NarinjaraNews, 24 February 2023

Passportoffices across Myanmar reopened on Friday after one month’s break.

Themilitary council has also announced that the citizens may now apply throughonline arrangement with www.passport.gov.mm.

However,the online booking will be available in Yangon passport office only for thetime being. Other passport offices incluidng at the Rakhine capital city ofSittwe will function as earlier, said a statement from the military councilmade on 22 February.

Therewill be no time limit for the online booking applicants as well as existingarrangements where the people can apply and the expenditure be paid with afixed rate.

Ifanyone finds it difficult while applying through the online arrangment, he orshe can ask for help from the concerned police stations.

Aspassport offices remained closed in the country the people expecting to workabroad faced problems.

“Ithas been now two months since I applied for my passport through an agent atSittwe office. I was in the second batch. Meanwhile, I borrowed some money andplanned to go abroad for works. Now I am paying the interest for the money andI am jobless here,” said Ko Zaw Min Naing, a resident of Ponnagyun township.

Dueto the ongoing political crises as well as high prices for essentialcommodities, the young people of Myanmar prefer to go to the neighboringcountries for better opportunities.

Nowthe passport offices are reopened and hence anyone can apply for the same, headded.

Allthe passport offices in Myanmar were closed down on 2 January due to theshortage of raw materials and also reorganizing the online booking software.

Photograph:Aspiring applicants are seen waiting at Sittwe passport office on 21 February