Passport Reissuance and Refund... Online Application Becomes More Convenient

Enhanced Convenience of Government24 'Online Passport Reissue Application Service'
Existing Information Saved When Re-uploading Photo, Automatic Refund System Introduced

From now on, the online application process for passport reissuance will become smoother, and the refund procedures for issuance fees in case of application rejection will also be simplified.

On the 24th, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that it has enhanced the convenience of online passport reissuance applications through the Government24 website and improved the refund procedures to be more straightforward.

Until now, when applying online for passport reissuance, if the verification program recognized the submitted photo as unsuitable for passport use, all previously entered information was deleted, requiring applicants to start over. In response, the government has improved the system so that even if the passport photo is deemed unsuitable, the previously entered information is retained, allowing only the photo to be re-uploaded.

The refund procedure will also be simplified. Previously, even if an application was rejected during the review process due to inaccurate information, applicants who paid the passport issuance fee by credit card had to apply separately for a refund through Government24 procedures. However, now if a passport application is rejected, the passport issuance fee paid by credit card will be automatically refunded.

Currently, as the main administrative department for civil complaints, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety is assessing the situation on-site and gathering various opinions to devise measures to alleviate congestion at civil service counters crowded with passport applicants waiting in line. In January, Vice Minister Ko Gi-dong of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety visited the Communication Civil Service Office at Daejeon Metropolitan City Hall to check the status of passport issuance waiting lines and listen to opinions aimed at resolving inconveniences for applicants and reducing the burden on staff. In March, best practices such as advance reservation systems and online ticket issuance, implemented by some local governments, were shared nationwide with other local governments.

Hwang Myeong-seok, Director of the Innovation Organization Bureau, stated, "Considering the nature of passport issuance work, which requires applicants to visit the civil service counter at least once, we will actively cooperate with related organizations such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and local governments to resolve public inconveniences."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.