PRAGUE, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Slovaks will have biometric passports as of next year, the nation's parliament decided Wednesday.

    The introduction of biometric passports is required by the European Union (EU) and it is also important for the possible waiving of U.S. visas for Slovak citizens, according to reports from Bratislava, Slovakia.

    The new passports are to contain two identifiers -- the mandatory digitized picture of the passport holder and his or her fingerprints.

    However, they will temporarily only include the digital photo of the holder since the EU has not yet decided on the precise form of the second biometric identifier.

    Interior Ministry spokesman Erik Tomas said that Slovak police would issue the new passports as from Jan. 15, the report said.

    The ministry estimated that the new passports would cost the state 1.63 billion Slovak crowns (72.19 million U.S. dollars). The sum is expected to be returned to the state in passport fees by 2010.

    The new law on passports envisions high fines for people who fail to immediately report the loss or theft of their passports. They will be fined up to 10,000 crowns (443 dollars).