Uzbekistan is making the change to comply with standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which sets the requirements for international travel documents.
Biometric passports have enhanced security features that can be read using electronic devices to verify holders’ nationalities.
As part of its new system, Uzbekistan will issue three types of biometric passports: those for members of the diplomatic corps, those for general Uzbek citizens and those without permanent citizenship who are permanent residents of the Uzbek state, the Uzbekistan Daily news web site reported on Tuesday.
Previously, Uzbek citizens received a new passport at the ages of 16, 25 and 45. After holders turned 45, their passports were not updated.
The new passports will be distributed in two stages between 2011 and 2015. In the first stage, government employees who work in departments and ministries will receive the new passports, along with Uzbek citizens who are intending to travel. In the second stage, all citizens will receive the new biometric documents in the order in which they applied for them.
Uzbekistan last year signed a deal with Dutch company IAI Industrial Systems for machines which will produce the new secured identification papers.
In October 2010, Uzbek civil servants who will oversee the switchover to biometric passports attended a two-day introduction to the biometric documents. The training seminar was sponsored by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
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Quelle/Source: Central Asia Newswire, 11.01.2011
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