Guinea: Passports and identity cards, including format; requirements and process for obtaining a passport and an identity card, both in the country and abroad; shortage of passports and identity cards (2014-September 2017)

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Guinean Passport

According to sources, Guinea started issuing a new biometric passport in 2014 (EU 7 May 2017; Guinéenews 21 Apr. 2017). An article from Guinéenews, a Guinean news magazine whose [translation] "objective is to provide reliable and verifiable information on the Republic of Guinea" (ibid. n.d.), reports that the new biometric passport [translation] "renders all non-biometric passports obsolete" (ibid. 21 Apr. 2017). In August 2017, a press release from a counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Guinea in Ottawa, published on Kaloumpresse, a Guinean news website, invites Guineans in Canada to obtain [translation] "a biometric passport that is accepted as valid in Guinea" and indicates that "[previous passports] will no longer be valid following the current enrolment campaign for the new biometric passport" that started on 8 August 2017 and that was to be carried out for one month (Kaloumpresse 14 Aug. 2017).

According to the Public Register of Authentic travel and identity Documents Online (PRADO) of the European Union (EU), the passport that is currently valid in Guinea was first issued on 14 May 2014 and is valid for five years (EU 7 May 2017). It is a single green booklet containing 32 pages and bearing the inscription [translation] "Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) [Communauté économique des États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (CEDEAO)]" (ibid.). A detailed description of the passport, including physical and security features, as it appears on the PRADO website, is attached to this Response (Attachment 1).

According to sources, the diplomatic passport is red (Edison TD n.d.a; Keesing Reference Systems n.d.a) and the service passport is blue (ibid. n.d.b; Edison TD n.d.b). According to Keesing Reference Systems' Documentchecker website, the three ECOWAS passports were first issued on 24 February 2014, and the cover includes a contactless chip that conforms to the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (Keesing Reference Systems n.d.a, n.d.b, n.d.c). A detailed description of the diplomatic and service passports, including physical and security features, as it appears on the Keesing Reference Systems' Documentchecker website, is attached to this Response (Attachments 2 and 3).

1.1 Requirements and Process for Obtaining a Passport in Guinea

Information on the requirements and process for obtaining a passport in Guinea was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. According to sources, Guineans must go to the Air and Border Police Directorate (Direction de la police de l'air et des frontières) to apply for a passport (APA 16 May 2014; La Dépêche d'Abidjan 16 May 2014). Sources report that the fee for a biometric passport in Guinea is 500,000 Guinean francs (GNF) [approximately C$69] (Mediaguinee 7 May 2016; APA 16 May 2014; La Dépêche d'Abidjan 16 May 2014). According to sources, applicants have to pay this fee at a bank, and the applicant is then given a receipt that he or she must submit before the passport is issued (ibid.; APA 16 May 2014).

1.2 Requirements and Process for Obtaining a Passport Abroad

According to sources, since 2014, applications for biometric passports have to be made in person, which makes it difficult for Guineans in other countries whose passports have expired to obtain one (Guineematin.com 6 Apr. 2016; Guinéenews 21 Apr. 2017). According to Guinéenews, the Guinean ministries of Public Safety, Foreign Affairs, and the Economy and Finance decided to organize enrolment missions abroad, notably in Europe and North America, [translation] "to enable the Guinean diaspora to obtain [these] passports" (ibid. 21 Apr. 2017). In a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Guineans abroad, dated 6 April 2017 and published by the Embassy of Guinea in Canada, Guinea's Minister of State refers to [translation] "recent operations to roll out and issue biometric passports conducted in France, Belgium, Spain, Germany and Italy" (Guinea 28 July 2017).

According to sources, the following documents are required to obtain a biometric passport in Germany, Belgium, Canada, Spain, France and the United Kingdom:

• a copy of a birth certificate extract [or judgment in lieu of a birth certificate and its transcription (Guinea n.d.)];
• a copy of the consular card;
• two identity photographs with a white background;
• a form to be completed, which is to be supplied by the enrolment team (Guinée 360 12 Apr. 2016; Guinea n.d.).

