RP Consulate General in Jeddah Issues First ePassport

19 July 2010-The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah has issued its first electronic passport (ePassport).

First to receive an ePassport is Mr. Jobby De Felipe Nalica of Roxas City.
Mr. Nalica is an employee of Emirates Airlines and has been working in Jeddah for the last 18 years.

The Consulate General started implementing the ePassport System last July 1....


Prior to the full implementation, it successfully conducted a pilot testing for about a week staring June 24.

With the implementation of the ePassport System, the Consulate General stresses the following information to passport applicants:
> The requirements for new and renewal of passports remain the same, except that applicants are no longer required to submit photographs.

> The passport fee will slightly increase from the current Saudi rial (SR) 200 to SR 240.

> Processing time will remain at 30 working days.

> Personal appearance will still be required for the applicant's biometrics to be taken.

The Consulate General will stop receiving applications for the Machine Readable Passport (MRP). However, the MRPs and the non-MRPs (green passports) will remain valid until the date of expiry.

To facilitate the application process, the Consulate General will implement an appointment system, similar to the appointmentsystem being implemented by the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila.

The Consulate General will still accept walk-in applicants without an appointment. However, priority will be extended to those with appointments.

Applicants are advised to renew their passports at least six months before the date of expiry or if there are less than three unused pages left in their passports since the Consulate General does not attach additional or extra pages.
 
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