The Teachers Service Commission, TSC, has urged teachers to acquire the new E-Passport ahead of the 1st September, 2019, deadline; when the current machine readable passports become obsolete. Via a circular dated 24th April, 2019, the TSC boss Dr Nancy Macharia advises teachers wishing to travel overseas to process the new E-passports to avoid future inconveniences.
Dr Macharia says all public officers, including teachers, wishing to travel internationally must have the new E-passports as directed by the head of the Public Service.
“On 26th September 2018, the Head of Public Service issued a circular requiring all public sector employees, who include teachers, to migrate from the current machine-readable passports to the e-passports,” says Dr Macharia.
She states, further, that ‘the machine-readable passports would cease to be valid for international travel with effect from 1st September, 2019 and that travel clearance for public servants would not be granted to those who will not have acquired the e-passport.’
According to the Immigration department of Kenya, The new ePassports look good, with advanced security features that meet international standards. To acquire the new E-passports one needs: Original National Identity Card (ID) & its copy, Original Birth certificate & a copy and a Recommender ID copy. Other requirements are: Online filled forms, 3 Invoices, 3 passport size photos and Parents’ ID copies.
In the latest circular, the TSC boss observes that those who have not processed the E-passports should move with speed and acquire them before it is too late.
“Due to the limited validity period of the machine-readable passports and in line with the September 26th 2018 circular, travel clearance will not be issued to public officers who do not hold the e-passport. It will also not be possible for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate visa issuance for holders of the machine-readable passports,” Dr Macharia warns.
