Belarus considers biometric passports

Col. Aliaksei Biahun, head of Citizenship and Migration Department at the Ministry of Interior, told Na Strazhe newspaper Belarus would decide in the course of 2014 when e-passports could be introduced.



The ministry has already finished preparations for the introduction of the biometric passport (for foreign travel) and ID cards (for use inside the country) and held numerous consultations with foreign experts. The only thing is to find funding, Biahun said.



Col. Biahun reckons there is a need for biometric passports, since they are better protected and will help make identification of citizens faster, reports BelaPAN.