BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
MBABANE – The Government has intensified efforts to clear the passport backlog, printing 3,599 travel documents in just five days as part of a nationwide operation to restore normal passport services.
The Ministry of Home Affairs announced that since Monday, May 25, 2026, immigration officers across the country have been working extended hours, including weekends, to address the recent shortage that affected passport availability.
The ministry said the accelerated printing programme was already yielding positive results, with thousands of Emaswati having received their travel documents while others are expected to do so shortly.
Officials assured the public that every applicant who submitted a request for a passport would either have received the document already or would receive it within the coming days as the distribution exercise continues.
According to the ministry, the largest number of passports was distributed through the Mbabane Headquarters, which processed 1 160 documents. Other centres recorded significant numbers, including Manzini with 409, Nhlangano with 335, Piggs Peak with 284, Simunye with 262, Matata with 248, Siphofaneni with 233 and Mankayane with 198.
Additional distributions were recorded in Siteki (97), Hlathikhulu (88) and Hluthi (18).
The ministry said the ongoing exercise forms part of its commitment to clear the backlog within the stipulated four-week period and ensure that citizens are able to access travel documents without unnecessary delays.
It further expressed gratitude to members of the public for their patience and understanding during the period of high demand and logistical adjustments.
With nearly 3 600 travel documents already printed in less than a week, the ministry says efforts remain focused on ensuring that every eligible applicant receives a passport as quickly as possible, marking a significant step towards normalising passport services across the country.
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