Armenia to Launch New Biometric ID System in 2026 with EU Standards

Armenia will roll out a new biometric identification system in the second half of 2026, modernizing its national passport and ID card infrastructure to meet international security and interoperability standards. The initiative is being led by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and developed through a public-private partnership with French identity technology provider IDEMIA and Armenian firm A.C.I. Technology.

Modernization After Years of Inactivity

This marks a return to biometric document issuance after a prolonged gap. Armenia previously issued biometric passports between 2011 and 2017, but suspended the program when a contract with its former supplier expired. Since then, citizens have been issued non-biometric passports, which fall short of security standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the European Union. The outdated system has limited fraud prevention capabilities and does not meet requirements for digital government services or cross-border interoperability.

The new documents will include embedded chips storing encrypted biometric data, such as facial and fingerprint templates. They are designed to comply with ICAO specifications and EU data protection standards. These upgrades are also seen as a technical requirement in Armenia’s ongoing efforts to secure visa-free travel to the EU, although no such access is guaranteed until further reforms are completed.

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan is overseeing the project, which began its tender process in August 2024. In addition to document redesign, the project involves a national overhaul of infrastructure: new issuance offices, secure server environments, printing systems, and technical upgrades across the country.

New Oversight Body and Phased Implementation

To manage the new system, Armenia has established a dedicated public-private entity called HAYPASS CJSC. While HAYPASS will operate and maintain the biometric ID platform under an 11-year contract, regulatory authority will remain with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The system’s rollout will be phased throughout 2026, allowing for a gradual transition and minimizing disruption for existing document holders. Procedures for replacing older IDs and passports will be announced closer to launch.

The timing of the implementation aligns with broader regional developments. The European Union is preparing to launch its Entry/Exit System (EES) in October 2025, requiring biometric data collection from all non-EU travelers entering the Schengen Area. Armenia’s new documents are being designed to integrate seamlessly with these systems, which could ease cross-border travel in the future.

The biometric upgrade also comes at a time of demographic change. Armenia has received a sharp increase in citizenship applications from former residents of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) following the region’s depopulation. These new citizens will be issued documents under the updated system once it becomes operational.

While the initiative represents a major step toward EU integration and modernization of citizen services, officials stress that further political and administrative milestones must be met before any visa-free regime with the EU can be finalized.

Sources: PanARMENIAN, News.am, Buch-dein-visum

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May 23, 2025 – by Ji-seo Kim