Head of National Center on automated information system on passportization of population of Department of entry, departure and registration of citizenship of Uzbekistan Interior Ministry Najmiddin Turakhodjaev explained procedures of issuing of biometric passports in interview to UzA.

He said that citizens of Uzbekistan should apply to subdivisions of entry, departure and registration of citizenship of Interior Ministry to receive biometric passport.

Citizens should fill special form, approved by Interior Ministry, and submit their passports, if they have one, or certificate of birth, if they are receiving passport for the first time.

Operator at subdivision will collect biographical and biometric data, thus finger-prints and digital image. Based on collected data, electronic application is made and directed to the State Center of Personalization under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan.

He said that based on e-applications, the center carries out graphical personalization of documents – biographic data will be introduced to visual part of passports and biographic and biometric information to special chip.

It is worth to mention that biometric passports will be prepared based on modern information technologies and fully meet international standards. Ready documents will be delivered to territorial subdivisions by special post.

He said that passports will be handed over to its owner after verification procedure – after check of biometric data.

New passports will be issued in two stages. The first stage will be held in 2011 and it will be issued to public servants of ministries and departments, as well as citizens, who are travelling abroad. At the same time, citizens, who apply to bodies on entry, departure and registration of citizenship to change passports and those who reached definite age. In the second stage (2012-2015), new biometric passports can receive all citizens of Uzbekistan in established order.

Najmiddin Turakhodjaev said that current passports will be valid till the end of exchange period, thus till the end of 2015.

In line with new passport regulation, citizens of Uzbekistan, who reached age of 16, can receive new biometric passports. In line with ICAO requirements, the passports will be issued to 10 years. At the same time, children under age of 16, travelling abroad, can receive passport for five years.

According to global practice, people without citizenship, living permanently in Uzbekistan and planning to travel abroad, will receive biometric travel document for five years. Similar documents will be registered for their children as well.

He said that biometric passports will be prepared on set samples in line with ICAO recommendations and will be personalized with using of Latin letters in Uzbek and English, while citizens of Karakalpakstan – in Karakalpak, Uzbek and English languages.

He said that along with basic information, the passports will include marks on military responsibility, family status, resident permit, permissive travel notes, etc. Number of pages will also increase as additional visa pages will be introduced. Images of passport holders now will be printed, which will protect them from forgery.