After years of interacting with individuals from various global regions, it's fascinating to note the diverse methods adopted for renewing documents like passports for expatriates. Despite technological advancements, most nations still mandate their citizens to commute to the closest embassy, submit their documents, and schedule another visit for collection, such as for passports.

Such procedures are not only financially burdensome for citizens, requiring them to take leave and bear travel expenses, but also for the nation that needs additional embassy personnel to manage these routine tasks. Particularly for Europeans, a unified digital solution for these processes seems logical.

Being a British expatriate in Germany, my passport renewal simply involves an online form submission and mailing my old passport to the UK. In a matter of weeks, I get both my new and old passports via post. It's astonishing that such convenience isn't universally available. With my half-Irish heritage, I even used a phone selfie for my new ID card application, receiving it in just days. It's perplexing that many countries still insist on physical embassy visits when technology could streamline and economize the process.

Of course, this perspective primarily considers the citizen's convenience. There might be valid reasons for a nation to necessitate an embassy visit. However, potential concerns could be identified online, directing specific individuals for in-person evaluations if deemed necessary.