NEW PASSPORT DESIGN ANNOUNCED, TO BE DISTRIBUTED IN FEBRUARY
by Alfred Ingham - January 31, 2025
The new passport (left) comes with the addition of the Elfiz language, compared to the old passport (right).
Joanne Bird, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has unveiled the new design for the Elthic passport, marking the first update in a decade. The most notable changes in second edition of the biometric passports, which are the first edition since Elthize joined the European Union in 2022, is the inclusion of the Elfiz language on both the cover and pages of the passport.
The new design also features the phrase "European Union" alongside its Elfiz translation, Eruberni, appearing for the first time. Additionally, the passport now incorporates silver accents instead of gold, for the first time in fifty years.
There are changes to passport pricing as well. For the first time, people earning less than 1,500 EMU per month will not pay the passport fee. Additionally, families who earn less than 2,500 EMU per month will be exempt from passport fee for their children.
Repeat passports have become more expensive, however. Those who request a new passport less than three years before their previous passport was issued will have to pay 99 EMU, instead of the standard 69 EMU fee.
Additional services now come with extra fees: A 64-page passport (instead of the standard 32-page costs an additional 19 EMU, home delivery of passports requires an extra 9 EMU fee, and passports issued outside Elthic borders, such as in embassies or consulates, will cost an additional 19 EMU.
The new passport has also been adjusted to fit various international security standards. For example, the sex marker, which was removed with the 2015 passport, has been reintroduced, following various issues at security checks. Three options will be available: M (male), F (female), and X (other).
The updated design is set to be distributed starting in February, though certain locations may prioritize to offer the old passport design to deplete stocks. You can learn more about the new passports on the factbook.