Armenia switches to biometric passports as part of visa liberalization with EU
07.04.2025,
14:44
Biometric passports will be required for Armenian citizens to travel to the EU after the liberalization of the visa regime, the head of the Migration and Citizenship Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia Nelly Davtyan said today.
YEREVAN, April 7. /ARКА/. Biometric passports will be required for Armenian citizens to travel to the EU after the liberalization of the visa regime, the head of the Migration and Citizenship Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia Nelly Davtyan said today.
"If earlier a citizen had a choice - to take a regular passport or a biometric one, now, after the passport expires, everyone will receive biometric passports," Davtyan said.
Obtaining a regular passport cost an Armenian citizen 1,000 drams, while a biometric one cost 25,000 drams. She said the Ministry of Internal Affairs summed up the results of the competition to select a company that will implement the biometric passport and ID card system. The consortium "IDEMIA Identity Security France and A.C.I. Technology S.à.r.l." was declared the winner.
"An agreement will be signed with the winning company in the coming month. A system for providing biometric passports will be introduced from mid-2026, which will differ in the quality of services provided. The implementation of the system is planned to be completed by mid-2027," Davtyan said.
She said that the company, having registered in Armenia, will open 23 offices. All applications will be submitted online, the need to come to the offices will be minimized. However, she could not say how much it will cost for citizens of Armenia to obtain a new biometric passport, noting that this will become clear after the signing of the agreement.
Davtyan commented on concerns about the safety of citizens' personal data, which will be processed by a foreign company, saying that all precautions will be taken to maintain data confidentiality. The entire documentation process will be controlled by the state.
"The quality and speed of services (photos and printing of documents) will be improved. The presence of biometric passports will give Armenian citizens the opportunity to travel to the EU with dignity without providing additional data," Davtyan said.
She also admitted that liberalization of the visa regime between Armenia and the EU is possible in the next 4-5 years.
"I cannot name an exact date, I proceed from a similar process that Moldova and Georgia have gone through. The average period is 4-5 years. At the same time, the starting point should be considered June 2025, when an action plan will be developed within the framework of the dialogue on liberalization of the visa regime between Armenia and the EU," Davtyan said.
She reported that the second mission of European Union experts is currently in Armenia within the framework of the dialogue on liberalization of the visa regime between Armenia and the EU. Based on the results of the reports of the first and second missions, an action plan will be formed.
On August 8, 2024, the Armenian government approved the decision to provide ID cards and biometric passports in a new format to citizens. According to the schedule, the production of biometric passports and identification cards in Armenia will start in the second half of 2026.
The Armenia-EU visa liberalization dialogue was officially launched in September 2024.
"If earlier a citizen had a choice - to take a regular passport or a biometric one, now, after the passport expires, everyone will receive biometric passports," Davtyan said.
Obtaining a regular passport cost an Armenian citizen 1,000 drams, while a biometric one cost 25,000 drams. She said the Ministry of Internal Affairs summed up the results of the competition to select a company that will implement the biometric passport and ID card system. The consortium "IDEMIA Identity Security France and A.C.I. Technology S.à.r.l." was declared the winner.
"An agreement will be signed with the winning company in the coming month. A system for providing biometric passports will be introduced from mid-2026, which will differ in the quality of services provided. The implementation of the system is planned to be completed by mid-2027," Davtyan said.
She said that the company, having registered in Armenia, will open 23 offices. All applications will be submitted online, the need to come to the offices will be minimized. However, she could not say how much it will cost for citizens of Armenia to obtain a new biometric passport, noting that this will become clear after the signing of the agreement.
Davtyan commented on concerns about the safety of citizens' personal data, which will be processed by a foreign company, saying that all precautions will be taken to maintain data confidentiality. The entire documentation process will be controlled by the state.
"The quality and speed of services (photos and printing of documents) will be improved. The presence of biometric passports will give Armenian citizens the opportunity to travel to the EU with dignity without providing additional data," Davtyan said.
She also admitted that liberalization of the visa regime between Armenia and the EU is possible in the next 4-5 years.
"I cannot name an exact date, I proceed from a similar process that Moldova and Georgia have gone through. The average period is 4-5 years. At the same time, the starting point should be considered June 2025, when an action plan will be developed within the framework of the dialogue on liberalization of the visa regime between Armenia and the EU," Davtyan said.
She reported that the second mission of European Union experts is currently in Armenia within the framework of the dialogue on liberalization of the visa regime between Armenia and the EU. Based on the results of the reports of the first and second missions, an action plan will be formed.
On August 8, 2024, the Armenian government approved the decision to provide ID cards and biometric passports in a new format to citizens. According to the schedule, the production of biometric passports and identification cards in Armenia will start in the second half of 2026.
The Armenia-EU visa liberalization dialogue was officially launched in September 2024.
