Armenia Approves Rules for New Biometric Passports and ID Cards Starting November 1

Armenia's government approved procedures for issuing new-generation biometric passports and national identification cards at a Cabinet meeting on October 29, 2026, ahead of the system's scheduled launch on November 1.

Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan said citizens will be able to preregister through a unified online platform. The Interior Ministry will check applicant information against the state population register before an applicant selects a service centre and appointment. Applicants will then pay electronically and receive a QR code for their visit, where photographs and fingerprints will be collected. Self-service terminals are also planned.

The initial network will comprise 14 service centres, including two in Yerevan. HayPass, a private operator, will provide biometric collection and document-production services, while identity checks and final issuance decisions remain the responsibility of Armenian authorities.

Previously announced standard fees are 28,650 Armenian drams for a biometric passport and 5,950 drams for an ID card. The newly approved rules also address expedited processing and additional charges. Authorities expect online preregistration to become available from October 31.

The transition does not require immediate replacement of valid existing passports and identification cards. Current documents can be used until their expiration dates, although obtaining a replacement biometric document will invalidate the corresponding older one.

The reform is part of Armenia's effort to modernise public services and align identity-document security with European standards. Officials have discussed future automated border crossings, but those facilities and any broader visa arrangements should not be confused with rights that the new documents automatically confer. The Cabinet decision establishes the administrative process; the planned start of issuance is still November 1.