Rwanda Starts Issuing East Africa e-Passport

By Abdul Rahman Suagibu –

Photo Credit: The new times

NEW AFRICA BUSINESS NEWS, Freetown, Sierra Leone- Rwanda has begun issuing the East Africa e passport in conjunction with Rwanda’s allegiance to popularize regional integration as envisioned by East African Community (EAC) partner state, an immigration official announced on Friday, 28^th June, 2019.

“Rwandans can now start applying for the common east Africa e passport. Starting from today, Directorate General Immigration and Emigration will start issuing EAC e passport”, said Francois Regis Gatarayiha, Director General of Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration, at a press conference at the institution’s Head Office in Kigali the capital city of Rwanda.

The e passport is encapsulated with an electronic chip which will have bio data and biometric information of the holder, including the name, date of birth, and other biographic information, said Gatarayiha.

A common single EAC bloc e passport will boost cross-border travels and trade, and further increase EAC integration, said Gatarayiha. The new e passport data base is improved with automated Fingerprint Verification System (AFIS) to curb fraud, identity, theft, forgery and passport skimming, he said. The EAC e passport complies with guidelines set by the International Civil Aviation Organization, making it admissible globally, according to Gatarayiha, Diplomatic Passport color is red, Service Passport is green, Ordinary Passport is sky blue. The outer front cover will have the words “East African Community” in gold on top and the name of the issuing Partner States will be posted below.

Gatarayiha presented the Diplomatic, Service and Ordinary e passports to the first users immediately after the press conference. EAC Heads of State launched the East Africa e- passport.

For New Africa Business News Abdul Rahman Suagibu Reports,  Africa Correspondent

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