Watchdog ‘shocked’ by gov’t increment of passport fee, urges lawmakers, presidency to block move

JUBA – South Sudan’s civil society watchdog, Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), has issued a statement decrying the decision by the government to increase passport issuance fees by at least 1475 percent and called on the presidency and parliament to block the move.

The director-general of Civil Registry, Nationality, Passport and Immigration Gen. Cyer Mayar said passport fee has been increased from SSP4,500 to SSP66,380, a 1475 percent increase, while the costs for issuing nationality and identity certificates will now stand at SSP3,319.

“This notice serves to inform that the new financial Act 2022 to 2023 has increased the charges, the increment charges are going to be implemented with effect from November 29, as directed by the Director General for Civil Registry, Nationality, Passport and Immigration,” he said.

The senior police officer further revealed that those replacing a lost nationality certificate will have to pay SSP6,638. He added that a business and diplomatic passport will cost SSP165,950 and 132,750, respectively.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director Edmund Yakani, CEPO decried the government decision arguing that most citizens do not have the source of funds and the latest increment would make it difficult for them to obtain these documents.

“CEPO is absolutely shocked with the sharp increases of our national passport fee with over 1500 percent. This increase is disturbing and it is too much for the majority of the citizens who are lacking sources to sound access to income,” CEPO said.

“The presidency should immediately intervene on this sharp increment of the passport fees. It is too much for the citizens. Additionally, our national law makers should question the bases of this passport fee increment,” the statement added.

Yakani said the latest passport fee “is too high in the region and it should not be allowed to be approved by our law makers. Yes, maybe increase of the passport fee is needed but not such too high for the common citizen. Obtaining national identity legal documents should not be commercialized by the government for the citizens.”

“Finally, CEPO hope that president and national Lawmakers will immediately intervene and help the citizens from this abnormal increase of our passport fee,” he added.