Manama:More than 400,000 electronic passports have been issued in Bahrain since their introduction on March 12, 2023. The announcement was made by Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the issuance of e-passports was initiated by General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Interior Minister, following the royal directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The initiative is part of efforts to modernize government services, overseen by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
Citizens with passports that will expire in two years or less are encouraged to apply for renewal and obtain an electronic passport. The Undersecretary highlighted the importance of utilizing this service to facilitate timely transactions. The Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs department is committed to enhancing its service offerings, with applications for e-passports available through the National Portal of the Kingdom of Bahrain or at service centers.
The express service center at the department's headquarters offers the processing of e-passport applications within two hours. Additionally, a passport delivery service is provided both domestically and internationally. Shaikh Hisham acknowledged the efforts of department personnel in improving service quality and the increasing adoption of e-passports among citizens, emphasizing the ongoing development to support digital transformation and improve institutional efficiency.