The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has announced the recall of diplomatic and service passports issued under the tenure of the previous administration.
The decision is based on a directive issued by the Office of the President—to recall diplomatic and service passports.
The directive affects specific categories of former officials and individuals no longer serving in official capacities for the state.
According to the announcement, the recall targets the following groups:
Former Ministers of State and their spouses.
Former Members of Parliament, irrespective of their political affiliation.
Former Members of the Council of State and their spouses.
Former or retired Justices of the Superior and Lower Courts.
Former Regional Ministers, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives, as well as heads of state institutions and board members.
Officials associated with the National Cathedral Project.
Former political ambassadors and their dependents.
Businesspersons, entrepreneurs, religious, and traditional leaders.
Former government functionaries.
The Ministry has clarified that the recall extends to all individuals holding official passports who are no longer in any official role, as stipulated under sections 6 and 7 of the Passports and Travel Certificates Act, 1967 (NLCD 155).
The recall is part of efforts to review the issuance criteria of diplomatic and service passports to safeguard their integrity and prevent potential misuse. Holders of these passports are required to return them to the Legal and Treaties Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Friday, 24th January 2025.
The Ministry has called on all affected individuals to cooperate in this exercise to uphold the standards and accountability associated with such documents.
This directive marks a significant step towards reforming passport issuance processes and ensuring alignment with current eligibility requirements.
