The Cards will be issued to holders of Work Permits, Permanent Residence Certificates, Permits to Reside, Home Owners and Resident Spouse Permits, and it is hoped that the system will greatly enhance the processing of immigration documents, and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the services rendered by the Department of Immigration to the public.

Persons applying for permits must present themselves to the Department of Immigration to be fingerprinted, and to sign off on their permits.

The new Electronic Identification Card system of the Department of Immigration brings the Department into line with international developments in this area.

The Electronic Cards will make it possible for the Department of Immigration to better manage border clearance, monitor persons placed on the Restricted and Stop Lists, and more effectively deal with apprehension and deportation matters.

Prior to the implementation of the Electronic Identification Card system, Indusa, a company with extensive experience in Electronic Border Control System based in Greenville, South Carolina, worked closely with the management and users in the Department of Immigration to design, install and put the system into operation.

Speaking with regard to the implementation of the Electronic Identification Card system, Director of Immigration, Vernon Burrows, said that it was decided to put in place a chip-based e-ID solution with facial scans and fingerprints, and a Border Control System that tags each passport holder with his immigration card.

This will enable the immigration department to protect better protect the country’s borders from illegal immigration, criminals, terrorist activities and an illicit workforce, it is believed.