by Linda Straker
- As of 1 November 2019, fees for obtaining a new passport, renewing an existing passport, and for extension of stay, will increase
- Increase was implied almost 1 year ago when government launched introduced e-passports
The Grenada Government has said it cannot continue providing the full subsidy for a passport. As a result, the Cabinet on Monday approved an increase in the cost of obtaining the travel document by EC$75.
Legal Affairs Minister, Kindra Mathurine Stewart, announced during the weekly Tuesday morning post-cabinet briefing, that as of 1 November 2019, the fee for obtaining a new passport, renewing an existing passport, and for extension of stay, will increase.
She explained that there will be two amendments in the passport regulations, one of which will affect holders of a Grenadian passport. The other is for non-nationals who wish to continue to legally stay on the island after the time provided by the immigration officer upon entrance is expired.
“The amendment regulations seek to amend a schedule for the passport regulations 2018, which essentially provides for an increase in passports fee payable to obtain a Grenadian passport effective 1 November 2019,” she said, explaining that the increase was implied almost one year ago when government launched the upgraded e-passports.
“As you are aware, on 17 July 2018, the e-passport was launched here in Grenada. This is a specific passport that has specific biometric features and a radio efficiency identification chip. You may recall that at the launch it was announced that the cost of that said passport which was EC$175, was in fact, a subsidised cost. It was also announced at the launch that government was prepared to subsidise this cost to the extent of only one year,” she said.
“The fact is that government cannot continue to subsidise this cost to this extent, and that is because we will not be in a position to recover most of the cost expended on the manufacturing or printing of these passports,” she said. The actual cost for the production of one passport is EC$300.
“So you can see that the government still continues to subsidise the cost, albeit to a lesser extent,” she said. She announced the cost for that non-nationals who wish to continue residing in Grenada after the allocated time given by immigration officer upon entry, will also increase.
“So, under the 2018 regulations for each month for which an extension of stay was granted that fee was EC$25. It has now increased to EC$75,” she disclosed.
I’m not trippin’. I don’t plan on leaving Grenada anytime soon. There is no purpose in me even going anywhere. Everything I need and want is right here in Grenada.
This is reasonable to pay for a passport, those of us who leave in a foreign country we pay more than that to get they document to stayed in there country.and the government don’t help with any cost…so $250.dollas is acceptable for a passport.
I have no issue with better products and the cost to attain such. However maybe they need to increase the lifespan of the passport. The average Joe may travel every 2 years internationally so they may use their passport 2 or 3 times if affordable. Then on the other hand the passport serves as a means of identification and can be used in the absence on an NIS card or voters’ ID card. Therefore it is multipurpose. I do hope that while I support the increase if needs be (as technology is costly) maybe it should be E.C 200.00.
Grenadians WAKE UP!!!!
See. When they reported that india, and many others wants to join with Grenada. I new something was up. How a family who is making minimum wages afford to pay for a passport- passports!?! Grenada is becoming an open door for the outsiders to come take and leave.
Dont just complain. Do something for your next generation behind.
This is a reply to the first writer. If any one has the necessary funds to travel and explore the world, hopefully he or she will have enough money for the required documents IE a passport.
This is highway robbery.
This is outrageous. And I see it as a road block for hindering Grenadians from wanting to travel and explore the world.
The youths of today’s society are already discouraged, this is just another way of discouraging them.
It’s too expensive. Are Grenada for the people are against the people. We need to stop trying to rob from the poor to make the rich richer.
Wow! This is crazy. Especially considering the passport now has to be renewed every 5 years instead of 10.
OK so I guess you will be changing to 10 years passport too right