Migration Service of Transcarpathia is preparing for the introduction of biometric passports

December 6, this year, the Law of Ukraine "On the Unified State Register of Population and Documents Proving Citizenship of Ukraine, Identity or Special Status of a Person" came into force. Under this law in our country the process of gradual introduction of biometric documents has been started. The difference between these documents and usual ones is that they contain a contactless electronic media (chip), where the information about the owner is recorded. In particular, those are digitized signature of the person and digitized image of the face.  According to the Chief of the State Migration Service of Ukraine in the Transcarpathian region Igor Mykhaylyshyn such biometric documents are the safest and make it impossible to use them by anyone except the owner. Substantial increase of the security of our society from crime and international terrorism is the main idea of ​​the introduction of biometric passports. 
Furthermore, among the advantages of such documents is the fact that they will simplify procedures for issuing visas to EU countries.    
General Directorate of the State Migration Service of Ukraine in Transcarpathian region has already started taking preparatory measures for the implementation of biometric passports. As noted by Igor Mykhaylyshyn, their execution and issuance will begin immediately after all necessary legal and technical aspects have been settled. Identity documents issued before the introduction of biometric documents will remain valid. Passport of the citizen of Ukraine shall be valid indefinitely. 
To exchange it for a biometric passport is the right but not the obligation of a citizen. 
Also a person shall have the right to refuse from biometric documents due to religious beliefs. As for travel passports, those documents will be valid until the date specified in the passport as the date of expiry. They can still be used to travel abroad and to receive visas.
 Citizens, who have already submitted or will submit before the start of execution of biometric documents applications for the execution and issuance of passports (both passports of the citizen Ukraine and passports for travel abroad), will receive the documents of the "old" design. 
  Information on the date starting from which the citizens may submit applications for a new type of document, will be provided by the General Directorate of the State Migration Service of Ukraine in the Transcarpathian region – informed Olga Poshtak, Chief Specialist on Public and Media Relations of the GD of SMS of Ukraine in Transcarpathian region.