Zimbabwe to set up passport offices in UK, US and South Africa
Offices to be first opened in Johannesburg and Cape Town by March 2024
By Staff Reporter
Zimbabwe is set to open passport offices in South Africa, United Kingdom, USA and two other world countries hosting large numbers of the country’s diaspora population.
Registrar-General Henry Machiri told state media the first foreign passport office will be set up in South African cities of Johannesburg and Cape Town in March.
According to the 2022 census report, South Africa hosts nearly a million Zimbabweans who make the largest population of foreign based locals.
In the UK, Zimbabwe will set up passport offices in London.
“Renovations at the embassy’s offices in South Africa are complete and during the first quarter of this year, we are going to open passport centres at our embassies in Johannesburg and Cape Town,” Machiri said.
“South Africa is one of the countries with the largest population of Zimbabweans. Therefore, it is one of the countries that we are starting with.
“This year, we are planning on setting up passport centres in five countries and so far, we have South Africa, London in the UK and the US. We have not yet figured out where the other two centres will be located.
“We are starting with countries that have the highest number of Zimbabweans, while consultations will continue on the next two stations.”
Currently, Zimbabweans based abroad have their application papers processed by embassy staff in their respective host countries with relatives based at home later allowed to make the submission process and collection of the document in the country.
Machiri said application fees shall be the same as those charged if one is applying in Zimbabwe.
Government recently hiked application fees to US$150 and US$250 for ordinary and emergency passports, respectively.
He also said applicants’ details outside of Zimbabwe will now be sent through the respective offices set up abroad.
A passport remains one of the most sought after document in economically distressed Zimbabwe as hard-pressed locals look outside to better employment opportunities.
Government has heightened the issuance of the document with hefty fees paid turning to become one of the country’s cash cows.
