Ghana High Commission, UK announces Biometric Passport Issuance

The Ghana High Commission in the UK will commence the issuance of Biometric passports on 1st June 2016.

Concurrently, the online automated passport application service which has been in operation since 2011 will continue to support the biometric application system. The online passport application forms can be accessed from the Mission’s website www.ghanahighcommissionuk.com.

This latest addition is in line with the Mission’s objective to ensure that Ghanaian passport holders smoothly transit from the machine-readable passport to a biometric passport version. Eligible Ghanaians will from 1st June, 2016 be issued with a biometric passport upon application.

Processes

Applicants will first have to complete an application online as is the case currently and obtain an appointment online. An applicant must ensure that all information required on the online application form are appropriately and correctly provided before submission. Following this, an applicant would then have to present himself/herself personally at the consular section at 104 Highgate Hill, London, N6 5HE to be enrolled on the biometric system.

The enrolment would entail taking a passport photograph of the applicant as well as capturing his/her fingerprints.

As the enrolment process could cause initial delays, applicants who would have duly attended on their appointment at the passport section, are kindly requested to make room for a bit of waiting period.

Processing Time

Passport processing time remains unchanged. Processing time after enrolment is 20 working days. (Visit www.ghanahighcommissionuk.com) for more information.

The Mission will use text messaging and email services to notify applicants when their passport has been issued and is ready for collection. Applicants may then make an appointment through customer service to pick them up their processed passports from the passport section.

Fees and Payment

In line with new Government of Ghana approved fees and charges (Amendment, Instrument, 2016, L.I. 2228) the new Standard processing fee is £180 payable by credit/debit card, postal orders or bank drafts.

One-Year Extensions

All applicants whose passport renewal applications could not be processed due to the technical challenges we recently faced and were instead, granted a one-year validity extension may contact our customer service offices by either phone or email to schedule an appointment for biometric enrolment.

Notice

The One-year extension validation of expired passports will cease on 1st June 2016. All applicants who have to renew their expired passports must take immediate steps to process the renewal of their expired passports on the new Biometric system.

Postal Application

Postal applications have been suspended until further notice. Henceforth, all passport applicants will have to present themselves physically at the passport office to finalize their passport applications by going through the enrolment process.

Background information on the Biometric System

In addition to its main offices in London, the Ghana High Commission to the UK which commits to providing quality customer service to all its clients also operates additional consular offices in Scotland and Ireland. The Biometric system is the third phase of the modernization process which begun in 2009. The first phase introduced the capacity to download visa and passport application forms on the Mission’s website. This feature in turn enabled applicants to complete and upload their filled out applications to the Consular section for processing.

The second phase allowed applicants wishing to apply for Ghanaian passports to log onto the Mission’s website directly at www.ghanahighcommissionuk.com and select the required service. Applicants would then complete the passport application form online. Upon completion, applicants would automatically submit the application online. Hard, signed copies of the submitted forms, together with all the required supporting documents would then be posted to the Mission.

With this new Biometric system, however, applicants are required to submit completed application forms electronically as was the case before, as well as present themselves physically for their bio data to be captured. They are required to also submit any relevant documents that could support their application.

In anticipation of likely delays as we roll out the new system, the High Commission entreats prospective applicants to give themselves longer waiting time by applying far in advance of their prospective dates. Although the Ghana High Commission does not envisage challenges that could unduly prolong waiting periods, we still feel compelled to entreat our cherished applicants to exercise maximum restraint when they visit the passport section for the enrolment process.

The High Commission would like to make it abundantly clear to the general public that for now, the Biometric passport system is only available at the Highgate Hill Office of the High Commission. Ghana High Commission Honorary Consulates in Scotland and Ireland are not able to offer this service yet.

For more Information, please visit the Mission’s website

www.ghanahighcommissionuk.com

Source: Ghana High Commission, UK

27 May 2016

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