S.L. 61.2 чл. 4Declaration in support of application.

(1) The recommender’s declaration in support of the application contained in the said forms is required in the case of -

(a) an application by an adult person for the issue of a passport for the first time;

(b) an application for the issue of a minor’s passport where the recommender witnesses the signature of both parents or curators;

(c) Maltese citizens residing abroad; and

(d) the Director of the Passport Office encountering any difficulty in ascertaining an applicant’s identity.

(2) (a) The recommender’s declaration must be completed and signed by a Maltese citizen who is a minister of religion, or a medical or legal practitioner, or an architect, or a civil servant at the discretion of the Director of the Passport Office, or a bank manager or any other person who, in the opinion of the Director of the Passport Office is of similar standing.

(b) The recommender must have been personally acquainted with the applicant for at least two years immediately preceding the signing of the declaration: Provided that in the case of a passport application by persons mentioned in regulation 2(1)(c), (d), and (e), the recommender must have been personally acquainted with the applicant for at least six (6) months immediately preceding the signing of the declaration.

(3) The passport officer may in accordance with public policy not require the recommender’s declaration where biometric data has been provided.

(4) If the person applying for a passport resides abroad or is, at the moment of the application, outside Malta, the declaration in support of such application may be completed and signed by any Commonwealth citizen or citizen of the European Unionwho is qualified for this purpose as provided in this regulation.

(5) If there is no person available who is qualified to complete the recommender’s declaration as provided in this regulation, the passport officer may, in accordance with public policy, dispense with the completion and signing thereof.