How to Get a Philippine Passport

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posted on 13 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Whether it's your first time applying for a passport or renewing your old one, a Philippine passport is essential for Philippine citizens who wish to travel. You can now make an appointment online through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) website and even choose to have your Philippine passport delivered to your doorstep. Make sure to plan ahead since the whole process may take up to 6 to 12 weeks to complete.

Steps

Getting the Required Documents for First Time Applicants

Prepare the necessary requirements for passport application. In order to obtain such, below are the requirements for first-time application.

Have at least 1 piece of acceptable picture ID. You will need it to prove your identity and use it throughout the process of obtaining your passport such as filling out forms. These IDs need to be government-issued and have your photo on them. Acceptable government-issued IDs are: Social Security System (SSS) ID/Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Unified Multi-Purpose Identification (UMID) Card Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Voter’s ID or Voter’s Certification from the Election Officer with Dry Seal. Land Transportation Office (LTO) Driver’s License. The student permit is also accepted provided that it’s in card format. Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) ID Senior Citizen ID School ID (for students) Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) / Integrated Department of Labor and Employment (iDOLE) card Philippine National Police (PNP) Firearms License Airman License (issued August 2016 onwards). For OFWs or Filipinos based in other countries, you can also bring your Residence Card or any other ID issued by your host government which shows your Philippine citizenship. Important: Only those listed above will be accepted as valid ID. DFA doesn’t accept Postal ID, Philhealth ID, or TIN ID as primary valid IDs for Philippine passport application/renewal. The NBI Clearance only serves as a supporting document, not as a primary valid ID.

Obtain your birth certificate from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), formerly National Statistics Office (NSO). First time applicants are required to submit a birth certificate. If you are renewing your passport, in most cases, a birth certificate is not required. You can request your birth certificate from PSA Helpline's website, pay for it online, and track its progress. Or you can make a request by calling their hotline at (02) 737-1111. Your certificate will then be delivered to you. Alternatively, you can travel to a PSA Serbilis Outlet and request a birth certificate in person. Check the PSA's website for delivery dates. In most cases, you will receive your certificate by courier in 3-9 working days. If you apply in person at a Census Serbilis Center, you can receive your certificate within 2-3 working days. The PSA is Philippine's major statistical agency that is responsible for keeping census records.

Get your Marriage Contract. Depending on who you are or who you've married, you may need to submit a marriage contract with your birth certificate and any other supporting documents. Go onto the DFA website to see a complete list of additional requirements. For married women: You must submit a marriage contract issued by the PSA or a Certified True Copy (CTC) issued by your Local Civil Registrar (LCR) and authenticated by the PSA. For spouses of foreign nationals (or non-citizens of the Philippines): You must submit a marriage contract issued by the PSA, or a CTC issued by your LCR and authenticated by the PSA. The marriage must also be reported to the PSA. You must also present an original and photocopy of Commission of Filipino Overseas (CFO) Guidance and Counseling Certificate of Attendance. For people who married overseas: You must submit a Report of Marriage authenticated by the PSA. Marriage Contracts are obtained the same way you would obtain a Birth Certificate from the PSA.

Obtain additional documents from your parents and/or guardians if you are under 18 years old. Your parents or guardians will need to submit additional documents along with the your birth certificate such as their marriage contract or passport copy. You will also need to include supporting ID documents like your School ID. Go onto the DFA website to see a complete list of additional requirements, especially if you or the minor is an orphan or illegitimate child. The general documentation requirements are: PSA issued birth certificate. Document with photo such as a School ID or Form 137 with a readable dry seal (for applicants 8-17 years old). If the minor has never attended school, a parent must submit a Notarized Affidavit of Explanation that details the reasons why the child is not in school. If the minor's parents are married, a marriage certificate issued by the NSO is required. Photocopy of a valid passport of either parent or any other acceptable identification document. Original and photocopy of the valid passport of the person travelling with the minor. If the child is an illegitimate child, then all documents required from a parent will fall under the responsibility of the child's birth mother.

Obtain a Certificate of Tribal Affiliation from the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) if you are a Muslim applicant. To obtain a Certificate, make a personal appearance at the Bureau of External Relations (BER) and submit an application. You will also need to submit a passport sized colour photo of yourself to the BER. If you would like to use your Muslim name on your passport, you must obtain an Annotated Birth Certificate from the NSO that shows your Muslim name.

Provide proof of Philippine citizenship if you have dual citizenship. These documents prove your allegiance and citizenship to the Philippines and are issued and obtained from the Bureau of Immigration Office. Most likely, you will already have received these documents when you applied for dual citizenship. You will need: Identification Certificate Oath of Allegiance Order of Approval Report of Birth (if you were born outside of the Philippines).

Photocopy all IDs and original documents. You should make at least 2 copies of each document. If you do not bring the original and photocopied documents to your DFA, the DFA will not continue with your appointment.

