Passports with biometric data will soon be issued in Armenia. The passports will contain all the data, including handprints.

The content for the introduction of e-passports was held October 27 to December 10, 2010. Eight foreign companies participated in the contest.

The Polska Wytwornia papierov Wartosciowych S. A (Poland) won the fist stage of the contest, and Oberthur (France) won the second stage, Norai Muradkhanyan, Chief of the Passport and Visa Department, told Armenian News-NEWS.am. The Government is soon to select the company that will introduce the new passports.

The cost of new passports will be set after a contract has been signed with the company.