For what objectives the passport system containing biometric data was introduced in the Republic of Armenia and what advantages it has: the RA Passport and Visa Department has addressed this issue.
Thus, to form a clear idea of the introduction of identity documents containing electronic data and more efficient identity system, it is necessary to distinguish 3 categories:
1. Passport system containing biometric data
2. Identity Card system
3. Public Service Number system
About the introduction of passport system containing biometric data of the RA citizens:
The struggle against terrorism has become an issue of top priority for the international society, organizations, developed and developing countries. To make controllable the identification of individuals and the access of undesirable people into the country, mechanisms improved by both intranational and international efforts are constantly refined and applied.
The adoption of Resolution 1373(2001) by the United Nations Security Council is also addressed to the resolution of the issue mentioned above. According to this Resolution, in the frames of the international struggle against terrorism, countries should take measures to intensify the control over intranational mechanisms of making identity documents and international passports, and to minimize the possibility of the forgery. This mechanism originated and developed in the USA and nearly all European countries.
According to the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) data published in September, 2011, 93 of 193 member states of the UN have adopted Electronic Passport System containing biometric data and 21 of them are going to adopt it in 12-48 months.
By July of 2011, about 345.000 electronic passports have been released. The leading position on releasing and using electronic passports is occupied by the USA, then Great Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy.
Being a subject of international relations and having an active Diaspora, the Republic of Armenia did not stand by.
With the establishment of legislative database, originated in 2008, significant efforts were made to make the introduction and use of the system really possible. The RA Police made the draft law of the Republic of Armenia «On the RA Citizen Passport», which was examined by the experts of the international Migration Organization.
On November 30, 2011, they passed a law, according to which it was intended to adopt the system of identity documents containing biometric data on June 1, 2012.
By the law, the passport is a document which verifies the identity and citizenship of the RA citizen, and can be used for leaving the Republic of Armenia and returning to the Republic of Armenia, as well as on the RA territory. The passport meets the standards of the European Union and the guarantees of the ICAO, containing an electronic biometric database, which involves information about the person, including the digital photo, signature and right and left index fingerprints of the citizen.
Introduction of the passport with biometric data
1. Reduces the possibility of forging identity documents,
2. makes possible to implement the process of the person’s identification in a clearer automated way.
3. extends the opportunities of detection of undesirable persons.
According to the RA law “On the RA citizen’s passport”, the citizen gets a passport voluntarily, regardless of the age.
The passport is given for a 3 years term to the citizens under 16, and for a 10 years term to the citizens above 16.
The passport includes a technical part, an electronic database, which contains the right and left index fingerprints. If it is physiologically impossible to get the fingerprints of the indexes, the fingerprints of any finger from the right and the left hands are taken. If the incompleteness of the citizen’s biometric data is due to his/her physiological characteristics, it is mentioned in the passport.
The children’s fingerprints are taken since the age of 6.
About the introduction of the identity cards system:
With the RA law “On the RA citizen’s passport” the RA draft law “On identity cards” was put into circulation, which was passed on November 30, 2011, and was put into practice since June 1, 2012. The identity card is meant for using on the territory of the Republic of Armenia, as an essential document verifying the identity and citizenship of the person in all the fields of civil circulation.
The implementation of the policy seeking to simplify and reduce the administrative procedures in the state governing field by the RA government implies quality improvement of public services, which is directly caused by the introduction and implementation of the personal data processing system.
The implementation of the identity cards system will:
1. improve the quality of public services,
2. significantly simplify the identification process of the person,
3. increase the efficiency of the administration,
4. restrain the development of some corruption-originating factors, because the introduction of the mentioned system will notably restrict the direct relationship of the administrative body with citizens.
The citizen gets an identity card voluntarily since the day of becoming 16. It is given for a term of 10 years.
In many countries of the world the identity cards system has been introduced. In some countries it is given on voluntary basis, in others it is compulsory. It is a document which verifies the identity and citizenship of the person. The main resemblance is that in almost all countries the main objective of applying the identity cards is the verification and identification of person’s identity by the electronic signature.
E.g. in Estonia the identity card has got a wide usage in electronic voting, banking services and using public transport.
