The Department of Passports and Immigration has taken a significant step to alleviate the ongoing backlog in passport issuance by procuring ten new printing machines.
Sources confirmed that the activation of these machines is expected to expedite the passport printing process, addressing a critical issue that has plagued the department for over a year.
In May, the department submitted a requisition to the Ministry of Home Affairs for the procurement of new passport printing equipment, aimed at resolving the persistent delays.
The newly acquired machines, which include six desktop and two e-passport models, are sourced from abroad and boast an impressive capacity to print 1,000 passports per hour.
The delays in passport issuance have left an estimated 800,000 applications pending nationwide. For the past year, citizens have reported significant challenges, with many forced to travel extensively to obtain their passports.
This situation has been particularly detrimental for students aiming to secure admissions in foreign universities, professionals seeking work abroad, and patients requiring urgent medical treatment overseas.
Officials noted that although the standard processing time for passports is set at 21 days, many applicants—despite paying the 'urgent' processing fee—have found themselves waiting for months without resolution.
