Due to difficulties encountered in the issuance of passports
in Cameroon, particularly the Ordinary Passport, coupled with the multiple
shortcomings observed in the production process, on the instruction of the Head
of State, the General Delegation for National Security (DGSN), on September 17,
2020, signed a contract with INCM-Augentic Consortium for the implementation of
a new Biometric Passport Production System. In three weeks, ordinary
Cameroonians will begin to enjoy the fruits of the contract. In a press
conference on June 8, 2021 in Yaounde, the Secretary General of the General
Delegation for National Security, Dominique Baye, announced that the effective
commissioning of the production system for the new biometric passport is set
for July 1, 2021. Consequently, Cameroonians will begin online enrolment on the
said date at all Emi-Immigration Police Stations, as well as in some 45
Diplomatic Missions of Cameroon. While answering questions from the press,
Dominique Baye did not just point out the various technical and administrative
advantages, but also the issuance procedure.
Particularities Of The New Passport
The new passport complies with the requirements of the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Some aesthetic changes have
been on some aspect such as the Cameroonian coat of arms. There are several
innovations through new functionalities developed by the Service provider. Some
of the innovations include the establishment of an online pre-registration
module combined with an electronic payment system. Also, the passport will be
produced with the polycarbonate data page which is the latest technology in
area of travel documents. The new biometric passport also carries the
personalisation of images through laser engraving, the reconfiguration of
various aspects related to the design of various passports, the integration of
new security elements in accordance with current international standards and
the possibility of interfacing the new system with other state computer
application systems. One aspect that Cameroonians will be proud of are the visa
pages, which are all different. Each of the ten regions is represented on a
visa page. For added security, the passport has integrated the image of the
lion visible via UV.
Procedure (Online/physical enrolment)
The issuance procedure for any passport is now broken down
into four main stages. There is the online pre-enrolment, the enrolment in a
centre chosen by the applicant, the production procedure and the withdrawal
process. The online pre-enrolment is done from an android phone or in an
internet site by opening an online passport application file through a website
designed for that purpose by DGSN. The individual is also required to do an
electronic payment of FCFA 110,000 as the cost for an Ordinary Passport via
mobile money or by credit card. At this stage, the individual takes an
appointment for a physical enrolment in any centre. The duration of the
appointment varies and will depend on the centre chosen. During the physical
enrolment by the applicant, his/her documents submitted online are verified. As
such, the applicant is required to come along with the original of the
documents submitted online. Also the applicants' picture, fingerprints and
signature are taken at this stage. After the approval of the information to
appear on the passport by the applicant, he/she is given a receipt.
Production/Withdrawal Time
Dominique Baye explained that the system is dematerialised.
The data of the passport, wherever the city or the country the applicant has
enlisted will be transmitted in real time and in a secured manner to the
processing server of the production centre. Any request that is not rejected
will be processed and the related document produced within 48 hours after
physical enrolment. Once the passport has been produced, an email or text
message is automatically sent to the applicant to notify him/her of the
availability of the passport for withdrawal. In case of extreme necessity, a
passport can be withdrawn by a third party under the required circumstances. In
case of rejection, an email and an SMS specifying the reason and the action to
be taken will be sent instantly to the applicant's address provided during the
pre-enrolment.
Transition From The Current System
The Secretary General of the DGSN, Dominique Baye says in
view of the entry into service of the new biometric passport production system,
all the Emi-Immigration Police Stations in the country will have to stop
enrolment of those who need passports on June 23, 2021 and June 15, 2021 in all
Diplomatic missions, taking into account the delays in forwarding the files
received and their processing in the current system. According to Dominique
Baye, there will be no interruption in the passport production services before
these dates.
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