News & Events in Belarus
Lukashenko approves introduction of biometric passports, urges to finalize some aspects
MINSK, 25 January (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko has generally approved the introduction of biometric passports, but urged to analyze and finalize certain aspects. It was made known after the meeting hosted by the head of state on 25 January, BelTA has learned.
The date when the issue of such documents will begin has not been determined yet. It will be specified in a draft decree which will be submitted to the president after the analysis of all nuances.
“The Interior Ministry’s system is prepared to launch the issue of biometric documents. However, the president raised additional questions, and we need to focus on them. These include the protection of personal data – number one issue on the agenda. The level of protection of the personal data is rather high as far as the documents we are planning to introduce are concerned,” Interior Minister Ivan Kubrakov said after the meeting. “As for the terms of introduction, they will be determined additionally depending on the volume [of necessary adjustments] and after a coordination meeting with interested bodies. The date of issue of biometric documents will be additionally specified in the decree.”
According to the interior minister, primary attention was drawn to the convenience of getting and using biometric documents for the population. Ivan Kubrakov explained that even after the launch of the issue of new documents old passports of citizens will be valid for the entire period of validity. Moreover, it was also proposed to slightly amend the system to make it possible for people to use one and the same document domestically and for foreign travel. “Taking into account the agreements of other countries, we are mulling over the possibility to use either an ID card or one document domestically and for foreign travel,” the minister explained.
Minster of Communications and Informatization Konstantin Shulgan told reporters after the meeting that the head of state focused on the convenience of replacing and using biometric documents for all population groups, including those who will decide not get an ID card after the expiry of the current document.
In his words, it was initially supposed that Belarusian citizens whose passports will expire will get an ID card for the domestic use instead and will also have an opportunity to get a biometric passport for foreign travel if necessary. “But the head of state mentioned the convenience for the population. If you decide not to get these documents, you must have an opportunity to get everything that the state can provide,” the minister said. “If you want your old passport to remain valid and do not want to get electronic services [using an ID card], if you want to leave everything as it is (there will be such people in our country), we need to make it possible. It means that a biometric passport will be used for the same purposes as the old passport [so that it could be used domestically without an ID card],” Konstantin Shulgan said.
A technical solution will be prepared for that. “Now we will look for an opportunity to issue a new passport with a biometric microprocessor which is used for foreign travel and to make this passport legally valid in the country,” the minister added.
As for the terms, he assured that all parties are willing to do it as soon as possible. As for the opportunity to merge an ID card and a biometric passport, the minister said that it is “technically difficult”, and this issue is not on the agenda right now.
Speaking about the advantages of an ID card, Konstantin Shulgan described it as “a pass to the world of the electronic state”. First of all, this is a domestic document featuring information about an individual and an electronic digital signature which will provide access to electronic services and give an opportunity to sign documents making them legally valid,” he explained. The main thing, in his opinion, is that the card will feature a personal identity number of a citizen. By entering a password, an individual will get access to various state databases with necessary information. “For example, when you come to the post office for any services, you hand over your passport to a specialist and wait till they fill in a form. With an ID card, an operator will use a validator, and all your data will be filled in automatically. It will help reduce queues and facilitate the technological process. Besides, you will be able to use an ID card from home getting all kinds of certificates and performing administrative procedures,” the minister said.
According to the minister, certain difficulties will definitely emerge after the introduction of biometric documents. And it is a normal situation for such large-scale innovations. “This is a nationwide system. This is a national system of interaction of databases of the state with users. At the beginning of mass testing, probably, some adjustments will be necessary. These are routine moments. All countries faced certain challenges in the process. We open call centers where citizens will leave their remarks, and we will promptly address them,” Konstantin Shulgan said.
Previously, representatives of the Interior Ministry informed that the ID card is a small plastic card featuring a photo and personal data of the holder. Visual information is similar to that featured in a passport – the individual’s name, last name and patronymic, date of birth, citizenship, gender, number, type and validity date of the document, the card holder’s signature. The other information (for example, the place of registration, information about children, marriage) is tied to the document virtually. The data can be read out with the help of a special terminal. People with an ID card will automatically obtain an electronic digital signature with a ten-year period of validity and an online personal account. The individual will have to activate the account using the ID card. This online service will provide the account history.
Using the ID card, an individual will have access to all online procedures.
An ID card is a domestic identity document. For foreign travel individuals will have to additionally obtain a biometric passport. This is a traditional passport that has an embedded electronic microprocessor chip which contains biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of the passport holder.
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