Bhathiya Barukanda
The Department of Immigration and Emigration announced that passports that expire after a period of ten years by June 30th will be extended up to one year free of charge. The new electronic chip-inserted e-passport will be issued to the public by January next year, and the public is encouraged to get their new passport converted to an e-passport.
The Department has extended the validity of all passports that expire from June end by one year until the issuance of the e-passport project takes off in January next year.
The department is hoping to issue about 700,000 e-passports annually once the project is underway.
A senior Immigration official told company had been selected after calling bids to grant the printing of the new e-passport and the process is underway at present.
