When storms, freezing temperatures and mirror cabins make it unbearable, it can be tempting to book a trip to warmer areas.
At the same time, it is a good idea to check your passport. Has it expired, or will it expire in the near future?
In January, Minister of Justice and Emergency Preparedness Emilie Enger Mehl announced that the police had good capacity for issuing passports in most places in the country.
But beware, this does not apply everywhere.
NEW: This is what the passport looks like now. Many also want to order an ID card. Photo: Heiko Junge/NTB
Queue in Rogaland
TV 2 help you has investigated the waiting time to get a passport at the various passport offices across the country.
This is how the survey was conducted:
- TV 2 helps you use the police’s digital ordering service for passports and ID cards.
- We tested ordering passports for one person only.
- We attempted once per office on February 8, which provides a snapshot.
The test was carried out on 8 February, and shows that it is currently the Sør-Vest police district that has the greatest challenges with long waiting times.
When we tried to book an appointment to get a new passport at Stavanger Airport Sola, we received this message: “Unfortunately, there are no appointments for the next 6 months. Please try again later to find canceled or new appointments.”
At the nearby police stations, you also have to be patient.
The first free hour at Randaberg police station was 27 July. At Sandnes police station even later, there was nothing available before 1 August.
Around an hour’s drive away, you could get an appointment in Egersund on 7 June.
Head of the Joint Unit for Immigration and Administration, Leif Ole Topnes, explains that there is still a large backlog of passports due to low travel activity during the pandemic.
LAGGING: Head of the Joint Unit for Immigration and Administration, Leif Ole Topnes, promises several measures to reduce the passport queue. Photo: The police
– The police district regularly posts new hours, and these fill up quickly. We have a continuous focus on meeting the demand for passports and will in the future take further measures to help ensure that citizens receive passports on time.
– There are quite a few who are now early to renew their passports, and that is very positive, adds Topnes.
New passport record
Last year, a record number of new passports and national ID cards were issued.
It is expected that the large increase will continue in 2023.
As of January, there were 317,000 passports expiring this year, and the police expect to receive 1,300,000 applications for new passports and ID cards.
It pays to check your nearest passport office already now. Because also in Eastern Norway, the waiting time is very long in several places.
When TV 2 helper you was tested, the first available time at Kongsberg police station was 7 June.
Police inspector Torill Sorte at the South-East police district explains the situation as follows:
Facts about passports:
- Number of applications for passports and national ID cards in 2022: 1,373,000. This is a record.
- Number of applications for passports in the last “normal year”, 2019: 736,000
- Number of passports expiring in 2023: 317,000
Source: Politiet.no
– We have different capacities at our locations. In relation to Kongsberg, we have posted what we have of capacity on the box that is there. We have an opportunity to extend the opening hours, but as Notodden and Drammen are 35-40 minutes’ drive from Kongsberg, we have not done so.
At Notodden, there was a free appointment already the next day in our survey.
Posting several hours
In the Innlandet police district, 23,000 residents have passports that expire this year. These should also be observed.
For example, the first opportunity was at Elverum police station on 9 May, at Gjøvik on 5 May and at Kongsvinger on 7 June.
Section manager Hilde Kristiansen Hauge says they have as of now posted what hours they can in Elverum, but promises that there will be more elsewhere.
Section chief at the Innlandet police district, Hilde Kristiansen Hauge. Photo: Private
– For example, we will post many more hours both at Kongsvinger and Gjøvik shortly. We also experience that the classes we post at the most central locations are booked quickly, she writes.
Other police districts also state that they add more hours if necessary, and also extend opening hours.
– Check regularly
In general, the police encourage you to check your own and your children’s passports, and to be out in good time.
– Remember that you can freely choose the passport office you want. If there is no time available when you want it, it may be a good idea to check regularly whether more hours have been made available, urges Leif Ole Topnes.
The police also ask you to cancel any unused hours, so that these can be used by others.
ID CARD: Many will also order a national ID card with travel rights. Photo: Heiko Junge/NTB
Normal delivery time
Last year, a shortage of raw materials for the manufacturer Thales led to major delivery problems for passports and national ID cards throughout the spring and summer, and the waiting time was up to 10 weeks.
Recently, department director in the Norwegian Police Directorate, Bjørn Vandvik, said this about the situation at the start of 2023:
– Now the delivery time for passports and national ID cards is back to a normal situation – approximately one week plus postage. But based on experience from last year, we in the police have to take account of unforeseen events and increased demand that can affect delivery times.
