ePassports for Georgia by end of 2008

In Eastern Europe, Georgia’s Ministry of Justice has confirmed it will start issuing ePassports to citizens by the end of next year.

According to the ministry, the Civil Registry Agency has already started preparing for the rollout, and will be looking at the experience of other countries that have introduced the technology. The agency is already creating ePhoto databases which contain photos of up to 2.3 million citizens.

The new passports are expected to help combat forgery and streamline visa and travel procedures.