BY MBONO MDLULI

MBABANE – The Ministry of Home Affairs has announced the arrival of new passport stock following months of supply shortages, bringing renewed relief and optimism to emaSwati who have been struggling to access travel documents.

In a statement issued on Friday, 22 May 2026, Ministry of Home Affairs Nhlanhla Nxumalo confirmed that new stock of 32-page passports valued at E152 each had officially arrived and was now available in sufficient quantities to meet public demand. The development marks an important step towards restoring normal passport services after recent global supply chain disruptions affected passport availability in the country.

Government Introduces Measures to Speed Up Service Delivery

To address the backlog created during the shortage period, Nxumalo unveiled several measures aimed at improving efficiency and accelerating passport processing.

Among the key interventions announced are:

• printing passports only upon client request,
• introducing a quicker collection process for pending applications,
• prioritising urgent applications at the Ministry headquarters in Mbabane,
• and committing to clearing the current backlog within four weeks.

Officials said the new system is designed to ensure smoother service delivery while reducing congestion and unnecessary delays.

Faster Collection Process Introduced

The PS encouraged clients who applied during the shortage period to submit collection requests at the service centres where their applications were originally lodged.

Once requests are submitted, passports will reportedly be available for collection within five working days at the same service centre. He said the process is intended to create a more organised and efficient collection system for applicants who have been waiting for travel documents.

Decentralised Services Return Across Tinkhundla Centres

In another major development, the Ministry announced that passport services would once again be available across service centres nationwide.

Beginning immediately, all service centres — including those located within Tinkhundla centres — will resume processing travel document services.

The decentralisation of services is expected to:

• reduce congestion at the Ministry headquarters,
• improve accessibility,
• shorten waiting times,
• and bring services closer to communities.

This reverses the earlier temporary centralisation announced during the peak of the passport shortage crisis.

Urgent Applications to Be Prioritised

Nxumalo further advised that applicants requiring urgent processing should submit their requests directly at the Ministry’s headquarters in Mbabane.

Officials said the move would allow emergency travel requests to be handled more efficiently while broader backlog-clearing efforts continue across the country.

Public Commended for Patience

The Ministry thanked emaSwati for their patience and cooperation throughout the supply shortage period. Nxumalo said the Ministry remains committed to:

• timely passport processing,
• efficient service delivery,
• and improving the overall client experience.

The replenishment of passport stock is expected to significantly ease pressure on the system and help restore confidence among citizens requiring travel documents for:

• business,
• education,
• employment,
• medical travel,
• and tourism.

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