A process for continuous manufacturing of steel strips for packaging coated with a passivation layer is provided. The layer is an aqueous passivation solution, the thickness of which is less than 3 μm and the viscosity of which is less than 1.5·10−3 Pa·s at 20° C., and is deposited on one of the faces of the strip. This depositing is carried out by a transfer roller in contact with the strip and with a second coating roller, the surface of which has a plurality of hexagonally shaped cells, the line count of which is between 50 and 200 lines per centimeter, and the total volume of which is between 5·10−6 and 10·10−6 m3 per square meter of roller surface. The coating roller is fed with aqueous passivation solution by dipping in a tank equipped with wiping means and the strip runs at a speed greater than or equal to 400 m/m. An apparatus for implementation of the process is also provided.