Jeddah: Indian expatriates residing in Saudi Arabia may face difficulties after the implementation of Ministry of External Affairs’ decision to not print the last page of the passport.
According to the report published in Khaleej Times, with the implementation of this decision, expatriates may face difficulties while applying for a visa for their parents, spouse and children. Flying bodies of deceased expats may be delayed.
Residential and personal details on the passport were important as in case of death, using these details, families are contacted.
It is also reported that after the implementation of the new decision of MEA, there will be a delay in tracing the families of expatriates.
Talking on the issue, a social worker from Qassim region Noushad Pothincode told that if any expat slips into a coma, no details of his/her family can be obtained from his/her passport.
Currently, Indian passport is the only official document for expats which contains address details. Other documents including Aadhar card and voter’s ID card are not valid, Khaleej Times reported.
It may be mentioned that according to MEA statement, the recommendations of a three-member panel, comprising officials from the External Affairs Ministry and the Women and Child Development Ministry, were accepted and it was decided that the last page of passports and other travel documents issued under the Passports Act, 1967, and Passport Rules, 1980, “would no longer be printed”
“The existing passports would continue to remain valid till the date of expiry printed in the passport booklet.”, Ministry added.