The Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration has launched a new travel document Laisser passé which is electronic.
The New travel document is in form of a pass port booklet which expires in two years replacing the hard large paper Laisser passé which expired in one year.
Presided over by Director General of Immigration and Emigration Anaclet Kalibata said that this will help improve quality services to nationals especially in the business sector and students.
While launching the new Machine Readable Laisser Passé, Kalibata said that people were spending lots of time at the borders but the new document would to avoid the long processes.
“This cannot be forged as foreigners used to do for the previous one to enter in the country,” Kalibata added.
Talking to Ange Sebatege , the public relations officer of Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration said that the previous document could be easily damaged.
“People used to spend much time on borders and a number of countries applicable to this Laisser passé increased,” she added.
She said: “people used to spend much money on the road looking for the previous document, but it will be delivered to the district only. Once you ask it to the district, it is expected that, you will get it within two days. The document is electronically made and is in form of a booklet is easy to keep. Another difference is that duration has changed to two years instead of being one.”
With regard to different prices between adult and children, Sebatege said that it was done in order to facilitate people with children who do not travel much as the adults.
Furthermore, the price for the previous was Rwf 3,000 but the new one costs Rwf 10,000 for adults and Rwf 5,000 for children.
He also declared that 9 machines were dispatched all over the country to facilitate people to easily access the document.
District like Musanze, Rusizi, Huye, Rwamagana and Rubavu have already got those printing machines.
The first people to receive the document agree that it is a good document for it is easy to keep and will solve problems they faced at borders due to electronic checking device.
The countries in which this document is likely to be used are all East African countries, South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo.
ENDS
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