Applicants complained about corruption and the “solicitation of bribes” at the passport department, saying that there are some people who demand money in return for issuing passports.  

“They suggested I give them 10,000 Afs to issue my passport. They told me that they have people inside the department and they will finish the process,” said Faisal, a passport applicant.

“About 700 to 800 dollars is needed as a bribe inside (the department), the people sleep from night until morning but still no one solve their problems,” said Najibullah, who is applying for a passport.  

The passport department said that several perpetrators were arrested on charges of corruption.

 “The intelligence department has arrested several people in connection with such cases,” said Alam Gul Haqqani. “One of them was working in the biometric section of the (passport) department.” 

This comes as hundreds of people each day gather in front of the passport department to get their passports issued.

The applicants called on the officials to eliminate the existing corruption in the department.  

“We want the Islamic Emirate to reopen the passport departments in other provinces,” said Siraj Gul, who came along with hundreds of others to receive his passport.  

To meet the high demand for passports, Prime Minister Hassan Akhund ordered the passport department to issue passports for those applicants who have paper Identity Cards.