Egypt: Information on passports including appearance, requirements and procedures to obtain a passport, and whether passports can be obtained by a proxy (2010-2016).

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

According to sources, the current Egyptian passport was first issued in January 2008 and has a validity period of 7 years (EU 4 May 2016; Keesing n.d.). Sources further indicate that there is only one version of the Egyptian passport in circulation (EFRR 16 May 2016; Attorney 14 May 2016).

1. Appearance and Security Features

1.1 Appearance

According to sources, an Egyptian passport is a 52 page booklet measuring 125 x 88mm (EU 4 May 2016; Keesing n.d.). Keesing Reference Systems' document checker specifies that it contains the following features:

laminate: "front endpaper, clear holographic laminate, not sewn in, does not cover the whole page";

photo: "integrated, repeated in smaller size";

numbering: "8 digits, preceded by a letter, front endpaper, inkjet printing, page 1- back cover, laser perforated";

"bearer's signature on page 3" (Keesing n.d.).

According to the same source, the passport's biographical data page includes the following information fields: name, first names, date of birth, place of birth, nationality, gender, document number, date of validity, date of issue, issuing country and authority (ibid.). A sample of an Egyptian passport is attached to this Response.

1.2 Security Features

Keesing Reference Systems' document checker indicates that Egyptian passports contain the following security features: security thread with microtext from page 1 to page 52, "2D barcode, microprint, photo repetition, diffractive identification device (DID) [and] alphagram laminate" (Keesing n.d.).

According to the European Union's Public Register of Authentic Travel and Identity Documents Online (PRADO), the biodata page of Egyptian passports contains the following security features:

Laminate featuring holographic motifs relating to ancient Egypt (scarab beetles, Eye of Horus (Rah)) and present-day Egypt (national coat-of-arms, microprint in Arabic script, "ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT"); besides holographic features, the 3 pyramids of Giza can be seen, whose colours are reversed if the angle of view changes (DID)

...

OVD (Optically variable device)…: also in facial image field: vulture (goddess Nekhbet) and "ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT" (in Arabic and Latin script) in metallic pigment

...

UV feature...: national coat-of-arms and "EGYPT" in both Latin script and Arabic script [in red] (repeated). (EU 4 May 2016)

The same source states that the inner pages (from page 2 to page 52) of the Egyptian passport contain the following security features: watermark and offset printing (guilloches and fine line patterns) (ibid.).

2. Requirements and Procedures to Obtain a Passport from Within Egypt

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a lawyer who practices in Cairo described the requirements and procedures to obtain a passport from within Egypt as follows:

An applicant should [go to] the Ministry of Interior's department of passports' head office in Cairo or any of its offices located in most of the cities in Egypt. The applicant must be a holder of a valid ID as a source for all information needed. If the applicant is less than 16 years old, [an] original birth certificate must be submitted.

… the applicant must submit a military status certificate which indicates whether the applicant has fulfilled his military duty, postponed [it] or [has been] exempted. In case the applicant is a student, a registration letter from the school/university must also be submitted. All in addition to 4 close up photos of the applicant with white background. (Lawyer 16 May 2016)

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, an Egyptian Supreme Court attorney similarly indicated that the applicant must submit their application to one of the offices of the Immigration, Passports and Nationality Department [of the Ministry of Interior (Egypt n.d.b)] (Attorney 14 May 2016). The same source specified that the applicant must fill out an official form, bring four personal photos, a copy of his or her national identity card and pay a fee of 135 EGP [approximately C$20 ] (ibid.). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a representative of the Egyptian Foundation for Refugee Rights (EFRR), a non-governmental organization that "provides legal assistance to refugees and migrants who are in detention and who find themselves … victims of crime" (EFRR n.d.), stated that a fee of 150 EGP [C$22] must be paid by the applicant (EFRR 16 May 2016).

The EFRR representative further noted that the documents to be submitted with the passport application depend on the situation of the applicant (for example, whether or not the applicant is a student) (ibid.). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

2.1 Whether Passports Can be Obtained by a Proxy

According to the EFRR representative, passport applications must be submitted in person (EFRR 16 May 2016).

According to the lawyer,

the first time, the applicant must attend in person to apply for a passport. If renewing the old one or replacing a lost one, a [power of attorney] specifically empowering [an individual] to apply for and receive the passport from the passports department can be used. (Lawyer 16 May 2016)

The Supreme Court attorney stated that the applicant must go to an "Immigration, Passports and Nationality Department" office in person for their photo to be taken, but that a lawyer can present and receive documents on their behalf "by using a power of attorney" (Attorney 14 May 2016).

According to the website of the Egyptian Consulate General in London, a proxy individual can collect the applicant's passport on their behalf,

however, this person must carry an authorization letter from the applicant, as well as provide the ticket showing a tracking number which was given to the applicant. This person will also be required to identify himself/herself with an ID card / passport and sign in order to acknowledge receipt of the applicant's passport. (Egypt n.d.b)

3. Requirements and Procedures to Obtain a Passport from Abroad

According to the Supreme Court attorney, no passports can be issued from abroad (Attorney 14 May 2016). The lawyer stated that in order to apply for a passport abroad, "the applicant must attend to the Egyptian consulate" (Lawyer 16 May 2016).

According to the website of the Egyptian Consulate General in London (UK),

[s]ince 28th April 2010, the Egyptian Consulate General in London has been accepting passport applications for the issuance of machine-readable Egyptian passports.

Application forms are only obtainable from the Egyptian Consulate General, in person. Applications will be sent to the issuing authority in Egypt, and subsequently returned to the applicant, via the Consulate.

Processing time for the new passports can take up to 10 weeks.

…

Application requirements:

Birth certificate (showing national ID number for children under 16 years of age/women over 60 years of age)

ID card (for those over 16 years of age)

Marriage certificate

Military service status if applicable

Three passport sized photographs. (Egypt n.d.a)

According to the same source, a passport can be collected at the consulate on the applicant's behalf (ibid. n.d.b). However, the source specifies that,

this person must carry an authorization letter from the applicant, as well as provide the ticket showing a tracking number which was given to the applicant. This person will also be required to identify himself/herself with an ID card / passport and sign in order to acknowledge receipt of the applicant's passport. (ibid.)

Information on the ability to apply for an Egyptian passport through other embassies or consulates, including in Canada, could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Attorney, the Supreme Court of Egypt, Cairo. 14 May 2016. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Egypt. N.d.a. Consulate General in the United Kingdom. "Issuing New Machine-Readable Egyptian Passports." [Accessed 6 May 2016]

_____. N.d.b. Consulate General in the United Kingdom. "Frequently Asked Questions." [Accessed 20 May 2016]

Egyptian Foundation for Refugee Rights (EFRR). 16 May 2016. Correspondence from a representative to the Research Directorate.

_____. N.d. "About EFRR." [Accessed 17 May 2016]

European Union (EU). 4 May 2016. Public Register of Authentic Travel and Identity Documents Online (PRADO). "Document: EGY-AO-01001." [Accessed 6 May 2016]

Keesing Reference Systems. N.d. "Egypt - National Passport (P4)." [Accessed 6 May 2016]

Lawyer, Cairo. 16 May 2016. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Egypt - Embassy in Ottawa, Embassy in Washington DC.

Internet sites, including: ecoi.net; Egypt - Consulate General in Montreal, Consulate General in the United Kingdom, Embassy in Ottawa, Embassy in Washington DC; United Nations - Refworld; United States - Embassy in Cairo.

Attachment

Keesing Reference Systems. N.d. "Egypt - National Passport (P4)." [Accessed 6 May 2016]