Haiti has set new fees for citizens applying for passports at Haitian diplomatic missions and consular posts abroad, while banning additional charges and expedited processing services.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs announced the new measures in a circular dated Oct. 1, with the changes taking effect Oct. 5.
Under the new fee structure, passport applications will cost US$150 for adults and US$125 for minors.
The ministry said any additional fees charged for passport applications are illegal and prohibited.
It also ordered Haitian diplomatic missions and consular posts to stop offering emergency and extreme-emergency passport services. All applications are to receive the same treatment, in keeping with what the ministry described as a commitment to serving taxpayers.
The ministry also instructed heads of Haitian diplomatic missions and consular posts to transfer any remaining funds from passport fees already collected to the Haitian Treasury.
The transfers are to be made by check payable to TRÉSOR PUBLIC-DGI, according to the circular.
Diplomatic and consular officials were instructed to take all necessary steps to ensure the measures are strictly implemented and to submit a complete report to the Foreign Ministry detailing how the new rules have been applied.
caribbeannationalweekly.com
