Governor-General issued first Belize e-passport

By Aaron Humes, Belmopan: Governor-General Dame Froyla Tzalam was today handed Belize’s first e-passport at official ceremonies to kick off the Electronic Passport and Issuance Control System (EPICS). She was of course the first to formally apply last week.

The new passports are themed on “national pride,” with depictions of Belizean landmarks and symbols.

But more importantly as described by Immigration Minister Senator Eamon Courtenay, they carry new security features, a total of 26, including a microchip to safeguard personal information and photographs.

The passport system was installed by Canadian Bank Note Company Limited and the passports are designed by a team from the Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations and National Institute of Culture and History (NICH).

As previously reported, the application system will move almost entirely online, requiring only an initial visit for picture taking and other information gathering and a return date to sign for the new passport.

Services will be offered at each of the district towns plus San Pedro, as well as at international missions in the United States, United Kingdom and Taiwan.

With more than 37 thousand persons applying for passports to date in 2022, more than double the figure from 2020, the new system arrives not a moment too soon and enhances Belize’s international stature and internal sense of security and identity, Courtenay said.

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