passport
Under Republic Act No. 8239 or The Philippine Passport Act of 1996, a Philippine passport is a document issued by the Philippine Government to its citizens requesting other governments to allow its citizens to pass freely, and in case of need, to give them lawful aid and protection.
The Philippines has instituted the electronic passport (ePassport) system for all its citizens. The ePassport features microchip technology and a host of other security features thereby ensuring that Philippine passports are virtually tamper-proof. ePassport issuance is also compliant with the security standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The Philippine ePassport has an integrated circuit (chip) within its pages containing data that are essential in verifying the identity of the passport holder. These include the personal biographical information found on the data page of the passport, the biometrics of the passport holder, the unique chip identification number, and a digital signature to verify the authenticity of the data stored on the chip. The chip technology allows the information stored in an ePassport to be read by special chip readers at almost every international port of entry.
Passport Requirements
BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR FIRST TIME APPLICANT (18 years old and above)
- Printed Passport Application Packet with bar code.
- Original and one (1) photocopy of PSA-authenticated Birth Certificate or Report of Birth issued by the Philippine Consulate General New York (if born abroad). Click here to request for PSA-authenticated Birth Certificate.
Note: Local Civil Registrar (LCR) copy may be required if PSA BC is not clear or unreadable. - (For Married Female Applicant who opts to use Husband’s Surname for the first time) Original and one (1) photocopy of PSA-authenticated Marriage Certificate or Report of Marriage. Click here to request for PSA-authenticated Marriage Certificate.
Note: Local Civil Registrar (LCR) copy may be required if PSA MC is not clear or or unreadable.
Also, if a female applicant opts to retain maiden name, a Marriage Certificate is not required. - Original and one (1) photocopy of Valid ID.
- Original and one (1) photocopy of Proof of Filipino Citizenship*
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
In case of Late Registered Birth Certificate
- If Birth Certificate was registered less than ten (10) years ago, applicant must submit IDs that pre-date the late registration
- If applicant has no IDs that pre-date the late registered Birth certificate, applicant must produce current IDs and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance.
In case applicant has NO Birth Certificate or Report of Birth
- If applicant was born AFTER 1950 – applicant must first file for late registration with Local Civil Registrar (LCR) or Consular Office with jurisdiction over the place where applicant was born. Applicant will then submit the original copy of the PSA authenticated late registered Birth Certificate with the requisite supporting documents and IDs that pre-date the late registration
- If applicant was born ON OR BEFORE 1950 – applicant must submit a copy of the original PSA Authenticated Certificate of No Birth Record and Affidavit of Two Disinterested Persons attesting to the identity of the applicant.
If Female Applicant’s Marriage has been Dissolved and Wants to Revert to Her Maiden Surname
- Applicant must submit original copy of the annotated PSA Marriage Certificate (MC) or Report of Marriage (ROM) stating that the marriage has been dissolved; OR
- Alternatively, if annotated MC or ROM from PSA is not yet available, applicant must submit a Certified True Copy of the Court Order dissolving the marriage and a Certificate of Finality from the court.
If Applicant Lacks Data in Birth Certificate or Report of Birth
- Applicant must submit proof of filing of supplemental report or correction from the Local Civil Registrar (LCR)
If Applicant has Discrepancy in Data in Birth Certificate / Report of Birth or Other Documents
- Discrepancy in first name – Applicant must submit a copy of the petition and supporting documents for correction of first name filed with Local Civil Registrar (LCR) or Philippine Embassy/Consulate
- Discrepancy in other data – Applicant must submit annotated birth certificate authenticated by PSA reflecting the corrected entry.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR RENEWAL OF ePASSPORT (18 years old and above)
- Printed Passport Application Packet with bar code.
- Original Current ePassportand one (1) photocopy of data page
- Original and one (1) photocopy of Valid ID. Click here for a list of acceptable IDs for Philippine Passport Application.
- Original and one (1) photocopy of Proof of Filipino Citizenship*
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
· (For newly married female who opts to use husband’s surname) Original and one (1) photocopy of PSA-authenticated Marriage Certificate or Report of Marriage. Click here to request for PSA-authenticated Marriage Certificate.
Note: Local Civil Registrar (LCR) copy may be required if PSA MC is not clear or unreadable.
If a female applicant opts to retain her maiden name, a Marriage Certificate is not required.
If a Female applicant’s marriage has been dissolved and she wants to revert to her maiden surname
- Applicant must submit the a copy of the original annotated PSA Marriage Certificate (MC) or Report of Marriage (ROM) stating that the marriage has been dissolved;
- Alternatively, if annotated MC or ROM from PSA is not yet available, applicant must submit a Certified True Copy of the Court Order dissolving the marriage and a Certificate of Finality from the court.
If Applicant Wants to Correct Data on Passport
- Discrepancy in first name – Applicant must submit a copy of the petition and supporting documents for correction of first name filed with Local Civil Registrar (LCR) or Philippine Embassy/Consulate
- Discrepancy in other data – Applicant must submit annotated birth certificate authenticated by PSA reflecting the corrected entry.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR MINOR CHILD APPLICANT (below 18 years old)
- Personal appearance of minor applicant and either parent or authorized adult companion
- Printed Passport Application Packet with bar code.
- Original and one (1) photocopy of PSA-authenticated Birth Certificate or Report of Birth issued by the Philippine Consulate General New York.
- . Click here to request for PSA-authenticated Birth Certificate. Note: Local Civil Registrar (LCR) copy may be required if PSA BC is not clear or unreadable.
