St Kitts and Nevis begins issuing new E- (biometric) passports from January 5, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, Labour and Social Security has announced.
The ministry said in a news release that the new passports, with several improved security features, are being introduced as part of government’s ongoing efforts to prevent fraud and identity theft consistent with its regional and international commitments.
The Passport Office will issue the new E- (biometric) passports to citizens and residents, who are applying for the documents for the first time, or to those requesting replacements.
Citizens and residents currently using the machine readable passports will continue doing so, once these are not expired, lost and or damaged.
They will not, at this time, be required to change to the new E- (biometric) passports until the old document has expired.
The ministry said that introduction of the new passport has become necessary given the regional and global efforts to improve security.
The new document to be issued by the government of St Kitts and Nevis is more secure and designed with specific imbedded features intended to enhance the integrity of the new E-Passport and will facilitate more seamless travel by citizens and residents of the Federation.
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