Zimbabwe has introduced electronically readable passports (e-passports) to replace the current passports in line with global trends.
The e-passports have more security features than current passports to guard against identity theft and counterfeiting of travel documents.
Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Affairs said the old passports will remain valid.
However, on renewal, all applicants will be issued with an e-passport.
The current passports will cease to be acceptable internationally by 31st December 2023 and will need to be replaced by the e-passport.
An ordinary e-passport costs US$100, while an emergency e-passport will cost US$200.
Emergency e-passport is much cheaper than the current emergency passport, which is going for US$318.
Applicants will also need to pay a processing fee of US$20 for the e-passport.
Below is Statutory Instrument 273 of 2021, which outlines the introduction of e-passports.
IT is hereby notified that the Minister has in terms of section 22 of the Citizenship of Zimbabwe Act (Chapter 4:01), made the following regulations:
… The Minister hereby notifies that henceforth the Government will cease the issuance of the current type of passports and in place thereof will be issuing electronically readable passports (e-passports) whose charges are as specified in the Schedule.
The current type of passports, issued before the date of operation of these regulations, will cease to be acceptable internationally by 31st December 2023, and will therefore need to be replaced by e-passports in terms of these regulations.
The Citizenship (Passport Fees) Regulations, 2021, published in Statutory Instrument 201 of 2021, are hereby repealed.
SCHEDULE
FEES
1. The fees payable for obtaining one passport shall be: —
(a) ordinary e-passport USD$100,00
(b) emergency or express e-passport USD$200,00
2. A normal feeofUSD$20,00, shall be charged forever), passport application fee processed at any CBZ Bank Branch Countrywide.