By Maryam Ibrahim
Government has rolled out a new permanent passport processing and issuance system aimed at easing access to travel documents for Malawians both locally and abroad.
National Immigration Spokesperson, Pasqually Zulu, confirmed the development in an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) Monday, saying the service, which started with VIP applications in the Capital City, will soon be extended to all districts.
The system, developed in partnership with Madras Security Printers, will allow citizens to apply for passports online, pay through mobile money or bank deposits, and collect their passports at designated centres across the country.
“People will just register at immigration, pay through banks or mobile money, and apply online. This will save people from spending a lot of money and time travelling long distances to central offices. We have conducted thorough security checks to protect the system from cyber threats,” said Zulu.
Zulu explained that the new service will also help address congestion at immigration offices, with applicants no longer having to wait in long queues for hours.
The news comes few days after the Minister of Homeland Security, Peter Izekiel Ching’oma, issued a statement announcing resumption of passport processing and issuance of the same, following engagement of the new service provider, Madras Security Printers.
Under the new arrangement, passport application services will be decentralised from the main centres in Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mzuzu and Mangochi to additional districts including Salima, Karonga, Mzimba, Kasungu and Chikwawa. The decentralised approach is expected to cut waiting times and bring services closer to the people.
The permanent system introduces International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)-compliant e-passports embedded with encrypted chips and enhanced security features.
It also offers instant SMS notifications when passports are ready for collection, online appointment booking, improved printing capacity, and dedicated passport data-capture centres.
Ching’oma described the rollout as a milestone in improving public service delivery.
“This system will enable citizens to travel with confidence while bringing passport services closer to the people,” said Ching’oma, in his statement.
The Ministry has since assured the public that all pending applications will be cleared within 21 days, while new applications will be processed with speed and efficiency.
A specimen of the new passport will also be sent to all foreign missions to facilitate smooth clearance for Malawians travelling abroad.
Madras Security Printers, an internationally recognised security printing company, is already producing secure travel documents for countries such as Uruguay, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Nepal and Djibouti, according to available information.
The company is expected to produce over 2,000 passports daily for Malawi once the system reaches full capacity.
With the launch of the permanent e-passport service, Malawi joins a growing number of countries modernising travel documentation systems to boost security, reduce costs, and make services more accessible to citizens.
