Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10RABAT96
2010-02-05 15:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:  

MOROCCO BEGINS ISSUANCE OF BIOMETRIC PASSPORTS

Tags:  CPAS PGOV ASEC PINR KHLS MO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRB #0096 0361555
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 051555Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY RABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1173
INFO RHMFISS/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000096 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR INR
INR PLEASE PASS TO NCTC - M POUNDER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/03/2020
TAGS: CPAS PGOV ASEC PINR KHLS MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCO BEGINS ISSUANCE OF BIOMETRIC PASSPORTS

REF: A. 09 RABAT 370

B. 09 STATE 032287

Classified By: Economic Counselor Michael DeTar, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
)

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000096

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR INR
INR PLEASE PASS TO NCTC - M POUNDER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/03/2020
TAGS: CPAS PGOV ASEC PINR KHLS MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCO BEGINS ISSUANCE OF BIOMETRIC PASSPORTS

REF: A. 09 RABAT 370

B. 09 STATE 032287

Classified By: Economic Counselor Michael DeTar, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
)


1. (C) Summary: Ref A provided information about official
Moroccan documents, noting that the Government of Morocco
(GOM) intended to introduce biometric technology to Moroccan
passports. Introduction of the biometric passports, however,
was delayed through 2009. The Morocco Ministry of Interior
(MOI) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MFA)
announced on January 18 that a limited number of Moroccan
local passport issuance jurisdictions as well as overseas
consulates had begun to issue biometric passports on a trial
basis. The GOM anticipates that all passport issuance
authorities will issue biometric passports by March 2010.
End Summary.


2. (U) Although the GOM had initially hoped to introduce
biometric passports by the end of 2008, introduction was
repeatedly delayed through 2008 and 2009. On January 18, the
MOI and MFA announced that a limited number of provinces and
prefectures in Morocco and overseas consulates had begun to
issue biometric passports on a pilot basis. (Note:
Prefectures are urban local jurisdictions and Provinces are
the equivalent-level rural local jurisdiction. An MOI
Administrative Annex in each prefecture or province issues
official government documents, including passports, to
citizens. End Note.) In the first phase of the pilot, the
prefectures of Sale and Skhirat-Temara, both in the Rabat
metropolitan area, and the consulate in Colombe, France had
started biometric passport issuance on December 15, 2009.


3. (U) Starting the week of January 18, biometric passport
issuance was extended to an additional 14 Moroccan
prefectures/provinces (out of Morocco's 61 total) and 6
consulates. The 14 prefectures are Rabat, Kenitra,
Mohammedia, Sidi Kacem, Khemisset, Mediouna, Nouacer, Ben
Slimane, Sidi El Bernoussi, Ben Msik, Ain Sebaa Hay
Mohammadi, Hay Moulay Rachid, Chichaoua and El Fahs Anjra.
The consulates that began issuing biometric passports are
Paris, Toulouse, Utrecht, Liege, Palermo and Bilbao. The MOI
and MFA announced that all provinces/prefects, embassies and
consulates will issue biometric passports starting March 2010.

--------------
Procedures for Passport Issuance
--------------


4. (U) Moroccan passport issuance practices authorize
issuance of a biometric passport upon the applicant's
submission of an application form, fee stamp, and photocopy
of the bearer's valid biometric national identity card (CIN).
Morocco began issuing biometric CINs in 2008; previous
versions of the CIN do not contain biometric identifiers. If
the applicant does not possess a biometric CIN, the issuing
agency will issue a biometric passport upon evidence (in the
form of an official receipt) that the applicant has already
applied for his/her biometric CIN, along with the applicant's
birth certificate and proof of residency from a local
government unit.


5. (U) The passport application form is completed through an
on-line application, and then printed for submission to the
MOI Administrative Annex or Consulate. The passport
officials then transmit the application electronically to Dar
As-Sikkah, the mint of the Moroccan Central Bank, which
prints the actual passport booklets. The finished documents
are returned to the prefecture/province or consulate
officials for delivery to the applicant through certified
mail.


6. (U) Although the MOI and MFA anticipate that all regular
full-validity passports issued after March 2010 will be
biometric passports, Moroccan passport authorities will
continue to issue limited validity, 12-month passports that
do not contain biometric identifiers or embedded chips in
emergency situations.


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