Starting January 1, 2014, citizens of Armenia will be given Identification Cards (ID cards) instead of old-style passports, the head of the Armenian Police department for passports and visas said.

According to Norayr Muradkhanyan, the previously issued passports will be valid both in Armenia and abroad until their expiry date.

Only those needing passports for a period of up to 3 years will receive old-style documents. Children under 16 and draft-age men are included in this group.

A state duty of AMD 3000 will be raised to issue ID cards, which will contain digital signatures and social card data. Those under 16 and persons on welfare won’t be charged the payment. The document will be issued for 10 years.

Biometric passports will be provided to those planning a foreign trip or in lieu of an expired passport, Muradkhanyan said.

The introduction of biometric passports is implemented in the framework of European Neighborhood program to promote free travel of Armenian citizens and facilitate entry into European states. The biometric passports will cost AMD 25000.

At present, about 91 thousand Armenian citizens have received ID cards and about 4,5 thousand were given biometric passports.