London: Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, Interior Ministry Undersecretary for Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA), met with Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Kingdom, during his visit to the UK. The meeting was attended by Shaikh Ahmed bin Hamad Al Khalifa, President of Customs.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the discussions focused on means to enhance consular services and facilities provided to Bahraini citizens abroad, including measures to streamline procedures. Topics included the renewal of passports through Bahraini missions, handling cases of lost or missing passports while abroad, and the passport replacement service available to citizens outside the Kingdom through the national eGovernment portal Bahrain.bh.
The service enables citizens to submit applications electronically and receive new passports through Bahraini embassies and consulates abroad, while cancelling previous passports. Applications are processed within a period not exceeding seven working days, contributing to faster procedures and greater convenience.
Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa highlighted the importance of strengthening integration between consular services and the nationality, passports and residence system, with a view to facilitating procedures and improving the quality of services provided to citizens while abroad. On his part, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Kingdom emphasised the embassy's commitment to continued coordination and cooperation with the relevant authorities to further enhance services provided to Bahraini citizens overseas.