Biometric passports to be issued in Ukraine starting from January 1

The law on biometric passports enters into force in Ukraine. Domestic passport will cost 65 UAH, travel passport – 350 UAH.

Biometric passports in Ukraine are to be issued starting from January 1, 2013.
"For the citizen of Ukraine, travel passport, as proposed, will cost 350 UAH, domestic – UAH 65" – the author of the law, an MP from the Party of Regions Vasyl Hrytsak told "Kommersant-Ukraine".
"The president opened the real way to Europe. At this point we can say that we have fulfilled all international treaties on the matter. We believe that in the end we will be remembered as the people who have done such a good job and propelled Ukraine in the EU", – he said.
The law "On the unified state register of population", which involves the transfer of 15 types of documents, including the passport of the citizen Ukraine and travel passport, to biometrics, was adopted by the Parliament on November 20 with the amendments proposed by the President Viktor Yanukovych.
The president’s notes were mainly confined to the technical part of the document and not its content. Thus, Yanukovych agreed to the certification of all Ukrainians from childhood and formation of the unified database of citizens.
One of the most significant amendments provided the right to opt out of receiving biometric passports because of religious beliefs.
However, the controversy surrounding the law have not subsided. Recently, the head of the State Service for Promotion of Entrepreneurship Mykhailo Brodsky urged the president to veto it because its entry into force will result in the 6 billion hryvnias loss for the budget.
But on November 29 the president signed the law. 

 ZN.UA