Electronic service for e-passports launched ahead of schedule

AMMAN — A service to issue and renew e-passports has been launched for the first time, according to an ICT Ministry statement.

The Civil Status and Passport Department (CSPD), in cooperation with the ICT Ministry managed to speed up the service’s launch, which was originally scheduled for 2020, said ICT Minister Muthana Gharaibeh.

The minister said that such a step has an impact on citizens’ lives and is compliant with the government’s policy to alleviate the pressures on citizens by saving them time and money.

E-passports have saved the State Treasury JD1 million, and the department receives about 500,000 passport applications a year.

Citizens could electronically register and apply for this service without attending the CSPD personally, and the documents would be delivered by the Jordan Post, the source added.

People could also receive their passports by using fingerprint matching, based on match-on-card technology, be it in the CSPD’s offices or at the Jordan Post.

According to Petra, Jordanians abroad can apply for the service online or by visiting their embassy, where the passport will be printed. Citizens will need to create an electronic account based on the applicant’s photo and ID, which will be verified by the CSPD’s electronic office.