Libya is to issue new biometric, machine readable passports and e-ID cards.
The news was revealed on Sunday after the Tripoli based Libyan Prime Minister, Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba, met with the Director of the Passports and Nationality Authority, Major General Youssef Murad.
The meeting was to follow up on the executive procedures to modernize the system of passports and electronic cards.
Murad, the Tripoli government reported, presented an update on the steps taken by the Passports Authority in the contractual procedures to implement a modern passport system and issuing electronic ID cards (electronic chip – biometric) for all citizens.
The Tripoli government reported that Aldabaiba directed the start of implementation of the electronic/biometric passport system and the electronic ID card, and the need to eliminate manual data entry in the various border ports, and for it to be machine readable, stressing the organization of work within the ports among all security services.
It will be recalled that Libya’s so-called biometric passports were first revealed in February 2013 by the Ali Zeidan government. However, by the time they were actually released to the public they still did not contain any biometric data.
New biometric passports out soon – Deputy PM Al-Gadi (libyaherald.com)
New biometric passports due by the end of July: Government (libyaherald.com)
Libya begins issuing new, safer versions of diplomatic and private e-passports (libyaherald.com)
Libya and NEC activate biometric border control contract (libyaherald.com)
Over 150,000 new e-passports applied for online in hours (libyaherald.com)
Half a million new e-passports arriving by early March (libyaherald.com)
Libya’s new biometric passport officially revealed (libyaherald.com)
