An e-passport or electronic passport is a passport featuring an electronic microprocessor chip and antenna that integrates the person’s biometric identity, such as picture, fingerprint, and eye-Irish. E-passport holders do not have to stand in line for visa checking for immigration. Rather they can pass immigration very quickly using electronic gates. Now e-passport is available without any hassle by applying online from anywhere in the country. Let’s get to know how to get an E-Passport in Bangladesh.
How to apply online for an e-passport
The application can be started by entering the website ‘www.epassport.gov.bd’ and clicking on the first tab on the left titled ‘Apply Online’.
In the beginning, the name of the local passport office will be shown as soon as the name of the police station near the district and present address is given. This is the place where both the e-passport application form has to be submitted and the e-passport can be obtained.
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During the application process, the applicant needs to provide some necessary information including name, birth date, present and permanent address, profession, nation ID number, data of previous passport (if applicable), parents name and occupation, contact number, emergency contact, etc. And, the system will also require bank details where the application fee has been submitted.
What is more, at the end of the registration process, the system will ask the applicants to choose a suitable date and time for appointment for giving respective biometrics from the designated days available in the Passport Office.
When the registration is done, the applicant needs to take a print out of his or her e-passport registration application form including the biometric date schedule.
How much does it cost to get an e-passport
There are three types of e-passport delivery systems. The applicants are expected to receive their e-passports after the stipulated working days since the date of submission of application.
1. Regular: 21 working days
2. Express: 10 working days
3. Super Express: 2 working days
E-passport of 48-page 5-year delivery fee
Regular: BDT 4,025
Express: BDT 6,325
Super Express: BDT 8,625
E-passport of 48-page 10-year delivery fee
Regular: BDT 5,750
Express: BDT 8,050
Super Express: BDT 10,350
E-passport of 64-page 5-year delivery fee
Regular: BDT 6,325
Express: BDT 8,625
Super Express: BDT 12,075
E-passport of 64-page 10-year delivery fee
Regular: BDT 8,050
Express: BDT 10,350
Super Express: BDT 13,800
Currently, the Bangladesh passport offices are not receiving online payments. So the applicants can submit the payment through any of the following banks – Sonali Bank, Trust Bank, One Bank, Dhaka Bank, Premier Bank, and Bank Asia.
The applicant’s full name on the e-passport bank deposit form must match with the applicant’s full name provided in his or her e-passport registration form. At this time a photocopy of the NID card and a summary of the application form will be required. The summary can be downloaded from the website after submitting the online application.
After depositing the e-passport issuing or re-issuing fee in person, the applicant needs to collect the bank deposit receipt.
What documents are needed to get an e-passport
The fully filled-in application form has to be downloaded and printed. Then one copy passport size photo, photocopy of NID card, and bank deposit receipt have to be attached.
Applicants below the age of 18 must provide a photocopy of the parent’s NID card along with the birth certificate of the applicant.
Usually, these are the key documents that the applicants need to submit to the passport office on the day scheduled for biometrics. The documents required for e-passport application can be submitted to the passport office without attestation.
In some cases, the applicants might need some additional documents like proof of address, birth certificate, copy of police report (if passport is lost), NOC certificate, Office ID card (for job holders), Last exam’s certificate (for students), etc.
However, during the biometric screening day, the applicant must take his or her original NID card, original previous passport (if applicable) for verification.
Source: United News of Bangladesh