President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko amended the regulations "On the passport of a citizen of Ukraine for travel abroad". As Interfax-Ukraine reports, according to the decree signed on March 10, the validity of the description of the inner left side of the cover and the first page of the Ukrainian foreign passport, which were approved by the presidential decree of December 14, 1996 "On measures to create a unified state automated passport system", and clause 1 of the presidential decree of August 13, 2002 "On introducing amendments to the decree of the President of Ukraine of December 14, 1996 N1218", has been restored.
Viktor Yushchenko amended the regulations "On the passport of a citizen of Ukraine for travel abroad", approved by presidential decree of October 28, 1993 (with amendments introduced by decrees of September 20, 2003, December 10, 2004, and December 21, 2004).
According to the new version, the photographic image of the passport holder is restored instead of the digital one. (In the latest version, information about the passport holder was applied by laser engraving and laser perforation). Now the machine-readable page of the passport is on the inner left page of the cover (in the latest version it was sewn between the left cover page and the first page of the passport). Henceforth, on the inner left side of the cover, the word "Ukraine" is printed across at the top, below is the word "Passport" and under it there is space for a photo of the passport holder measuring 35x45 mm. It also reflects information about the type, state code, passport number, as well as surname, first name, patronymic, citizenship, date of birth, sex, place of birth of the passport holder, date of issue and the authority that issued the passport, and the date of expiry of the passport. At the bottom is a strip across the entire width of the page for machine-readable information. The exact location of the inscriptions and information about the passport holder is determined according to the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization.
After the appropriate text is filled in and the photo is placed, the inner left side of the cover is sealed with film.
According to the new version, the passport can have up to 96 pages (the maximum number of pages provided for in the old version was 64). "The passport is a booklet sewn with threads, trimmed to size 88x125 mm, consisting of a cover and 32 (64 or 96) pages," the document notes. All pages of the passport are numbered and each of them bears the coat of arms of Ukraine, the inscription "Ukraine" and a perforated passport number.
In accordance with the new version, the arrangement of the words and the image of the coat of arms of Ukraine on the front side of the cover is changing. Now the coat of arms is located in the center of the front side of the cover, above it the word "Passport" is printed in gold foil, and below the coat of arms is the word "Ukraine". In the previous version, the coat of arms of Ukraine was placed above the inscription "Passport Ukraine".
On the first page of the passport, the passport number is printed across at the top, and below it are the words "The validity of the passport is extended until ...". In the middle of the page, there is the inscription "The passport is the property of Ukraine", and below it in two columns - in Ukrainian and English - the text: "In the name of Ukraine, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine requests all whom it may concern to facilitate the travel of the passport holder by all possible means, to render him the necessary assistance and protection." At the bottom of the page there is space for the signature of the passport holder.
The second and third pages of the passport are intended for information about children travelling abroad with the passport holder without their own travel documents. The fourth and fifth pages are for special notes.
Pages from 6 to 32 (64 or 96) are intended for visas for entry into foreign states and for marks on crossing the state border by the passport holder.
At the request of a citizen, data on his place of residence, telephone number, blood group and Rh factor may be entered on the fourth and fifth pages of the passport on the basis of relevant documents. On the inner right side of the cover, information on customs, currency, medical and consular requirements is printed in Ukrainian. This text is determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. The passport specimen is approved by the Cabinet.
All printed inscriptions in the passport, as well as information about its holder, are made in Ukrainian and English. Information may be entered into the passport by gluing in special sheets, the form of which is determined by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
In accordance with this presidential decree, the decrees "On the creation of the Unified State Register of Natural Persons" of April 30, 2004, and "On introducing amendments to the Decree of the President of Ukraine of April 30, 2004 N500" of December 9, 2004, become invalid.