Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananda Wijepala, clarified in Parliament yesterday (23) the process of obtaining a passport under the new online one-day service method. Applicants can now reserve a date online to apply for a passport and collect it on the same day. However, the earliest available reservation date for new bookings is currently June 27.
Responding to a question from Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Wijepala explained that online reservations typically result in a date five months later. For urgent cases, a special mechanism is in place to expedite the process. A committee within the Department of Immigration and Emigration handles urgent passport requests. Citizens with immediate needs can apply to this committee, which assesses and approves applications, ensuring same-day passport issuance.
Wijepala noted that the department issues around 2,900 passports daily, exceeding its planned capacity of 2,500 due to high demand. The daily breakdown includes 800 passports for online reservations, 650 urgent passports approved by the committee, 500 passports for overseas requests, 250 for pilgrimage applications (such as Dambadiwa and Hajj), 250 for previously submitted online applications, 200 issued through branch offices, and 250 processed under the normal service.
For non-urgent applicants, there is an option to book a date online, submit the application, and collect the passport a month later through the normal service. Wijepala stated that the volume of applications varies based on seasonal requirements and urgent needs, highlighting the department’s efforts to meet diverse demands.
