Moldova rolls out new biometric passports with 100 security features
Moldova rolled out a redesigned biometric passport model on Thursday, October 15, integrating advanced anti-counterfeiting security features while maintaining the standard issuance fee at €40 (approx. 790 MDL), official authorities said.
Enhanced anti-counterfeiting safeguards
The state-issued travel document incorporates more than 100 advanced security components, marking the most technologically sophisticated passport produced by the Public Services Agency (ASP) to date. The agency confirmed that existing passports will remain legally valid until their stated expiration dates.
The redesigned model complies fully with global standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the specialized United Nations body governing international travel credentials. The security overhaul applies across Moldova’s entire travel document portfolio, including diplomatic and service passports, as well as travel papers issued to refugees and stateless persons.
Eco-themed visual identity and modernization
Departing from earlier editions that repeated national motifs across pages, each page of the new document features a unique graphic layout. The visual concept centers on environmental themes, incorporating artistic elements highlighting national biodiversity, nature, and environmental preservation.
The initiative complements Moldova's broader modernization of citizen credentials following the rollout of EU-standard polycarbonate identity cards in April 2025. Those identity cards, modeled on European Union formats, remain mandatory for all Moldovan citizens upon reaching the age of 14.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
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