Temporary Delay in Passport Releases

27 March 2011- The Philippine Consulate General would like to inform the Filipino Community in, Dubai and the Northern Emirates that there has been a delay in the delivery of ePassports from Manila adversely affecting passport releases in Dubai, from the previous 4-6 weeks to the current 7-8 weeks. This problem is the result of technical concerns and the surge in demand for the ePassport. It is for this reason I that PCG Dubai appeals for the understanding of the Filipino Community and wants to reassure them that concerned officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila are exhausting all efforts to resolve the issues as soon as possible. The delay in passport releases is primarily the result of maintenance work and upgrades on equipment in the ePassport Personalization Center at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) facility in Quezon City. This coincided with the seasonal increase in passport applications as Filipinos start making preparations to travel abroad this summer.

The DFA has been working closely with the BSP to resolve the issue and it is confident that it would be able to reduce the waiting period in the coming weeks. As a result of the delay, applicants would have to wait for seve’n’ to eight (7-8) weeks before their passports could be released but, due to unavoidable circumstances, this cannot be guaranteed.

For more information on the ePassport, please write to mrpdxb@yahoo.com or visit
our website at www.pcgdubai.net/old/passport.html