13/01/11 - Uzbekistan starts introducing biometric passports

Дата публикации: Jan 15, 2012 11:13:31 AM

Director of the State Personalization Center under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan Abdusattar Matkarimov spoke to UzA on the introduction of the biometric passports in the country. In accordance with the President’s decree of 5 January, the country will complete introduction of biometric passports by the end of 2015.

The resolution of the Montreal Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization of 2004, its member states were recommended to introduce documents with electronic chip carrying information on the owners’ personal biometric data, Abdusattar Matkarimov said.

According to him, the new passports are aimed at ensuring security of the international civil aviation and increasing the level of protection of the identification documents. The new system will also create comfortable conditions for the air passengers thanks to quick and precise identification of the person.

To date, biometric passports have been introduced in more than 100 countries of the world. Uzbekistan will soon become one of them.

“The biometric passport, apart from usual data, contains an electronic information carrier with personal biographical data of the owner, as well as his or her biometric parameters, which include a digital photo and fingerprints,” the Personalization Center director continued.

“There are three types of biometric documents – citizen’s passport, diplomatic passport and a travel document for persons without citizenship,” he said.

The passports will be exchanged in two stages. During the first stage, to last during 2011, new passports will be issued to staff of the ministries and other state bodies, as well as citizens leaving the country of resident in other states, and those receiving the new passport.

During the second stage – 2012 to 2015 – all other citizens of Uzbekistan will be issued biometric passports.

The State Personalization Center was set up in accordance with the decree of the President of 23 June 2009. It provides centralized creation and registration of all three types of biometric documents.

The current passports of the citizens of Uzbekistan will be valid until the end of 2015.

UzA