Monrovia – The Minister of Foreign Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah has disclosed that the government of Liberia has opened the second phase of additional 20 passport application centers in several cities across the world to ease the burden of Liberians who are in dying need for travel documents.
By J.H. Webster Clayeh –[email protected]
The first phase of passport application centers was launched on February 18, 2023. Melbourne, Australia, Pretoria, South Africa, Chicago, Illinois, Nairobi, Kenya and Los Angeles, and California were the places selected to process Liberians’ passports.
The Minister of Foreign speaking at the Ministry of Information Regular Press Briefing Thursday stressed that the opening of twenty additional centers in places around the world will ease the financial burdens of Liberians having to travel long distances to existing passport application centers at Liberian Embassies and Consulates.
This, the Minister of Foreign says, will also allow Liberians abroad the opportunity to regularize their residency in the countries they reside. He further stressed that the process will afford those Liberians wishing to travel back home to Liberia for their personal reasons, but did not have updated passports, to be able to do so.
Amb. Kemayah added: “Today, in fulfillment of my announcement, I am here to confirm that indeed the Government of the Republic of Liberia through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has opened twenty additional centers to process passports. All of these are fully operating.”
In the United States of America, Liberians wanting a passport will have to go to Atlanta or Houston. Also, In Canada, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, and Edmonton are the areas where Liberians’ passports can be processed.
There are also passport providing centers in South America, Brazil, in Europe, Turkey, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, including France.
In Asia, South Korea and Japan will issue passports. While in Africa, Senegal, Egypt also, in the Middle East the United Arab Emirates will handle the passport issue there in that world.
Still speaking, the Minister called for collaboration between the Liberian community leaders and members in the areas where the passport application process was announced to broadcast the government’s initiative.
He added: “All of our Liberian diplomatic and consular missions abroad have been requested to work with Liberian communities in ensuring that Liberians are aware of this opportunity that they have long been requesting for.”
The Liberia Foreign Minister continues: “As an update on the Passport Application Centers opened recently, Liberians are beginning to apply for passports using the services. We realize that this will be a gradual step but we hope that all of us will also spread this message to friends and relatives abroad.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs also announced that the government of Liberia through the BuckPress Ltd (the Passport Contractor) has engaged the Services of VFS Global.
VFS Global is a global technology processing company with a presence in more than 140 cities across the World. VFS Global will run alongside its operation, passport application centers for the Government of Liberia to enable Liberians in the Diaspora acquire their Liberian Biometric Passports, the Foreign Affairs boss says.
Before proceeding to the designated VFS Global center, an applicant was expected to complete his or her online passport application at www.liberiapassports.com and selecting the specific center the applicant would like his or her biometrics taken, pay the passport fee online and proceed to the center on the day of their scheduled appointment with the printed copy of the confirmation receipt as well as copies of documents in support of the application when visiting the Application Center.
Kemayah further stated: “At these VFS Global Centers, Liberians will complete the capture of their Biometric and Demographic Data which will be securely transferred to the Passports Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the vetting and approval of applications submitted.”
He added: Once approved, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will personalize passports in favor of the applicant(s). A designated Service Fee of Sixty United States Dollars (60.00 USD) or its equivalent in the designated local currency shall be paid at the service center. This fee is for processing of biometrics and ensuring completed passports are returned to the center for pickup by the applicant or delivery to the applicant’s address provided at the center.”
He added that applicants whose applications are missing need to provide supporting documents, and will be contacted to have those documents submitted or interviewed by the relevant authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before a final decision is made concerning said applications.”
“The VFS Global – Liberia Passport Application Centers have now been fully commissioned and Liberians can begin to process their Passport Applications at the Centers, he stressed.