Government to cease accepting expired identification documents

The government, on Wednesday, has announced that only unexpired identification documents will be accepted to identify a person for domestic travel starting from next year’s February 22.

Defense Ministry said that expired passports, ID cards, work visas, license cards and other official documents issued by airport security or the government which includes photo and ID card will be null starting from that date.

The government, in light of the difficulties faced in acquiring identification documents due to constraints arising out of COVID-19, had allowed individuals to use expired identification documents if the information stated on them is clearly visible.

Subsequently, expired identification documents were allowed to establish the identities of persons for domestic travel at airport check-in and security checkpoints as well as when purchasing tickets from airlines.

The government also allowed people to use expired ID cards to vote in the local council elections held last year.