Validity of new Dutch passports extended to 10 years

The Daily Herald reports that the new Dutch passports will be valid for ten years instead of the current five years,. In St. Maarten they will be available  from March 9.  The Saba Government has not made an announcement so far on when the will be available here.

Management of the Civil Registry Department (Census Office) informed the general public that due to changes in the Passport Law, which will go into effect on March 9, the office will be unable to take any passport applications on Thursday, January 16, Friday, January 17 and on Monday, January 20.

Head of the Civil Registry Department Leona Romeo-Marlin explained the Department will utilize this period to recalibrate the passport printing machine to accommodate the upcoming changes and also to solve some technical problems concerning pending passport requests. From March 9, the price for new passports will go up from NAf. 150 to NAf. 181.25 for adults. The price of passports for seniors and children of 17 years and younger will also go up from NAf. 130 to NAf. 143.80.

Passports with a validity of five years are still available until March 9 at the current rates. From that date, only passports with a validity of 10 years will be available against payment of the new fees, Romeo-Marlin explained.