Deadline for Issuing Old Sample Passports Extended

The National Assembly has approved on first reading the drafts of amendments to the laws "On the Passport of a Citizen of the Republic of Armenia" and "On Identification Cards," proposed by the Government.

The amendments suggest that passports be issued to citizens under the age of 16, as well as male citizens who have reached the age of 16, up until they turn 19 (instead of the current 18 years old). For those who have already turned 19, the issuance will align with the procedures stipulated in the law "On Military Service and the Status of Servicemen," which defines military draft deferments and medical re-examinations.

At the suggestion of the head of the body of the authorized public administration in the defense sector, passports may also be issued to male citizens over 18 for a different term, aimed at education, medical treatment, sports, or participation in cultural events.

If the bills are adopted, the right to have an identification document will also be guaranteed in cases where a citizen is unable to personally submit an application due to illness, loss of mobility, cognitive abilities, memory loss, or being in an unconscious state in a medical institution.

The deadline for issuing old, non-biometric sample passports to citizens of the Republic of Armenia is proposed to be extended by one year, setting it to December 31, 2022, instead of the previous deadline of January 1, 2022.