The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) is planning to invite tenders to implement the planned upgrade of passports to biometric passports under a BOT (build-operate-transfer) basis.
The ministry is currently conducting discussions with relevant parties about ways to introduce biometric passports, also dubbed e-passports, in line with international standards.
E-passports, a paper and electronic passport containing biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of the holder, will apply better security standards and help curb counterfeiting, a senior official with the ministry said.
“The discussion on project implementation is making a lot of progress. We expect to implement this in the near future,” the official said.
Myanmar citizens can get a passport at a cost of K25,000 in 10 days if all the required information and documents are submitted.
The validity of the passports was extended to five years from three years in November 2012. After a recent upgrade in the system, applicants are now able to check the progress of their application processes with relevant receipts at the entrance of the Passport Issuing Department.
