Gambia Resumes Passport Production

The Government of the Gambia has resumed issuing biometric passport to Gambians.

The Ministry of the Interior had last year suspended issuing passports pending a comprehensive review of the entire process of issuance of national documents. The ministry said this will enable it to protect and promote the integrity of passports.

The suspension of passports has caused severe disruption to thousands of  Gambians living in and outside of the Gambia.

The Ministry of the Interior said the new passports are machine readable and will only be issued to Gambians in the Diaspora who must submit relevant supporting documents (Old documents that show correct name, date and place of birth, picture and signature of applicant) and original and photocopy of first and last page of expired passport or any other national document (If available).

It added that new passport applicants  needs to notarized affidavit of proof of citizenship submitted on their behalf by one of their parents, together with an identity declaration completed by a National Assembly Member of the applicant’s constituency  and accompanied by an endorsed photograph signed by the same person and an original and photocopy of any national document valid or expired (If available)