The exclusive issuance of biometric passports is the European Union compulsory requirement towards the Republic of Moldova regarding visa regime liberalization between the Republic of Moldova and European Union. This new generation document allows for the exact identification of a person. Implementation of biometric passports has been conditioned by the necessity of increasing the level of documents security, preventing and combating illicit trafficking.

The biometric passport differes from the common passport, since it contains a chip with biometric data of the holder: digital photo, digital fingerprints and personal data of the holder: name, surname, patronymic, date of birth, number, date of issuance and date of expiry of the passport and the holder’s signature. Children under 12 years old are not obliged to include digital finger prints in the passport.

The biometric passport contains an international symbol on its front cover .

The symbol stands for the chip from the passport. This chip is an additional security device, which offers the biometric passport an increased protection degree against counterfeiting risks.

The identification of a person takes place through the method of verifying the photo from the chip comparing it with the photo taken by the digital camera within the presentation of biometric passport for the border control. A special device reads the finger prints and identifies the holder, comparing the received information with the information from the chip.

Pursuant to the Law No.135 dated July 1, 2010 on including amendments to the Article 2 of the Law No.273-XIII dated November 9, 1994 on identity documents of the National Passport System, the validity term of the biometric passport is 7 years, and the validity term of biometric passports issued to children under 7 years old is 4 years.

In order to ensure the production of biometric passports throughout the Republic of Moldova, 42 offices of documentation of the SIRC “Registru” were equipped with hardware, necessary for digital photos and fingerprints registration. It is planned to equip all the territorial subdivisions of population documentation by the end of 2010. The Republic of Moldova citizens that stay abroad will be able to obtain biometric passports after all special equipment has been installed in diplomatic missions and consulates.

The passport with biometric data is the most protected document for border crossing, accepted and recognized by the European Union within the migration process. In case of the passport loss or theft, it is impossible to be used by another person or counterfeited.

Non-biometric passport, issued until January 1, 2011, will be valid until its term expiration.

For more information regarding the biometric passport issuance call 25-70-70

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