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STARTING FROM 2010 ARMENIAN CITIZENS TO RECEIVE PASSPORTS WITH BIOMETRICAL DATA
Noyan Tapan
http://www.nt.am?shownews=1009760
Nov 14, 2008
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. Reforms are being implemented at
the Passport and Visa Department of the RA Police, and a concept of
introducing passports with biometrical data has been approved. The
deputy head of the RA Police, Colonel Gevorg Mherian said during the
November 11 meeting with reporters that the respective legal acts have
already been prepared and will be soon put into circulation. According
to a schedule, passports with biometrical data will be put into
circulation starting from 2010, which will allow Armenian citizens to
get visas in the Schengen zone by a simplified procedure. According to
G. Mherian, this has already been agreed on with EU member sttaes. The
concept envisages availability of passports of two types: an ID
and a passport for a foreign country. The cost of passports will be
determined only after holding a competition for their printing.
G. Mherian informed reporters that in Yerevan, citizens may receive
passports within a 5-day period. In his words, a draft decision of
the government is now being developed, by which in case of making the
respective payment, this service can be provided in a period of less
than 5 working days. It will be necessary to pay 20 thousand drams
for receiving a passport within one working day, and 10 thousand drams
for receiving it within 4 working days. It was mentioned that an exit
visa will be granted to citizens within one working day without any
additional payment.
Some changes have been made in the periodicity of changing the
passports of under-age citizens: under-age citizens of any age will
have the opportunity to get passports for a 3-year period and to
change their passports at any time.
Henceforth the consent of both parents with a notary's attestation
will no longer be needed for getting a passport and an exit visa
for an under-age child. The deputy head of the RA police announced
that this order will not be valid only in case of an argument
between the parents about moving the child out of the country or
granting him a passport. In this case the argument must be settled
in court. G. Mherian said that henceforth no under-age citizen will
have problems with an exit visa: "Certificates from the military
registration and enlistment office were required in the past.
The law does not envisage such a restriction".
Accoridng to G. Mherian, criminal cases were opened against the
officials who had committed abuses. "A criminal case was opened
against some employees of the airport's visa unit, there are arrested
persons. A case was also opened against the head of the Jermuk passport
service. He was arrested, and now the issue of choosing arrest as a
precautinary measure with respect to him is being discussed".
Noyan Tapan
http://www.nt.am?shownews=1009760
Nov 14, 2008
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. Reforms are being implemented at
the Passport and Visa Department of the RA Police, and a concept of
introducing passports with biometrical data has been approved. The
deputy head of the RA Police, Colonel Gevorg Mherian said during the
November 11 meeting with reporters that the respective legal acts have
already been prepared and will be soon put into circulation. According
to a schedule, passports with biometrical data will be put into
circulation starting from 2010, which will allow Armenian citizens to
get visas in the Schengen zone by a simplified procedure. According to
G. Mherian, this has already been agreed on with EU member sttaes. The
concept envisages availability of passports of two types: an ID
and a passport for a foreign country. The cost of passports will be
determined only after holding a competition for their printing.
G. Mherian informed reporters that in Yerevan, citizens may receive
passports within a 5-day period. In his words, a draft decision of
the government is now being developed, by which in case of making the
respective payment, this service can be provided in a period of less
than 5 working days. It will be necessary to pay 20 thousand drams
for receiving a passport within one working day, and 10 thousand drams
for receiving it within 4 working days. It was mentioned that an exit
visa will be granted to citizens within one working day without any
additional payment.
Some changes have been made in the periodicity of changing the
passports of under-age citizens: under-age citizens of any age will
have the opportunity to get passports for a 3-year period and to
change their passports at any time.
Henceforth the consent of both parents with a notary's attestation
will no longer be needed for getting a passport and an exit visa
for an under-age child. The deputy head of the RA police announced
that this order will not be valid only in case of an argument
between the parents about moving the child out of the country or
granting him a passport. In this case the argument must be settled
in court. G. Mherian said that henceforth no under-age citizen will
have problems with an exit visa: "Certificates from the military
registration and enlistment office were required in the past.
The law does not envisage such a restriction".
Accoridng to G. Mherian, criminal cases were opened against the
officials who had committed abuses. "A criminal case was opened
against some employees of the airport's visa unit, there are arrested
persons. A case was also opened against the head of the Jermuk passport
service. He was arrested, and now the issue of choosing arrest as a
precautinary measure with respect to him is being discussed".