Specimens of the Antigua and Barbuda Machine Readable Passports View photo »

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has completed preparations for the issuing of Machine Readable Passports in January 2006.

The passports which meet International Civil Aviation Organisation ICAO regulations will be issued in three colours and categories: Regular Passport - blue in colour; Official Passport - green in colour; Diplomatic Passport - red in colour. The passports bear the CARICOM logo, which identifies Antigua and Barbuda as a member state of the regional grouping and the Coat of Arms of Antigua and Barbuda which will be on the cover of the document.

The Passport Division within the Office of the Prime Minister outlined that the last date for accepting the old passport application forms will be December 30. The new application forms will be available for distribution from January 3, 2006 with the first set of machine readable passports to be issued from January 16.

The Passport Division pointed out those persons holding valid passports will be allowed to continue to do so until a phased out period is announced.

The Division also announced the fees structure for the Machine Readable Passports. The fees payable in stamps are as follows:

• Passports for persons 16 years and over (32 pages) EC $100
• Passports for persons 16 years and over (64 pages) EC $175
• Passports for persons under 16 years (32 pages) EC $50

Lost/Damage/Stolen Passports

• Passports for persons 16 years and over (32 pages) EC $200
• Passports for persons 16 years and over (64 pages) EC $350
• Passports for persons under 16 years (32 pages) EC $100

Emergency Issue of Passports (5 workings days or less)

• Passports for persons 16 years and over (32 pages) EC $200
• Passports for persons 16 years and over (64 pages) EC $300
• Passports for persons under 16 years (32 pages) EC $200

The new standard in the issuing of passports (machine readable) is essential for meeting ICAO global objectives, to minimize delays in border-crossing formalities and to safeguard international civil aviation operation against acts of unlawful interference.

Machine Readable Passports are readily recognized by officials at security, immigration and customs check points and by embassies and consulates worldwide, and thus make it easier for a person to obtain visas for travel and to be cleared at airports.