Mass printing of new biometric passports will soon be approved, while the printing of new identification cards has already begun, according to statements made during a meeting between Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan and a delegation led by Dounia El Hasnaoui, chair of the board of HayPass and member of the executive committee of IN Groupe.
The delegation represented the IN Groupe & Corporación América consortium.
During the meeting, the sides reaffirmed their cooperation in the production and issuance of biometric documents and in establishing new high standards for citizen services.
The Interior Ministry said a comprehensive roadmap for implementing the biometric system was presented, outlining phased institutional reforms.
The timeline for launching the program was also discussed. In the first phase, plans include launching a data center compliant with the international eIDAS standard, as well as software for managing applications for identity documents with an online pre-registration platform for citizens.
The project will begin with the opening of new offices equipped with innovative solutions across Armenia. Initially, several service points will operate, two of which will be located in major shopping centers in Yerevan. Later, the number of offices is expected to increase to 23.
The initiative also предусматривает modern waiting areas, children’s playrooms, service time limits, and the installation of self-service terminals.
Sargsyan said the ministry is committed to meeting the project’s deadlines and plans to launch the system in the second half of the current year, while maintaining high-quality standards.
The sides also discussed various scenarios for the use of biometric passports and their compatibility with modern border management systems. It was noted that introducing a biometric system aligned with European standards is also an important step in the visa liberalization process.
In April 2025, Armenia’s Interior Ministry and “HayPass” CJSC signed a contract to create a modern national identification and biometric management infrastructure. The company HayPass was founded by IN Groupe and A.C.I Technology, part of Corporación América Group.
