Issuance of biometric passports started in Uzbekistan. All citizens of the country are expected to have biometric passports by the end of 2015.

The work is being carried out in accordance with the decree of the President of 23 June 2009 on improvement of the passport system in Uzbekistan.

Abdusattar Matkarimov, director of the State Personalization Center under the Cabinet of Ministers, spoke to UzA about the introduction of the biometric passports in the country.

The biometric passports are being introduced in compliance with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), of which Uzbekistan is a member.



These electronic travel documents contain a special chip, which records information on the personal biometric data of the owner, including the digital photo and fingerprints, as well as biographical information.

The passports with electronic data have been introduced in many countries of the world. They are introduced to increase the safety of the international civil air navigation and the security of the identification documents, as well as ensure fast and exact identification of the persons during the border crossing.

Apart from the biometric passport of the citizen of Uzbekistan, there are travel documents for the persons without citizenship and the diplomatic passport.



The passport offices across the country have been equipped with modern systems and technologies, and their staff underwent special training.

Currently, issuance of biometric passports started at Mirzo-Ulugbek and Yunusabad district interior affairs department in Tashkent, each of which issues some 50 new passports every day.

In accordance with the plan, other territorial interior affairs departments are expected to start issuing biometric passports soon.

The existing passport of the citizen of Uzbekistan will be valid until the end of 2015.