New biometric passports and ID cards to be issued in Armenia from 1 November

A new system for issuing biometric passports and identity cards will start operating in Armenia on 1 November, Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan said after a government meeting.

The government has approved the procedure for issuing the documents, including expedited processing for an extra fee. The system is being introduced with a private partner to bring Armenian documents into line with EU standards.

Citizens will first pre-register on a digital platform and pay the fee online. The Interior Ministry will check the data against the State Population Register, after which the applicant will receive a QR code by email.

With this code they will need to visit a dedicated office to give fingerprints and be photographed. The new service centres open on 1 November.