Armenia to introduce new biometric passports

Armenia is set to replace its current passports with a new model that meets international standards and incorporates enhanced security features, Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan has announced.

Presenting the initiative to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Sargsyan said the updated passports will comply with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), ensuring they can be easily processed by border control systems worldwide. She added that the move could help accelerate Armenia’s efforts toward visa liberalisation with the European Union, Caliber.Az reports per Armenian media. 

The new documents will feature biometric technology and enable contactless scanning at airport checkpoints, including boarding gates and arrival exits. To distinguish them from the current blue passports—which will remain valid for several years—the new version will be issued in red.

Under the updated system, citizens aged 16 and above will receive passports, while children between the ages of 6 and 16 may be issued biometric ID cards upon parental request. For children under six, birth certificates will remain the primary form of identification.

Authorities also plan to extend biometric documentation to foreign nationals, refugees and stateless persons residing in Armenia, as part of broader efforts to modernise the country’s identification system.

By Sabina Mammadli