The Department of Immigration and Emigration has announced that the validity period of passports expiring after 01 July will not be extended by a year, as previously announced.
According to Daily FT, Immigration and Emigration Controller General Harsha Ilukpitiya confirmed that the validity of expired passports cannot be extended by a year.
He further said that the decision has been made after seeking clarification from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in this regard.
“On the possibility of extending the validity of already expired or nearly expired passports, the ICAO said such extensions could pose problems for individuals at border entry points due to the limited advancement of the Sri Lankan passport,” Harsha Ilukpitiya said.
He further pointed out that the ICAO had permitted such extensions only during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that such extensions are no longer available.
The Immigration and Emigration Controller General gave a clarification, after it was recently reported that the validity period of passports expiring after 01 July will be extended by a year.
At the time it was reported that the measures were being taken in view of the e-passport system which is to come into effect in November this year.
It was also reported that specifically if a passport’s 10-year validity period has expired, an additional one-year grace period will be granted until the e-passport is issued.
However, Immigration and Emigration Controller General Harsha Ilukpitiya has shot down the reports, claiming that such passport extensions or grace periods will not be provided.
He added that the Immigration and Emigration Department will issue the usual passports for those expired. (Newswire)