ANNOUNCEMENTS

Republic of Malawi Passports Renewal & Application update from the Department of Immigration

The Department of Immigration will launch new Passport Issuing System which has entailed the introduction of a new passport booklet on 22nd February, 2010. In view of the foregoing, the general public should take note of the following:

1. COLLECTION OF NEW PASSPORT APPLICATION FORMS
   Members of the general public are advised that new passport application forms have been introduced accompanied by an attachment on how to fill the forms. These forms may be collected from Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu offices and shortly from all Immigration Offices.

   Members of the public are advised to take note that the forms must not be reproduced or photocopied as they have a computer generated bar code number which is unique to a particular individual.

2. OUTSTANDING CASES
   All those applicants whose passports are not yet issued are requested to report to the Immigration Office where the application was submitted where they will be required to complete new application forms, have their pictures, fingerprints and signatures captured. To facilitate efficient service to our customers, a schedule based on the dates applications with pending applications as follows:

   Blantyre
   Those who paid before August, 2009 to report at Immigration Headquarters from 24th February, 2010;

   Those who paid in September, 2009 to October, 2009 to report from 1st April, 2010 to 8th May, 2010;

   Those who paid in November, 2009 to early January, 2010 to report from10th May, to 4th June, 2010.

   Lilongwe
   Those who paid before August, 2009 to report at the Regional Immigration Office from 1st March, 2010 to 9th April, 2010;

   Those who paid in September, 2010 to October, 2009 to report from 12th April, 2010 to 21st May, 2010;

   Those who paid in November, 2009 to early January, 2010 to report from 24th May, 2010 to 28th June, 2010.

   Mzuzu
   Those who paid before September, 2009 to report at the Regional Immigration Office from 8th March, 2010 to 9th April, 2010;

   Those who paid in October, 2009 to early January, 2010 to report from 12th April, 2010 to 14th May, 2010.

3. CHANGING OF THE CURRENT PASSPORTS TO THE NEW PASSPORTS
   All passports holders of the passports currently in circulation will be required to change their passports to the new one as the current passport shall be phased out. The general public shall be notified shortly on how this shall be done through another Press Release. Meanwhile the current passports that are valid may continue to be used till the relevant announcement is made.

4. REPLACEMENT OF LOST, DAMAGED, EXPIRED OR FILLED UP PASSPORTS
   Members of the public whose passports are lost, damaged, expired or filled up may report at Immigration Offices in Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu where they will be required to go through a process indicated on paragraph (ii) before acquiring the new passport.

5. APPLICATION FOR NEW PASSPORTS
   Members of the public seeking to acquire a passport for the first time (new applicants) may also report at the Immigration Offices where they will undergo the process indicated on paragraph (i) for them to acquire the passport.

6. INTRODUCTION OF TOKEN SYSTEM
   Members of public are advised that a token system has been introduced where every person visiting the Immigration Office to access passport services shall be required to follow. This has been done to ensure orderliness, reduce congestion and improve efficiency in assisting our customers.

7. INTRODUCTION OF URGENT/EXZPRESS PASSPORTS
   Members of the public are advised to take note of the introduction of express and urgent passports in respect of new applicants who are in dire need of acquiring a passport speedily at an extra cost of K35,100 for express passports which shall be produced within 2 days and K25,100 for urgent passports which shall be produced within 5 days. To access this service application must clearly demonstrate the need for them to travel urgently upon production of documentary evidence.

8. INTRODUCTIONOF PASSPORTS FOR CHILDREN
   Members of public are also advised to note that children below the age of 10years will be required to have their own passports where validity shall be as follows

   From birth to 5 years	5 years
   From 5 to 10 years	5 years

Please do not make any travel arrangements before your passport is ready. Any inconvenience caused is regretted.

E.J. Thodi

CHIEF IMMIGRATION OFFICER

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N/B PLEASE NOTE THAT THE EMBASSSY WILL COMMUNICATE ALL NEW INFORMATION THAT IT WILL RECEIVE FROM THE DEPT OF IMMIGRATION, WHEN AND AS IT HAPPENS.