Bulgaria Prepares Rollout of Biometric IDs

Bulgaria will be rolling out a new biometric ID card starting June 17. The card features an embedded chip containing biometric data such as fingerprints and a photograph, with the aim of enhancing the security of the document and streamlining border crossings for Bulgarians traveling within the EU.

The new card will also support future use of electronic identity certificates for online authentication when accessing electronic services and information systems.

The biometric ID card is optional, and existing identity cards issued before June 17, 2024, will remain valid until August 2, 2031, or until their expiration date if it occurs earlier. The application process for the new card will be available at all “Bulgarian personal documents” units.

The implementation involves a consortium led by Mühlbauer, which secured a 240 million Bulgarian Leva contract (approximately $134 million) for a period of ten years. The consortium is responsible for the design and production of the new ID cards, as well as new residence cards and permits.

The move can be seen as part of Bulgaria’s ongoing efforts to modernize its identification systems and enhance security measures against forgery. The centralized system, funded partly by the EU’s Operational Programme Good Governance and the Internal Security Fund, aims to provide one of the most secure ID cards in Europe, featuring advanced anti-forgery protections such as a metallized photo on the back of the card.

Source: Novinite

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June 14, 2024 – by Cass Kennedy