Soon the citizens of Armenia will be able to cross the state border without contact with the border guards. The government has announced the launch of the biometric passport system, which will not only automate control at airports, but will also become a crucial factor for visa liberalization with the European Union.

At the government session on April 23, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced the completion of the intensive preparatory phase for issuing new identification documents. According to him, almost simultaneously with the start of issuing biometric passports, contactless crossing terminals will be launched at all border checkpoints, including “Zvartnots” international airport. It will allow travelers to pass the control by simply scanning the document, completely excluding physical contact with border guards.

The head of the government emphasized that the prospects of the new system can go beyond the national borders. In the presence of relevant bilateral agreements on the exchange of databases, Armenian e-passports will be able to be seamlessly recognized by the automated systems of other countries, which will significantly facilitate citizens’ trips abroad.

During the speech, special attention was paid to the geopolitical significance of this reform. The introduction of documents with a high level of protection and technological content is considered as one of the most important arguments in the dialogue with Brussels on visa liberalization. As Pashinyan mentioned, biometric data reduces the risks of falsifying documents dozens of times. This gives the receiving countries clear confidence that the identity of the person crossing the border fully matches the data in the passport.

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