The new service is being offered by the Slovak Ministry of the Interior. Citizens applying for a new passport, in line with the new EU ePassport requirements, will now receive a tracking number to monitor their application’s progress via the internet.

The time period for issuing a new passport is set, by law, at 30 days. Applications can be submitted at 79 different locations. Like a courier service, the passport offices issue reference numbers to help applicants keep track of the process. The system also provides information on passports already issued. Over 760.000 people have already applied for passports since April 2005.

In addition, a database of lost and stolen passports is also available on-line, making it possible for concerned persons, such as banks or credit card companies, to check if someone is using a stolen identity. Once a passport is regarded lost, it cannot be used again, even if it is found. It is shredded and a new passport is issued. The database of lost IDs and passports carries information on 600.000 ID cards and 96.000 passports which have been reported lost or stolen since 1996.