According to sources, the fee is C$200 in Canada (ibid.), 140 euros [approximately C$206] in the Euro zone, and 110 pounds sterling [approximately C$184] in the United Kingdom (Guinea 360 12 Apr. 2016). Sources indicate that enrolment interviews will be conducted in Guinea's national languages (Guinea 14 June 2016).

1.3 Fraud and Corruption

An article published on 13 September 2017 on Guinéenews indicates the following:

[translation]

Guinea is the only country where a foreigner can obtain all the documents (birth extract, national identity card, passport …) he or she needs in the biggest scam. All administrative documents are available to foreigners. All you need is a bit of money. (Guinéenews 13 Sept. 2017)

According to an article published by the BBC on the arrest of two police officers accused of passport trafficking, the Guinean capital is a [translation] "main hub" for the passport trade, with foreigners using the passports to travel to Morocco and then to Europe (BBC 5 July 2017). In addition, [translation] "[a]ccording to statistics provided to the BBC by police officers, between 2015 and 2017, 20 to 30% of Guinean biometric passports were sold to non-Guinean Africans who left Conakry and went to Morocco" (ibid.). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Guinea's Minister of State refers to the following problems that arose during operations to roll out and issue biometric passports in Guinean embassies in Europe:

[translation]

1. Changes in identity or date and place of birth;
2. False reports of loss or theft;
3. Fictitious cases of damage (Guinea 28 July 2017).

According to the same source, the Minister notes that [translation] "all changes to the biometric passport (first and last name, date and place of birth)" are prohibited, lost or stolen passports must be reported in an official manner, and any biometric passport that is declared damaged must be returned (ibid.).

1.4 Shortage of Passports in Guinea

According to the Agence de presse africaine (APA), a news portal from Dakar, Guinea faced a passport shortage (APA 16 May 2014). The same source also indicates that certain categories of people were able to obtain a passport during the shortage:

• sick people who needed to be evacuated (ibid. 21 June 2013);
• recipients of government scholarships (ibid. 16 May 2014);
• [translation] "select civil servants" (ibid. 16 May 2014);
• students (ibid. 16 May 2014);
• Hajj pilgrimage candidates (ibid. 10 Aug. 2013).

During the shortage, a passport [translation] "could be bought for as much as 150,000 CFA francs [approximately C$337]" (ibid. 16 May 2014). Another article reports that [translation] "any … citizen who wants an ordinary passport would have to pay ten times the official fee or have a well-placed friend or relative in government" (ibid. 21 June 2013). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

2. National Identity Card

For information on the Guinean national identity card, please consult Response to Information Request GIN105004 from November 2014.

According to sources, Guinea's government started issuing national identity cards again in April 2016 (Guinéenews 16 Aug. 2017; Jeune Afrique 21 Apr. 2016). Some sources report that the government had stopped issuing them in December 2014 (ibid.; Guineematin.com 6 Apr. 2016). Sources indicate that this resumption involves a transitional period of returning to an ordinary identity card (Guinée 360 21 Apr. 2016; Jeune Afrique 21 Apr. 2016; Guineematin.com 25 Mar. 2016). According to the news site Guineematin.com,

[translation]

[t]he Cabinet attaché for the DGPN [National Police Directorate (Direction générale de la police nationale)] said that "the migration process for the biometric identity cards is long and time-consuming, so the Ministry of Security and Civil Protection (ministère de la Sécurité et de la Protection Civile, MSPC), through the DGPN, has decided to continue with the ordinary cards. (ibid.)

The weekly Jeune Afrique reports the following:

[translation]

According to a Ministry of Security source, the production process for biometric national identity cards has not been completed for two reasons: the lack of electronic data on citizens, and the length of time for talks to lower the price (100,000 Guinean francs). (Jeune Afrique 21 Apr. 2016)

The same source explains that [translation] "identity cards are being issued again as a transitional solution until the government of Guinea is able to issue biometric identity cards, which are considered to be more secure" (ibid.).

