Design of Armenia's biometric passports is ready, and they are expected to be issued in the fall - Ministry of Internal Affairs
12.06.2026,
16:39
Armenian Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan announced that the design of biometric passports has been completed, and their issuance is expected in the fall of 2026.
YEREVAN, June 12. /ARKA/. Armenian Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan announced that the design of biometric passports has been completed, and their issuance is expected in the fall of 2026.
"We are currently in a fairly active stage; we have already completed the passport designs," Sargsyan said at a briefing on Friday.
According to her, a visit to a manufacturing facility in the Netherlands is planned soon, after which the issuance of biometric passports will begin.
Sargsyan also announced that information on the locations of offices for servicing citizens regarding the issuance of biometric passports will be made public soon.
"The process is planned to be implemented in two stages: first, we will commission offices of a new quality and standard, and then we will increase their number," the minister said.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan previously announced that biometric passports in Armenia would be red.
On the implementation of the biometric system
In August 2024, the Armenian government decided to issue citizens with new-style ID cards and biometric passports.
The French consortium IDEMIA Identity Security France and A.C.I. Technology S.à r.l., which won the tender, is developing the necessary infrastructure. In April 2025, an agreement was signed in Armenia with HAYPASS, a company created by this consortium.
According to the previously announced schedule, the issuance of biometric passports and ID cards is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026.
The implementation of the biometric system is one of the reform areas within the framework of the Visa Liberalization Action Plan with the EU.
"We are currently in a fairly active stage; we have already completed the passport designs," Sargsyan said at a briefing on Friday.
According to her, a visit to a manufacturing facility in the Netherlands is planned soon, after which the issuance of biometric passports will begin.
Sargsyan also announced that information on the locations of offices for servicing citizens regarding the issuance of biometric passports will be made public soon.
"The process is planned to be implemented in two stages: first, we will commission offices of a new quality and standard, and then we will increase their number," the minister said.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan previously announced that biometric passports in Armenia would be red.
On the implementation of the biometric system
In August 2024, the Armenian government decided to issue citizens with new-style ID cards and biometric passports.
The French consortium IDEMIA Identity Security France and A.C.I. Technology S.à r.l., which won the tender, is developing the necessary infrastructure. In April 2025, an agreement was signed in Armenia with HAYPASS, a company created by this consortium.
According to the previously announced schedule, the issuance of biometric passports and ID cards is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026.
The implementation of the biometric system is one of the reform areas within the framework of the Visa Liberalization Action Plan with the EU.
