By using technology, Her Majesty’s Passport Office in the UK is now making the processing of British Overseas Territory (BOTC) citizens’ passports more efficient and speedy.

The Cayman Islands’ Ministry of Home Affairs, the Immigration Department and the Cayman Islands Passport Office welcome these enhancements, which come into effect this Thursday, 14 April 2016.

From this date, Cayman Islands BOTC passport applications will be sent by electronic submission from Grand Cayman’s Passport and Corporate Services.

The change is expected to reduce the processing time by five days.

Applications will still be submitted to the local passport office. Authorisations and approvals will also remain the responsibility of the local passport office. Complete applications are forwarded to the UK through a new Application Processing Interface (API) –a passport-issuing system that sends application data over an encrypted, accredited and secure system.

The passport applications are received almost immediately at the UK’s HM Passport Office. Processing time will be reduced to around four weeks from when applications are submitted to the UK by the local passport office.

Applicants will be notified by the local passport office when documents are ready for collection.

In urgent situations where a passport is needed in less than four weeks, if the applicant meets the criteria (e.g. compassionate grounds or urgent government business), the local passport office will advise on the process.

Cayman Islands residents with questions, including on passport print centralisation, should contact the Passport Office on 949 8344.

This change by the UK’s HM Passport Office benefits BOTCs in the region: Cayman Islands, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Montserrat. It also includes St. Helena, and Bermuda comes online next month.

IMAGE: en.wikipedia.org