for pickup by the 14th business day following the date of biometric data collection at the private partner service center where the applicant provided their biometric data. If the applicant fails to appear at the private partner service center to pick up their passport or ID card within 12 months of receiving notification that the passport or ID card is ready for pickup, the document will become invalid. If a document is externally damaged, an employee of the private partner's office will prepare a request for a reprint. The applicant will then be notified on the next business day if the application was submitted in Yerevan, or on the second business day if it was submitted outside Yerevan, via a short message to the specified email address or phone number.

To obtain a passport or ID card in a foreign country, no earlier than the 14th and no later than the 45th business day following the date of collection of the individual's biometric data, the applicant will be notified of the issuance or denial of the passport or ID card by receiving a short message to the specified email address or phone number. The cost of a new biometric ID card will be 5,950 drams, and a passport will cost 28,650 drams.