Jan 31, 2024 at 2:10 PM Update: an hour ago
Dutch people abroad may also face long waiting times for a new passport. The Foundation for Dutch People Outside the Netherlands (SNBN) has raised the alarm about this. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs only partly recognizes the picture outlined.
According to SNBN, Dutch people in Spain, Italy, Greece, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom, among others, face long waiting times at embassies, consulates and the commercial passport agency VFS Global. Also, sometimes there seems to be no availability at all for appointments to renew a passport.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tells NU.nl that foreign missions are indeed very busy with the many applications. “Just like the Dutch municipalities, we are dealing with the ‘passport peak’ and are receiving a wave of applications for new passports and IDs,” he says.
Last Sunday it became clear that the National Identity Data Service, the organization that manages the application procedures, expects a peak in applications. In 2014, the validity of ID cards was extended from five to ten years. That is why fewer passes were needed over the past five years, and now more. It is estimated that 1.6 to 1.7 million passports need to be replaced and 1.2 to 1.3 million identity cards.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not recognize the image that it is virtually impossible for Dutch people abroad to get an appointment, the spokesperson continues.
He also indicates that attempts are being made to process the peak in various ways. “We call on Dutch people abroad to take action on time. In addition, the counter times of some posts have been extended. And in extreme cases, we can always provide an emergency document.”
2024-01-31 13:10:01
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