During the first day, 49 Transcarpathians applied for issuance of passports of the new model

On January 12, units of the migration service in Transcarpathia started accepting applications for issuance of passports of the new model. 

This document is produced in the form of a booklet and consists of 32 paper pages with additional protection, the new passport cover has an electronic chip that contains two types of data: basic and advanced. The basic data include details of the person – digitized photograph of the person, digitized signature, name and date of birth. Advanced data include fingerprints. This information will be recorded only with the consent of a person. 

By law, citizens of Ukraine have the option not to have a biometric passport and to receive a passport of the new model, but without a biometric chip.  In addition, it is possible not to undergo finger scanning when receiving a biometric passport. 

To obtain a passport of the new design, both with and without a chip, one has to file an application to a division of the Migration Service. Thus, on the first working day, 49 countrymen filed appropriate applications to the Main Office of the SMS of Ukraine in Transcarpathian region. To apply for a travel passport, one should bring only a domestic passport and a certificate of tax payer.       

Documents issued before January 1, 2015 will be in force until the expiration of the specified document. They can still be used to travel abroad and to receive visas. To exchange it for a biometric passport is the right but not the obligation of a citizen. 

According to the Head of the Main Office of the SMS of Ukraine in Transcarpathian region Igor Mykhailyshyn, the introduction of biometric passports in Ukraine is one of the steps towards visa liberalization with the countries of the Eurozone. But holders of passports of the new model can not yet travel without visas. This is only a prospect. They still will need to obtain a Schengen visa. 

As for the benefits of such documents, first, they are best protected against fraud. No one, other than the owner, can use them. Substantial increase of the security of our society from crime and international terrorism is the main idea of ​​the introduction of biometric passports. Second, after the establishment of automated systems for holders of biometric passports at border checkpoints, the time needed for the control will be minimized. By the way, this practice of "electronic gate" has been successfully implemented in 15 countries, and biometric documents are issued in over 90 of 193 UN member states. 

Currently, in Uzhgorod, in the Main Office of the State Migration Service of Ukraine in Transcarpathian region, there is one workstation for issuing biometric passports. 

It is expected that in February similar equipment will be delivered to ten territorial divisions to meet the demand for the documents with contactless electronic chips.  

The Department of Information and Public Relations of the RSA