By : JD
Jordan Daily – The government will launch its new smart passport service in August as part of a broader national digital transformation effort, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship announced on Wednesday.
In cooperation with the Civil Status and Passports Department, the first phase of the project will enable citizens to apply for or renew passports under enhanced technical and security standards.
The initial batch of smart passports is expected to arrive by the end of July for review and approval by a committee representing the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs, the Civil Status Department, aviation regulators, and security agencies.
Once approved, the smart passports will be distributed across civil status directorates, with rollout taking place in phases. The new passport will include a secure electronic chip storing biometric and personal data, along with a reinforced plastic data page.
The ministry said the government had recently submitted its public encryption keys to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), allowing member states to automatically verify the authenticity of Jordanian e-passports.
The smart passport, which comes in both standard and diplomatic versions, is distinct from the existing online application service introduced in 2019, as it involves a new physical design rather than just a digital submission process.
The passport will be issued within 48 hours of application, either through service centers or the “Sanad” app.
Jordan aims to digitize all government services by 2026, with digital transformation reaching 67.5% by the end of last year.
