Saint Lucia is making major strides in modernizing its immigration services as the country prepares to introduce passports valid for ten years. Inspector Crescent Lionel, Head of the Immigration Department, has announced a series of upgrades aimed at enhancing efficiency and service delivery both at the passport office and at the island’s ports of entry.
Speaking last week at the RSLPF press engagement, Inspector Lionel confirmed that discussions with the country’s service provider, CBN, are well underway, and Saint Lucians can expect to see the new passports very soon.
“We are also tasked with monitoring the implementation of the 10-year passport for persons 18 years and older,” Lionel stated. “We are in conversation with CBN, the service provider, and they have indicated that once they have taken care of the logistics, we should be seeing the first passports valid for 10 years being issued in the not-too-distant future.”
As part of broader improvements, the Immigration Department is also introducing new self-service kiosks at ports of entry to speed up processing times for travelers.
“The introduction of kiosks at our ports would help to expedite the processing of passengers. We’re expecting these kiosks to arrive on the island tomorrow and to be operational by next month.”
The kiosks will provide a self-check system where travelers can independently scan their travel documents, significantly reducing wait times and streamlining entry procedures.
In addition to facilitating smoother travel experiences, the Immigration Department is also prioritizing accessibility upgrades at its main office, ensuring better service for all citizens, especially those with disabilities.
“Persons who are disabled, ill, or differently-abled will soon not be required to walk up the stairs,” Lionel said. “They will be served on the ground floor.”
He added that renovations are already underway to accommodate this shift.
“The landlord is making some changes and the Commissioner has promised to provide the furniture and equipment,” Lionel confirmed. “We’ve already received some furniture. We’re just waiting for the landlord to finish the work so we can start using the space on the ground floor.”
These upgrades mark a significant step forward in improving immigration services across the island, with officials promising even more improvements in the near future.
