The passport center of the Foreign Ministry has so far issued 55,000 new machine readable passports (automated passports) since raising the working capacity of the center, ministry spokesman Badr Abdel Aati said.

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry had given instructions to remove any obstacles and fulfill the needs of Egyptians expats for the new passports before the old ones expire, he added.

The center will continue work round-the-clock to respond to applications sent by Egyptian expatriates to get the new passports, he said.