New electronic passports launched for UAE nationals

The UAE launched New Electronic Passports (e-passport) for Emiratis yesterday.

Maj Gen Nasser Al Awadi Al Menhali, Assistant Undersecretary of Naturalisation, Residency and Exit Affairs, when speaking during a press conference yesterday, said that about 117 UAE electronic passports have been issued since the launch.

The new passports are being issued by thirty three offices at present. The fee, necessary documents and other formalities will be similar to that for previous passport. The new passport can be issued within a day’s time after applying for it.

The new passport has high security specifications in place, so as to avoid any fraud attempts. It is in line with the guidelines of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Al Menhali said. The new e-passports have a microchip in the last page, which contains encrypted biometric data that prevents forgery. The passport photograph, fingerprint, and signature are in printed formats, and cannot be modified.

The first and last pages of the new passports are thicker than that of the old passports, so that they remain in good shape until the expiry of the passports. The new passports also include data to resolve name duplication, as this was one of the biggest issues with the old passports.

The ICAO has granted time until 2014 to all countries to issue the electronic passports. The UAE is the second country, after Qatar, to have issued the electronic passports, although with a more sophisticated technology.

Al Menhali revealed that all international airports have already been informed about the new passports, so that UAE nationals can begin using their new passports when they travel abroad.

Al Menhali said that priority will be given to nationals whose passports have expired or, those in need of a passport and do not have one. But, ultimately, all nationals seeking to get the new passports can apply in future. At present, only 100 passports can be issued every ten minutes, he said.

The renewal for electronic passports can be done in the UAE. However, UAE nationals residing abroad can apply for new passport through the UAE embassies in their respective countries, and they will forward the passports to the UAE for renewal.

Posted on 6/12/2011

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