New benefits from ePassorts despite price increase
The uproar on social media about the new ePassport fees was expected.
An increase of 177 per cent for an ordinary ePassport – from the old price of $72 to the new ePassport fee of $200.
But let’s consider the benefits of this new official document and what it means for Fijian travellers. Ease of travel at ports of entry around the globe. This means passing through eGates or Smartgates simply by scanning your ePassport and not having to be served by an immigration personnel or held aside. The latter sometimes occur when Fijian passports are stained or marked and are not able to be picked up by the machine A range of enhanced new security features that will make it more difficult for people to enter the country illegally or forge a Fijian passport One of the security features is a heat pressed 7layer page (polycarbonate page). Polycarbonate is believed to be extremely secure as the intertwined layers of plastic make it close to impossible to swap document information or photos without completely destroying the document. Establishing a more secure Fijian passport that brings greater integrity to Fiji’s immigration system.
Let’s consider also our Vuvale partner, Australia and the cost of their passport. Perhaps, a comparison would help us appreciate the effort put in by the Immigration Department and Government’s digitalFIJI ambitious programme towards digital transformation.
Australian passport costs in Australian dollars
10 – year validity passport (for persons aged 16 and over) AUD$293 (FJ$437.56).
5 - year validity passport (for children under 16) AUD$148 (FJ$221.02).
5 – year validity passport (optional for persons 75 and over) AUD$148 (FJ$221.02).
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama while launching the ePassport solution said there are more developments expected in the coming months that will expedite work processes for visa approvals and make our immigration policies more secure, fair, and accountable.