Cyprus Mail reports that biometric passports will be implemented in Cyprus later this year:
Parliament also gave the green light to the introduction and implementation of biometric passports as of this autumn.
The new passport will bear the owner’s fingerprints, installed by microchip, eliminating the risk of theft and identity fraud. All passports must be replaced once the system starts operating in October.
The new law contains a clause ensuring that fingerprints will not be used for any other purpose and that this data shall be stored for a period of just 48 hours and then deleted.
Diplomats will be the first to obtain their biometric passports, in early September, followed by the rest of the population in mid-October.
The new passports will cost €70.