PARAMARIBO – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Cooperation (BIS) is faced with a significant backlog in processing applications for the PSA document. The enormous influx of applicants, which has increased by more than 200 percent, is putting high pressure on services.
The cause of this increase lies in a government decision from November 2025. In the context of 50 years of political independence, the fees for applying for and renewing the PSA document were temporarily reduced. Although an increase had been expected, the reality exceeded all expectations. Where there used to be an average of 50 applications per day, this number has now risen to more than 150 per day, reports the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Cooperation.
The ministry sees the enormous interest as a positive signal, because it underlines the strong connection of people of Surinamese descent with their motherland. At the same time, the government recognizes that the current capacity is not sufficient to process this flow smoothly, which leads to longer waiting times for citizens.
To optimize services and eliminate backlogs, various measures are currently being implemented. For example, an automatic response system is being implemented on the ministry’s website to answer frequently asked questions immediately. In addition, the online application tracking system will be improved based on user feedback and staff capacity in the PSA department will be expanded.
The ministry asks society for understanding of the situation that has arisen. She assures that the department is doing everything it can to shorten processing times as quickly as possible and improve service to the public.
