The Czech Republic will start to issue passports with an electronic microchip as from August 2006 just as the other EU member countries, Interior Minister Frantisek Bublan said on Wednesday.

The country introduces the new passport with the owner's biometric data in an attempt to raise protection against terrorism and illegal migration.

The chip will in the initial period contain the electronic facial recording of the passport owner and as from autumn 2008 it is also to be fitted with a finger print.

Bublan said on Tuesday that the passports issued by August 28, 2006, when the new ones will start to be issued, will remain valid until their regular expiry date.

People should pay the same price for the new passports they pay now, Bublan said, adding that the final word rests with parliament however.

The Czech passport costs 200 crowns (8 dollars) while elsewhere in the EU the price is 50 euros, which is about 1500 crowns.

Source: Xinhua