Renewing Your Passport

Bring your most recent expired or expiring passport and photocopies. Make sure to photocopy the data pages of your passport and bring them along. If you have a brown passport, photocopy pages 1-3. If you have a green passport, photocopy page 1. If you have a Machine Readable Passport (MRP), photocopy the first and last page of your passport. If you have an electronic passport, photocopy the first and last page of your passport.

Change your surname by obtaining required certificates from the PSA . If you are married, a few certificates are required by the DFA to change your surname. They can be easily requested through the PSA Helpline's website. If you are a married woman or spouse of a foreign national who would like to use your married surname, you must obtain a Marriage Contract issued by the PSA or a Certified True Copy (CTC) issued by your Local Civil Registrar (LCR) and authenticated by the PSA. If you are a spouse of a foreign national, you must also present a Commission of Filipino Overseas (CFO) Guidance and Counseling Certificate of Attendance along with your Marriage Contract. If you were married abroad, you will also need to obtain your Report of Marriage authenticated by PSA.

Revert your married surname. To change your surname to your birth surname, obtain a PSA issued Birth Certificate and along with any additional documents depending on your marriage status. If you are a married woman who would like to revert back to your maiden name, you must provide a Birth Certificate issued by the PSA. If you are a widow: a Death Certificate issued by PSA of your deceased husband is required. If you are divorced: a CTC of the Divorce Decree authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate where the divorce was obtained or by the concerned foreign diplomatic or consular mission in the Philippines is required. An annotated PSA Marriage Contract with the Divorce Decree is also required. If your marriage was annulled: a CTC of the annotated NSO Marriage Contract and Court Order effecting the annulment is required.

Change your name to your Muslim name. If you are a convert and would like to use your Muslim name, you must obtain an Annotated Birth Certificate from the NSO that has your Muslim name. You must also have your National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) or Office on Muslim Affairs (OMA) Certificate of Conversion. If you are a Muslim who does not need to change your name, only the general requirements of a valid ID and supporting documents, and recent expired or expiring passport is needed to renew your passport.

Obtain your birth certificate and parents' supporting documents if you are a minor. Minors renewing their passport are treated as first time applicants and will need to submit an PSA Birth Certificate. This also includes requiring parents or guardians to make an appearance at their DFA appointment, parents' marriage contracts, a photocopy of the passport of the person whom they will be travelling with, and the minor's most recent passport.

Going to Your DFA Appointment

Find out what the passport fees are in your area. In most cases, you will choose or be directed to the DFA Aseana branch to make an appointment. Go to the DFA website, click on "Passport Fees", and select the branch you want to make an appointment at. Whether it's your first time or you're renewing a passport, you must pay P950.00 for regular 20-day processing or P1200.00 for express 10-day processing. If you make an appointment after 5:00 P.M., the DFA Aseana branch considers your appointment as express processing. Remote branches only deal with first time or renewal applicants. If you have lost your passport or need citizenship evaluation, you will be directed to the Aseana branch.

Call the DFA Appointment hotline at (02) 737-1000 to make an appointment. A Customer Care Officer will assist you in setting an appointment and completing your passport application. They will let you know if you are required to submit any additional documentations. Choose an appointment time as early as possible to avoid long time ups. The Customer Care Officer will give you a reference number and Print Code. Print your completed application at their web address: https://www.passport.gov.ph/. You will be prompted to input your first, middle and last name, reference number, print code, and date of birth.

Make an appointment online. Alternatively, you can go to the DFA website and click "Set an Appointment". From there, choose the DFA Aseana branch or another remote branch nearest you. You will then be prompted to fill out and complete an application. After completing the application, you will be asked to select and confirm a date and time for your appointment. Choose an appointment time as early as possible to avoid long time ups. After completing your application, the site will notify you of any additional documents you will need to bring to your appointment. Be sure to print out your application. You will be provided a reference number and link to your application to print out.

Prepare for your appointment. This means dressing appropriately and having physical copies of all your required documents. Without these documents, the DFA will not continue with your appointment. Make 2 copies of each document and remember to bring the original. Remember to bring your IDs and supporting documents. Dress sensibly. Do not wear tank tops, shorts, sandals, slippers, or flip-flops. If you are a minor, you and your parent or guardian must be present at the appointment.

Go to the DFA Consular Office on your appointment date. The DFA Consular Office is located at ASEANA Business Park, Bradco Avenue corner Macapagal Boulevard, Paranaque City. Arrive 30 minutes before your appointment. Late or early arrivals will not be rescheduled or helped. Be sure to have all original and photocopied required documents with you, including your application.

Present your printed application to the Application Counter. They will direct you to the Information Counter.

Get your queue number at the Information Counter. Then sit at the Processing Area and wait for your number to appear on the monitor indicating what processing window to go to.

Pay the applicable processing fees at the Passport Enrollment Section. In the DFA Aseana branch, the Passport Enrollment Section is located on the second floor.

Proceed to the Encoding Section after paying your fees. Here, you will have your photo taken, and personal details and biometrics recorded.

Choose whether you want your passport delivered or picked up at the DFA Consular Office. If you choose to have your passport delivered, go to the Delivery counter for additional information about this particular service.