The 2-Year Passport Validity Will Be One-Time Until Early 2023, Deputy Police Chief on Passports

Deputy Chief of Police Ara Fidanyan assures that the provision regarding passports being issued for a 2-year term pertains only to the passports defined by the Armenian government's decree No. 821 dated December 25, 1998. Fidanyan made this announcement at the National Assembly while presenting the draft law on amendments and additions to the Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Armenia.

This new provision, according to which the validity period of the old-style passports will henceforth be 2 years, has become a topic of intense discussion. This is especially a significant issue for those living abroad.

“It is proposed that old-style passports will henceforth be issued for a 2-year term; however, this future is quite relative, since the introduction of a new biometric passport system is planned for the end of 2022 or the beginning of 2023, after which the operation of the passports defined by decree No. 821 will be fully phased out. Thus, the 2-year term is merely a one-time provision until the start of 2023; thereafter, they will be issued again for a 10-year term,” said Fidanyan.

He added that the 10-year term remains for biometric passports. According to Fidanyan, over 3 million 199,000 old-style passports have been issued, and currently, 2 million 386,000 of these passports are within the validity period.

He dismissed rumors that the change in passport validity is connected to the entry of a new company into the market for passport issuance. The Deputy Chief of Police noted that a design competition for the new passports has only been announced, and no competition for the introduction of the complete system has been announced; they have no idea which company will handle them.

Fidanyan assured that the passports which are currently within the validity period will continue to remain in force.

It is worth noting that Fidanyan also mentioned in the National Assembly today that the draft law suggests granting individuals with adult children who are Armenian citizens the right to acquire Armenian citizenship without the requirement of residing in Armenia for 3 years and having the ability to explain in Armenian. It is also proposed to allow the possibility of obtaining an Armenian citizen's passport at Armenian embassies and consulates operating in all foreign countries upon first acquiring Armenian citizenship.