156 of them expired

Of the approximately 900 unclaimed passports at the Provincial Directorate of Migration in Maputo, 156 have already expired. Also unclaimed are visas for extension of stay, plus work and visit visas not collected by applicants. The bustle of people applying for travel documents at the Migration Service in Maputo province is plain to see. Less visible is the pile of documents issued but unclaimed.

Bata, spokesperson for the Provincial Directorate of Migration Services (SENAMI) in Maputo, says that a considerable number of documents expire before even leaving the building.

“We have about 900 passports, some of which are from the previous platform (SEMLEX). Of those, 156 passports have already expired. A further 43 expired residence permit are also in our possession. This situation worries us, because we daily hear of citizens repatriated from neighbouring South Africa for lack of passports,” he explains.  Bata notes that the failure to collect these documents creates constraints on the functioning of migration services. “Therefore, we appeal to our fellow citizens, as soon as they return from their places of work, to go to the Provincial Directorate of Migration and collect their passports, which will allow them to spend their vacation well and continue their travels,” he says. An SMS alert system is used to remind citizens to collect their documents, when ready.