Published: Just now
full screen
Next
So far this year, the police have had to cancel 1,529 passports that have not been collected. Archive image.
1 of 2 Photo: Fredrik Sandberg / TT
Despite the pressure on the passport police, thousands of new passports have not been collected. 1,529 of them have now been scrapped and over 9,000 are at risk of being destroyed soon.
– I can find it worrying, says Per Engström at the police.
After the pandemic restrictions were lifted, 2022 has been marked by long queues at police passport offices. It has been difficult to get a passport appointment, and it took time to get your passport.
During the first nine months of the year, the police issued a total of 1,804,479 new passports.
But not all passports have been collected. On September 30, a total of 136,298 passports were waiting to be picked up.
Pulling out on the scrapping
During the first nine months of the year, 1,529 passports have also had to be cancelled. Something that normally happens after three months. Meanwhile, 9,161 passports had been waiting with the police for over three months without being destroyed.
– We have a relatively soft approach to the cancellation. We will perhaps drag it out for a few more months. We want to avoid getting into a new queuing situation again, and that people will have to pay for the passes again, says Per Engström, national commanding officer at the police.
– It would be unfortunate if we were forced to cancel all these passports, continues Per Engström.
According to the police’s basic rule, a reminder must be sent out at the latest when a passport has been left for three months, but after a “reasonable time” it must then be cancelled.
Delivery time of 50 days
During the autumn, it has become easier to get a passport time. But some localities still have long queues, especially in the Bergslagen police region and the East police region, according to the police themselves.
The passport delivery time is still longer than normal. Right now, it takes around 50 days to get your passport, according to Per Engström.
For those who are going to travel abroad during the sports holiday or the Easter break, it may be good to book a passport appointment now, the police advise.
– It is still important to be out in good time, unfortunately. Don’t wait. We have a lot of travel opportunities coming up in the spring, says Per Engström.
During the autumn, a number of passport offices have been extra open so that people have the opportunity to pick up their passports.
Facts
Passport and national ID card
Swedish citizens can apply for a passport or national ID card from the police.
The time is booked in advance and you need to come to the passport office in person and bring a valid ID document.
A pass costs SEK 400.
The fee for a national ID card has been temporarily reduced from SEK 400 to SEK 100 since May 10, for those who do not apply for a passport at the same time.
Passports and national ID cards are collected in person at the passport office. It is then drop-in that applies.
Source: The police
Read more