The Cameroonian government has made significant progress in issuing biometric passports, with over 240,000 produced since the launch of the new system on July 1, 2021. The passports are produced by the Délégation générale à la Sureté nationale in collaboration with the German-Portuguese consortium INCM-Augentic. This development has improved the process of obtaining a passport, which is a crucial document for international travel.
A visit to the new Centre administratif de Yaoundé revealed that hundreds of applicants are being received daily. On August 4, 2022, over 600 applicants were processed at the center. The center's supervisor, Commissaire de police principal Eyong Tolo, stated that the number of applicants is increasing daily. The center's efficiency in processing applications has reduced the waiting time for passports.
Applicants have expressed satisfaction with the new system, which allows for online registration and quick processing. Paul Edou, a student, received his passport just a day after applying online. "I did my online registration on August 3, and on August 4, I had my passport," he said. The speedy processing of passports is a significant improvement from the past.
The biometric passport production process involves a streamlined procedure, with applicants completing their registration online and then submitting their documents at the center. The passports are produced within 48 hours of registration. The distribution of passports is based on the location of registration, with 80% of applicants in Yaounde receiving their passports quickly.
As of July 1, 2022, a year after the launch of the new system, 243,565 passports had been produced, and 39,227 had been expedited to Cameroonian diplomatic representations abroad. The efficient production and distribution of passports are a result of the government's efforts to improve the process.
The introduction of the biometric passport has been a major development in Cameroon, with the government aiming to improve the security and efficiency of the passport production process. The president of the Republic, Paul Biya, had directed the dematerialization and simplification of procedures, which has been achieved through the new system.
The success of the biometric passport production process is a positive development for Cameroonians, who can now obtain passports quickly and efficiently. The government's efforts to improve the process are expected to continue, with the aim of providing better services to citizens.
Key points
- Over 240,000 biometric passports have been produced in Cameroon since July 2021.
- The new center in Yaounde processes passport applications within 48 hours.
- The biometric passport production process involves online registration and streamlined procedures.
