The Immigration Department of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF), this week, announced that it will cease the processing of new passport applications until Monday, July 25, 2022, in order to facilitate the move to the new e-passport system.
The new passport comes with an EC $250 price tag for a period of five years. The approval for the amendment of passport fees came after Cabinet met on Monday, July 11.
Government last week revealed that the official pronouncement will be followed by the gazetting of a Statutory Instrument to reflect the necessary amendments. Thereafter, the relevant amendments to the Passport Act, caption. 10.03 shall come into force.
All other services will continue to be offered to the public at the Immigration Department and full service will recommence on Tuesday, July 26, 2022.
“Anyone with an emergency, particularly medical, may contact the office of the Commissioner of Police, at 4563712 for assistance,” the RSLPF stated in a Facebook post.
The new e-passport system is said to be an improved system. According to Catalin Tudor, Project Manager for Canadian Bank Note (the bank has been a partner of Saint Lucia since 2006 and is tasked with delivering the new system) “we are preparing the new passport office with new state of the art equipment.”