End of non-machine readable passports: No UAE decision

The UAE has not yet taken a decision on implementing a decision by the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) for all countries to expire non-machine readable passports (NMRP), Dubai’s civil aviation chief was quoted on Tuesday as saying.

“We have contacted the concerned authorities in the UAE regarding the ICAO Nov 24 deadline and we are now awaiting a word from them in this respect,” said Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of the General Civil Aviation Authority of the UAE.

He told the Arabic language daily 'Emarat Al Youm' that the ICAO decision is non-binding but it allows any country to reject NMPRs after the November 24 deadline.

“There have been no instructions by civil aviation authorities in the UAE to stop accepting these types of passports,” he said.

The Montreal-based ICAO, which groups most countries, issued a reminder last week to member states to ensure that all of their NMRPs expire.

In March 2005, the ICAO adopted two new Annex Standards concerning the universal issuance of MRPs. The first Standard obliged all ICAO Member States to begin issuing only new MRPs as of 1 April 2010, while the second Standard requires that all non-MRPs expire by 24 November 2015.

ICAO, a specialised UN agency, said the 24 November 2015 deadline applies to all types of passports, including Ordinary, Diplomatic, and Service documents.

However, it does not apply to temporary travel documents designed for emergency situations and which normally feature a rather brief and temporary validity period, or to travel documents issued to refugees and stateless persons.

Several states have advised ICAO that they will have some non-MRPs in circulation for a period of time after the 24 November deadline.

ICAO, meanwhile, has been conducting extensive regional outreach activities to raise and sustain awareness on the deadlines, and has been providing assistance and capacity-building as appropriate to assist States in need.
 

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