PHOTOS: Large crowd outside passport office in Kingston

Persons trying to beat the impending hike in passport fees this morning formed a long line at the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) on Constant Spring Road in St Andrew.

The queue extended as far as the nearby Springs Plaza.

The police had their hands full trying to keep the crowd under control, while traffic piled up.

The increase in passport fees was announced earlier this week as part of efforts by PICA to cover operational cost.

The passport agency had said that without the increase there would have been 'mayhem'.

Some fees have been increased by more than 40 per cent.