2.1 Requirements and Process for Obtaining a National Identity Card

Some media reports indicate that to obtain a national identity card in Guinea, the applicant must go to the police station in their region, pay a fee of 15,000 GNF [approximately C$2] and provide the following documents: a birth certificate extract, four recent photographs, a residence certificate and, if there is any doubt about the applicant's nationality, a nationality certificate (Guinéenews 16 Aug. 2017; Jeune Afrique 21 Apr. 2016; Guinée 360 21 Apr. 2016). Sources add that the applicant must appear in person and undergo an interview, and must also provide a fiscal stamp in the amount of 5,000 GNF (ibid.; Guinée 360 21 Apr. 2016).

2.2 Fraud and Corruption

Guinean media articles mention problems encountered by people who have applied for a national identity card in Guinea (Guineematin.com 2 Mar. 2017; Aminata.com 19 Apr. 2017). According to a Guineematin.com correspondent based in Kindia, Guineans who try to obtain a national identity card in that city complain of corruption among police commissioners, unexplained delays, and an exorbitant fee of up to 150,000 GNF [approximately C$20] (Guineematin.com 2 Mar. 2017). Sources indicate that in the city of Labé, national identity cards are no longer being issued because of production problems (Aminata.com 19 Apr. 2017; Guineematin.com 5 July 2017) and, according to some citizens, the authorities may require amounts of up to 550,000 GNF [approximately C$76] (ibid.).

In an August 2017 article, the daily Guinéenews says that it sent a reporting team to the city of N'Zérékoré to look into corruption in issuing the national identity card (Guinéenews 16 Aug. 2017). The article reports that the team met several people who said that they obtained their national identity card [translation] "without providing any documents whatsoever," and reports the following:

[translation]

[A]t the central police station in N'zérékoré, none of these measures was followed. The national identity card costs 50,000 Guinean francs, and the applicant is not required to provide the documents listed above. The applicant simply has to pay the "deposit" and the officers do the rest (ibid.).

According to Guinéenews, one of its reporters was able to obtain a national identity card using a false identity, without providing any documents, after paying 50,000 GNF (ibid.). Corroborating information 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

Aminata.com. 19 April 2017. Alpha Oumar Diallo. "Guinée : la production des cartes d'identité nationale grippée." [Accessed 13 Sept. 2017]

Agence de presse africaine (APA). 16 May 2014. "Guinée : les nouveaux passeports biométriques délivrés lundi." Factiva [Accessed 13 Sept. 2017]

Agence de presse africaine (APA). 10 August 2013. "Pénurie de passeports en Guinée : dispositions 'particulières' en faveur des candidats au Hadj." [Accessed 14 Sept. 2017]

Agence de presse africaine (APA). 21 June 2013. "Vers la fin de la pénurie de passeports ordinaires en Guinée (police)." (Factiva) [Accessed 14 Sept. 2017]

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 5 July 2017. "Guinée : deux officiers en justice pour vente frauduleuse de passeports." [Accessed 13 Sept. 2017]

La Dépêche d'Abidjan. 16 May 2014. Aliou Diallo. "Passeports biométriques : la Guinée s'apprête à délivrer le premier lot." [Accessed 19 Sept. 2017]

Electronic Document Information System on Network (Edison TD). N.d.a. "Guinea - Diplomatic Passport - 004 E-passport, Red Cover." [Accessed 13 Sept. 2017]

Electronic Document Information System on Network (Edison TD). N.d.b. "Guinea - Service Passport - 002 - E-passport, Blue Cover." [Accessed 26 Sept. 2017]

European Union (EU). 7 May 2017. Public Register of Authentic travel and identity Documents Online (PRADO). "GIN-AO-02001." [Accessed 13 Sept. 2017]

Guinea. 28 July 2017. Embassy of Guinea in Canada. "Avis." [Accessed 14 Sept. 2017]

Guinea. 14 June 2016. Embassy of Guinea in Berlin. "Délivrance des passeports biométriques aux guinéens de l'étranger : la délégation d'enrôlement à Berlin le mercredi 22 juin 2016." [Accessed 14 Sept. 2017]

