Over 700 Diplomatic and Service Passports Cancelled by Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has announced the cancellation of all unreturned Diplomatic and Service Passports as part of a nationwide recall effort.

This follows months of public notices and reminders that began on January 15 and continued on March 10, 2025.

In a statement released on Tuesday, May 6, the Ministry confirmed that the directive takes immediate effect. Despite earlier deadlines, hundreds of former passport holders failed to comply with the recall, prompting the government to officially cancel the remaining documents and place them on a stop-list.

According to the Ministry, 407 Diplomatic Passport holders and 403 Service Passport holders returned their documents before the deadline. However, 341 Diplomatic and 360 Service Passports remain unaccounted for and are now considered void.

The Ministry warned that any attempt to use these invalidated passports will result in their confiscation at any port of entry or departure.

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The cancellation affects a wide range of individuals, including:

• Former Ministers and their spouses

• Former Members of Parliament

• Former Council of State Members and their spouses

• Retired Justices of the Superior and Lower Courts

• Former Regional Ministers and District Chief Executives

• Former Board Members and Officers of State Institutions

• Individuals linked to the National Cathedral Project

• Former Non-Career Ambassadors and their dependents

• Religious and traditional leaders

• Businessmen, entrepreneurs, and

• Any other person not currently serving in an official government capacity

The Ministry emphasized that under Sections 6 and 7 of the Passports and Travel Certificates Act, 1967 (NLCD 155), only individuals actively serving in state positions are eligible to possess Diplomatic or Service Passports.

This move, according to officials, is aimed at tightening oversight and preventing the misuse of official travel privileges by individuals no longer representing the state in an official capacity.