400,000 Filipino expats in UAE to be issued electronic passports

Starting Monday, some 400,000 Filipino expatriates in the United Arab Emirates will be issued a new electronic passport with improved security features. The passport will replace the old green passport and brown machine-readable passports issued to Filipino expatriates, once the validity of the older passports ends. “Passport enrollees are no longer required to bring photographs as their pictures will be taken using e-passport data-capturing machines which are cameras directly connected to the computers at the Philippine Consulate and signature to be made on signature pads so they do not need to bring photographs," Philippine Consulate General in Dubai Vice Consul Edwin Mendoza said in an article posted on UAE news site Khaleej Times. Enrollment for the e-passport will be done from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., but payments are accepted at the cashier only until 4 p.m. Those who will enroll for the e-passport were advised to bring their old passport, a photocopy each of the front, visa and back pages of their expiring passport, and Dh240 (about P3,036). He said the payment for enrolling in the e-passport is costlier by Dh40 (P506) than the two previous types of passports because everything needed to process the ePassport is done in security pages and embedded in micro chips. Enrollment in e-passport is done on a first-come-first-served basis since the two permanent staff assigned for the duty is still on adjustment phase, he added. “We will be accommodating a maximum of 80 applicants during the first few weeks and those who cannot be enrolled for the day have to make an appointment with the Philippine Consulate personally," he said. He said the integrated photograph of the passport holder or his digitized secondary photograph, the electronic print of the passport holder’s signature and the overt and hidden security features are among those data embedded in the chip that render the passport tampered-free and difficult to copy. However, Mendoza clarified those with the old green passport and the brown MRP may continue to use them until six months before the expiry of their passports. “International regulations allow travelers to enter other countries if their passports are still valid for the next six months. The same should be observed by Filipino travelers, who should renew or get the new e-passport six months before the validity of their passports ends," he said. Since e-passport applications will be sent to Manila, applicants can expect to receive their passports one month from date of application. Interested persons may contact the Philippine Consulate General at 04-254-4331 or via email: mrpdxb@yahoo.com orpcgdxb@pcgdubai.ae. - JMA, RJAB Jr/KBK, GMANews.TV