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Travel certificates to be issued immediately upon loss of passports overseas

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 Korean travelers overseas will be able to get travel certificates immediately, instead of the current 3-4 days, when they lose passports, starting December 6.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade announced on November 30 that it has opened `e-Consul,' which can confirm various kinds of personal information needed to resolve complaints, linking the headquarters in Seoul and 67 overseas missions through exclusive leased lines.

Various kinds of personal information can be confirmed in real time at overseas missions through e-Consul, which can access personal information at the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the National Police Agency and the Military Manpower Administration.

Driver's licenses and identification can be confirmed due to the NPA system's links, and particulars involving military services, such as permission for overseas trips, can be confirmed immediately as the MMA system is linked to e-Consul. In the past these processes took for up to several weeks as documents were sent in diplomatic packs.

e-Consul is also linked to the Ministry of Justice's online system. As a result, immigration records can be confirmed immediately when foreigners at overseas missions make visa applications, contributing to the prevention of illegal entry and staying in Korea.

Applicants will be able to confirm whether or not the applications are processed on the homepage of the Foreign Ministry.

The services will be available from 67 overseas missions, extending to the remaining missions by 2006 with the gradual expansion of the leased lines.

The source of news : news.go.kr 2004.12.03