The Department of Immigration is moving towards decentralising the printing and issuance of passports in Nadi and Labasa.

Assistant director Immigration Litia Saumaka said this while making submissions for the Ministry of Defence, National Security and Immigration Annual Report 2014. It was before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence yesterday.

Ms Saumaka said the capital project was approved in their budget allocation this year.

She said all passport applications from the North, West, Rotuma and Levuka were currently being printed at their office in Suva.

Ms Saumaka said they were trying their best to start the printing and the issuance of passports in Nadi and Labasa by February next year.

Committee chairperson Netani Rika also asked the department what documents they issued in instances of shortage of passports.

Ms Saumaka said they had in stock emergency passports, which were issued in times of shortages.

These emergency passports, she said, was valid for one year compared to 10 years for the standard passports.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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