The Interior Ministry started issuing new biometric passports with electronic chips yesterday, in accordance with the latest European standards for protection of documents for personal identification.

Once the necessary documents are submitted, it takes 15 days for the passport to be made. Those who want to receive their passport earlier will have to pay 4,500 denars, that is, twice as much as the standard price.

"Macedonia is one of the first countries outside the European Union to issue identification documents with such level of protection and with such quality," Interior Minister Gordana Jankulovska said at yesterday's promotion.