People who hold non-machine readable passports will not get visas to travel to other countries from November 2015.
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has sent out an alert about the impending deadline when all non-machine readable passports would be out of circulation.
However, it does not apply to temporary travel documents in cases of emergency, which usually have a short validity period and are issued by consulates to distressed nationals so that they can return to their home country.
According to a report in Emirates 24|7, ICAO has asked countries to encourage their citizens to renew any non-compliant passports before the November deadline for people holding hand-written or non-MRP passports could face denial or lengthy processes when it comes to visa issuances by other countries after the cut-off date.
Nationals from countries like Bangladesh, Sudan and some other Asian and African countries still possess the hand-written passports.
The deadline of non-Machine Readable Passports (MRPs) expiring on November 24, 2015, applies to all types of passports: ordinary, diplomatic and service.
ICAO has asked countries to encourage their citizens to renew any non-compliant passports before the November deadline for people holding hand-written or non-MRP passports could face denial or lengthy processes when it comes to visa issuances by other countries after the cut-off date.
“After November 24, 2015, member states may, for instance, refuse admittance to holders of non-MRPs or make visa processing more onerous and costly because of associated risks.
"If such sanctions are introduced and applied after the deadline, they would bring costs and inconvenience to holders of non-MRPs. Consequences might include financial losses, increased costs, delays, refused entries, cancelled trips and disappointment,” ICAO said in its latest report.
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