Validity of manually-written or non-machine readable passports
In the light of recent requests by many of our compatriots on the above, which has been occasioned by the change to Biometric Passports; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra has provided the attached Statement as clarification on the validity of manually written or non-machine readable passports.
PRESS STATEMENT BY THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND REGIONAL INTEGRATION ON THE VALIDITY OF MANUALLY WRITTEN OR NON-MACHINE READABLE PASSPORTS
The Ministry’s attention has been drawn to growing anxiety among our compatriots holding manually written or non-machine readable passports which are to be phased out following the introduction of the Biometric Passports
The Ministry wishes to assure the general public that there is no cause for alarm as these passports can still be used for international travel in line with ICAO MANDATORY STANDARDS AND RECOMMENDED PRACTICES.
While the phase out exercise is proceeding, the holders of manually written or non-machine readable passports can use them for international travel until 24th November, 2015 if they have not expired.
In the light of this clarification the Ministry hopes the fears of the travelling public will be allayed and wishes to appeal to all concerned to exercise patience and not to rush to change their manually written or their non-machine readable passports immediately if they have not expired.
13th April, 2010, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Accra-Ghana
