The Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs through the Department of Immigration & Citizenship wishes to inform the public that old passport will be phased out on the 31 December 2011. The public is however advised that those who do not need to use the e-passport before the 31 December 2011 can come to apply for the e-passport in 2012 to avoid congestion of the service centers which is already experienced.

The Ministry wishes to clarify the misconception that those who do not apply for the e-passport before 31 December 2011 will be charged extra fees as penalty for late applications, or that passport fees will be increased. The public is informed that there are no penalties for not applying for the e-passport before or on 31 December 2011. The issuance of the e-passport will thus continue in the coming year. Services for passport applications and issuance will continue to be provided over the weekends, from 0730 hours to 1630 hours.

The fees for the e-passport are as follows: 

• Normal Service (5 working days) BWP 260.00
• Express Service ( 48hrs) BWP 390.00
• Extra Service (24hrs) BWP 520.00

All those who have applied for their passports are encouraged to collect them at the offices from which applications were made. Those who applied at the Loapi and Universal Service Centres can collect their passports from the Gaborone Immigration Headquarters.

NB: The penalty for a lost old passport is  P1000.00

Join the Women’s Affairs Department and its stakeholders as they launch this year's commemoration  of the 16 Days of Activism against Violence on Women and Children . The commemorations will run from 25 November to 10 December, 2011.

DETAILS OF THE NATIONAL LAUNCH

PLACE:  Shakawe Village

DATE: 25 Novermeber, 2011

THEME:  From Peace in the Home to peace in the World: Lets End Violence against Women and Children.

The campaign will be officially launched by the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Honorable, Mr. Edwin Batshu on the 25 November at Shakawe.
For more information, contact the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs on the TOLL FREE NUMBER on  0800 600 777 or Women’s Affairs Department on 3912290.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship is concerned about the increasing number of uncollected passports. Earlier this month, the number stood at just over 17000 uncollected passports and today, 30 November, 2011 the figure has risen to 21051 uncollected passports.  The public is reminded that collections are made at the office where applications were made, except in Gaborone, where all collections are done at Immigration Headquarters.