Armenia plans to introduce a new border-crossing system that will allow travelers with biometric passports to pass through border control without the direct involvement of a border guard, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has announced.
They will be able to use automated electronic checkpoints through the e-gate system, Armenpress reports.
“One of the most visible and welcome developments is that holders of biometric passports will soon be able to cross Armenia’s state border through electronic checkpoints using the e-gate system.
“What makes this system distinctive is that there is no contact with any official. Such systems are already operating in many countries. This option will first become available at Zvartnots Airport, and subsequently at all border crossing points in Armenia, without exception.
“Of course, we will later have to begin negotiations to make these services available to Armenian citizens in other countries as well. Each country has its own regulatory requirements, and there is an agenda for making these services available on a reciprocal basis.
“What is the distinctive feature? The system needs reference information for comparison. When a biometric passport is presented, the system must have something against which to verify whether the person is indeed who they claim to be.
“In Armenia’s case, when citizens use the system in their own country, there are no complications because all the systems are interoperable. When a citizen presents their passport to the system, it quickly checks the biometric data against the state population register to determine how accurately the information corresponds to reality.
“To use similar services in foreign countries, we will need to establish certain information-exchange systems with those countries, and that is a matter for bilateral agreements,” the Armenian prime minister said.
New biometric passports were introduced in Armenia on November 1.
