As of January 1, 2011, the citizens of the Republic of Moldova will be issued only biometric passports. At the same time, non-biometric passports issued until January 1, 2011, will remain valid until their expiry date.

In order to harmonize the legislation with the European Union regulations on biometric passports issuance, containing new protection signs, and to conform national passport to the international requirements of identity documents, especially of personalization mechanism and biometric passports issuance, the Republic of Moldova Government approved at the meeting of April 21, 2010 the “Draft law on introducing modifications and additions to the Law on identity documents of the National Passport System No. 272-XIII dated November 9, 1994” and the Government Decision “On biometric passports”.

The draft law, approved by the Government, establishes the following biometric data to be included into the passport: blood group, digital fingerprints and digital photo. Digital fingerprints of children under 12 are not included into the passport.

The Government Decision stipulates the approval of the Action Plan on ensuring biometric passports issuance beginning January 1, 2011. The Decision was approved on the recommendation of the European institutions to increase the degree of security of travel documents, issued to the Republic of Moldova citizens, as well as to facilitate the dialog among the European Union and Republic of Moldova regarding visa regime liberalization.

The plan also stipulates installation of equipment for biometric data processing at frontiers within August-September, 2010.

Production, issuance and processing of biometric passports are sustained by the European Commission, which granted 2 mln euro as financial assistance.

The necessity of this action is determined by the decision of European institutions to issue in future Schengen visa only on the basis of biometric passports. It is a travel document of high degree of protection, if lost or stolen, biometric passport can not be used by other persons or forged.

It should be mentioned that in the Republic of Moldova biometric passports are produced since February, 2008.