New passport scanners to ease immigration clearing procedure |27 June 2018

In an effort to better its service and stay in line with the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority’s (SCAA) target to complete the immigration clearing procedure of all flights within 45 minutes, or less, the department of Immigration and Civil Status has acquired ten new passport scanners to help ease the process.

The ten OCR640e desktop scanners are full-page multi-illumination ePassport readers and capture ultraviolet and infrared images, as well as the full page of a passport in colour.

The new equipment is also in line with the department’s plan to review its procedures and functions with a view to improving service delivery.

Chief executive of the SCAA, Gilbert Faure, presented the scanners to the principal secretary for Immigration, Alain Volcère, during a small ceremony yesterday at the authority’s headquarters at the International Airport.

The ceremony was attended by members of the senior management of the SCAA, along with personnel from the department of Immigration and Civil Status.

Addressing those present, Mr Faure commended the department of Immigration and Civil Status for its good performance over the years and also for the good working relationship with the SCAA.

He added that the new scanners will enhance its performance, thus bring a much better service and higher working standard at the immigration desk and airport as a whole.

Mr Faure also said the next move to enhance the service offered will be electronic passport.

This, he said, will improve the security, efficiency and traveller experience at the airport.

On behalf of the department of Immigration and Civil Status, Mr Volcère said the working relationship between the department and the SCAA goes back to the dawn of civil aviation and that yesterday’s event is just ‘another brick in the wall’ of the relationship.

He noted that the new equipment will boost the efficiency of the service offered and will help to clear the immigration desks faster.

Mr Volcère also expressed his appreciation to the SCAA for its unwavering commitment in leading the effort to continuously improve ‘facilitation’ and overall experience of passengers who use the International Airport.

The equipment have been purchased by the SCAA at a total cost of US $15,090, including freight charge, following a request for sponsorship by the department of Immigration and Civil Status.

They will replace those which have been in use at the International Airport for over five years.

The new equipment comes complete with Software Development Kit (SDK), allowing for an overhaul of the immigration information system at the International Airport.

The various benefits of the OCR640e include fast and easy scanning and reading of passports, visas and ID Cards, no need to print or copy passports and time saving.

It also minimises manual data entry errors and it also has a digital storage which makes it easy to search and track any record.