Sri Lanka one-day passport service to take 60 days
ECONOMYNEXT – Appointments to issue a passport on the same day have been booked for the next 60 days, Sri Lanka’s immigration department said as a rush for migration picked up amid the collapse of a soft-pegged exchange rate and software glitches at the agency.
Sri Lanka’s Department of Immigration has a one-day service where applications have to pay 15,000 rupees compared to the standard service of 3,500 rupees, where the passport can be delayed for up 30 days.
The agency said it had started a one-day passport service at regional offices in Matara, Vavuniya and Kandy where appointments can be made by logging in to www.immigration.gov.lk.
However, appointments at the head office have now been reserved for up to 60 days and applications have to go through a different process to get passports fast.
“[The] date and time to obtain Passports under one-day service at the Head Office of the Department of Immigration and Emigration for the next 60 days have already been reserved and
completed,” the agency said in a statement.
Hence, applicants who must travel abroad urgently for employment, have to send the documents confirming the same via WhatsApp message to telephone No. 0706311711.
It is informed that date and time will be allocated on an urgent basis after confirming the accuracy
of the submitted documents.
Authorities have generally asked the public not to apply for passports just now unless they already have firm plans to go abroad.
Long lines have been seen at the immigration department after the collapse of a soft-peg, which was worsened by a software glitch at the agency. (Colombo/July03/2022)