Guinea. N.d. Embassy of Guinea in Canada. "Passeport." [Accessed 19 Sept. 2017]

Guinée 360. 21 April 2016. "Guinée : le gouvernement relance la délivrance des cartes d'identité à 15.000 GNF." [Accessed 19 Sept. 2017]

Guinée 360. 12 April 2016. "Guinée : passeport biométrique, enfin la possibilité de se procurer le précieux document offerte aux guinéens d'Europe et d'Amérique du Nord." [Accessed 14 Sept. 2017]

Guineematin.com. 5 July 2017. Kadiatou Diallo. "Rupture des cartes d'identité nationale à Labé : la société Sabari Technologie indexée!" [Accessed 15 Sept. 2017]

Guineematin.com. 2 March 2017. Sékou Komoyah Kaba. "Corruption dans la confection des cartes d'identité : des citoyens de Kindia se plaignent." [Accessed 14 Sept. 2017]

Guineematin.com. 6 April 2016. Saidou Hady Diallo. "Droit à l'identité : ABLOGUI fait le point sur sa campagne numérique." [Accessed 15 Sept. 2017]

Guineematin.com. 25 March 2016. "Cartes d'identité : elles seront disponibles en fin mars dans les commissariats de police." [Accessed 14 Sept. 2017]

Guinéenews. 13 September 2017. Nassiou Sow. "Officiels guinéens désormais privés de visa américain : indigné, Dr Oussou accuse la gouvernance Alpha." [Accessed 15 Sept. 2017]

Guinéenews. 16 August 2017. "Exclusif - Guinée : Magouille et corruption de la police dans la confection de la carte d'identité à N'Zérékoré (Enquête)." [Accessed 13 Sept. 2017]

Guinéenews. 21 April 2017. Alhassane Bah. "Passeports biométriques : le calvaire des Guinéens de l'étranger sous l'inertie du gouvernement." [Accessed 19 Sept. 2017]

Guinéenews. N.d. "À propos de." [Accessed 14 Sept. 2017]

Jeune Afrique. 21 April 2016. Diawo Barry. "Guinée : les autorités annoncent la reprise de la confection des cartes nationales d'identité." [Accessed 13 Sept. 2017]

Kaloumpresse. 14 August 2017. "Passeport biométrique : l'ambassade de Guinée au Canada invite les guinéens à vite se faire enrôler." [Accessed 13 Sept. 2017]

Keesing Reference Systems. N.d.a. Documentchecker. "Guinea - Diplomatic Passport." [Accessed 19 Sept. 2017]

Keesing Reference Systems. N.d.b. Documentchecker. "Guinea - Service Passport." [Accessed 13 Sept. 2017]

Keesing Reference Systems N.d.c. Documentchecker. "Guinea - National Passport." [Accessed 13 Sept. 2017]

Mediaguinee. 7 May 2016. Ibrahima Cissé. "Enrôlement pour passeport biométrique en France : un Guinéen parle de scandale et crie au calvaire...." [Accessed 15 Sept. 2017]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Association des juriste en action pour le droit; Guinea - embassy in Canada, consulate in Montreal, consulate in Toronto, consulate in Alberta, consulate in British Columbia; lawyers in Guinea.

Internet sites, including: ecoi.net; Guinea - embassy in Washington, DC, embassy in Belgium, consulate in Toronto, official portal of the Government of Guinea, Office of the President of the Republic of Guinea; Kababachir; United Nations - Refworld; Vision Guinée.

Attachments

1. European Union (EU ). 7 May 2017. Public Register of Authentic travel and identity Documents Online (PRADO). "GIN-AO-02001." [Accessed 26 Sept. 2017]
2. Keesing Reference Systems. N.d. "Guinea - Diplomatic Passport." [Accessed 26 Sept. 2017]
3. Keesing Reference Systems. N.d. "Guinea - Service Passport." [Accessed 26 Sept. 2017]