TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has set a deadline of November 24, 2015, for globally phasing out all non-Machine Readable Passports (MRPs). From November 25, 2015, onwards, foreign governments may deny visa or entry to any person traveling with a non-MRP passport.
All handwritten passports with pasted photos earlier issued by Government of India are considered non-MRP passports. All 20 year validity passports will also fall in this category. The government started issuing MRP passports since 2001. All new Indian passports are ICAO complaint MRP passports.
Indian citizens residing in India and abroad and holding handwritten passports as well as 20-year passports with validity beyond the November 24, 2015, should, therefore apply for re-issue of passports and obtain MRP passports well before the deadline in order to avoid any inconvenience in obtaining foreign visa or immigration problem.
