Government Guarantees Passport Renewals for the Timorese Community in Israel
The Government, through the Ministry of Justice and in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, has for the first time ensured the direct provision of passport renewal services to the Timorese community residing and working in Israel, thereby preventing affected citizens from having to travel to other countries to renew their travel documents.
The initiative aims to address the difficulties the Timorese community in Israel faces in accessing official documentation services, given that Timor-Leste does not have a resident diplomatic mission in that country.
The process was led by the Ministry of Justice, under the leadership of Minister Sérgio de Jesus Fernandes da Costa Hornai, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and with support from the Ministry of Justice’s Attaché stationed in the United Kingdom. The initiative also benefited from collaboration with the Registry and Notary Services, consular services, and the diplomatic missions of Timor-Leste in London and Abu Dhabi.
The team’s deployment enabled the necessary passport renewal procedures to be carried out locally, facilitating citizens’ access to public services and reducing the burdens and difficulties associated with travelling to another country to process their documentation.
The Timorese community in Israel thanked the 9th Constitutional Government for responding to the situation. It highlighted the initiative’s impact on the continuity of their professional activities and on support for their families in Timor-Leste.
“This support is very important to us because it allows us to continue working in Israel and, in turn, to continue supporting our families in Timor-Leste,” said a member of the community.
The citizens involved also expressed their appreciation that the service was made available directly in Israel for the first time. “We are very grateful for the effort and support the Government has provided to us by carrying out passport renewals in Israel for the first time,” they noted.
The Minister of Justice reaffirmed that providing these services is part of the State’s responsibility to ensure that Timorese citizens have access to public documentation services, both nationally and abroad.
This action addressed a concrete need for the Timorese community in Israel and ensured local access to renewing their travel documents.