- Original and one (1) photocopy of PSA-authenticated of Parents’ Marriage Certificate or Report of Marriage (For legitimate minor and if only one parent is accompanying the child during application). Click here for PSA-authenticated Marriage Certificate.
- Original and one (1) photocopy of either parent’s Passport or Govt-issued Valid ID. Click here for a list of acceptable IDs for Philippine Passport Application.
- Original and one (1) photocopy of minor’s school ID (if applicable)
- Original and one (1) photocopy of minor applicant’s Proof of Filipino Citizenship*
ADDITIONAL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
- If born in the Philippines: Certified True Copy of Local Civil Registrar (LCR) Birth Certificate authenticated by PSA
- If born abroad: Original copy of Report of Birth issued by the Philippine Consulate General New York or first indorsement from Consular Records Division
In case applicant is accompanied by only one (1) parent during the application process:
- If parents are married – present an original and photocopy of the Marriage Certificate
- If parents are not married and minor is accompanied by the Father – a Notarized Affidavit of Support and Consent with Special Power of Attorney executed by the Mother with a copy of mother’s valid ID and/or passport is required. If the Affidavit is executed in the Philippines, it must be apostilled by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). If it is executed outside the Philippines, it must be (1) Apostilled by the issuing State or Competent Authority if it was issued in Apostille countries; or (2) Authenticated/Acknowledged by the Philippine Embassy/ Consulate General if it was issued in non-Apostille countries.
- Court Order awarding guardianship or parental authority, if parents are divorced or annulled.
In case applicant is not accompanied by the parent/s during the application process
- Applicant must submit an Special Power of Attorney executed by the parent/s designating the minor’s companion to assist in the application process. The Special Power of Attorney must be authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate if executed abroad
- Passport or Valid Government issued ID of authorized adult companion (click here for the List of Acceptable IDs for Passport Application)
- Special Power of Attorney or Affidavit of Support and Consent must have a copy of parent/s valid ID and/or passport attached
- Applicant must submit DSWD clearance and Affidavit of Support and Consent executed by the parent/s. The Affidavit of Support and Consent must be Consularized by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate if executed abroad
- Passport or Valid Government issued ID of authorized adult companion (click here for the List of Acceptable IDs for Passport Application)
In case applicant is an illegitimate child in custody of the Mother
- Personal Appearance of minor applicant and mother or authorized adult companion
- Passport or Valid Government issued ID of mother or authorized Adult Companion (click here for the List of Acceptable IDs for Passport Application)
- If applicant is not accompanied by mother during the application process, applicant must submit a Special Power of Attorney executed by the mother designating the minor’s companion to assist in the application process. The Special Power of Attorney must be authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate if executed abroad
- If applicant is not traveling with Mother, applicant must submit DSWD clearance and Affidavit of Support and Consent executed by the mother. The Affidavit of Support and Consent must be authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate if executed abroad.
If the applicant is an Illegitimate child and mother is deceased / absent and father is unknown
- Personal Appearance of minor applicant and adult guardian
- Valid Passport or valid government ID* of adult guardian (click here for the List of Acceptable IDs for Passport Application)
- DSWD Clearance
- Affidavit of Guardianship
If the minor applicant has undergone the process of domestic adoption
- Personal Appearance of minor applicant and adoptive parent/s
- Valid passport or valid government issued ID* of adoptive parent/s (click here for the List of Acceptable IDs for Passport Application)
- Court Decree of Adoption
- If applicant is not accompanied by adoptive parent/s during the application process, applicant must submit a Special Power of Attorney executed by the adoptive parent/s designating the minor’s companion to assist in the application process. The Special Power of Attorney must be authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate if executed abroad.
- If applicant is not traveling with adoptive parent/s, applicant must submit DSWD clearance and Affidavit of Support and Consent executed by the adoptive parent/s. The Affidavit of Support and Consent must be authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate if executed abroad.
If the minor applicant is undergoing or has undergone the process of foreign adoption / Inter Country Adoption Board (ICAB) adoption process
- Personal Appearance of minor applicant and ICAB representative
- PSA Birth Certificate/PSA Certificate of Foundling
- Endorsement from ICAB
- Certificate of Child Available for Adoption/Deed of Voluntary Commitment
- Placement Authority issued by ICAB
- Certificate for Issuance of Passport issued by ICAB
- Clearance for Inter-Country Adoption
- Child Study Report
- DSWD clearance
If the applicant is a foundling and NOT for adoption
- Personal Appearance of minor applicant and adult guardian
- PSA Certificate of Foundling
- Passport or Valid Government issued ID* of adult guardian (click here for the List of Acceptable IDs for Passport Application)
- DSWD clearance
- Affidavit of guardianship
Dual Citizens
Passport applications filed by dual citizens right after Philippine citizenship reacquisition are treated as new applicants, hence the additional requirements.
Additional Requirements for Dual Citizens:
- Original and one (1) photocopy of PSA-authenticated Birth Certificate or Report of Birthissued by the Philippine Consulate General New York (if born in the US Northeast). Click here to request for PSA-authenticated Birth Certificate.
Note: Local Civil Registrar (LCR) copy may be required if PSA BC is not clear or unreadable. - (For Married Female Applicant who opts to use Husband’s Surname in her Philippine passport for the first time) Original and one (1) photocopy of PSA-authenticated Marriage Certificate or Report of Marriage. Click here to request for PSA-authenticated Marriage Certificate.
Note:Local Civil Registrar (LCR) copy may be required if PSA MC is not clear or unreadable. - Original and one (1) photocopy of Old Philippine passport
- . Original and one (1) photocopy of US passport and/or US-state issued IDs or passport issued by country of second citizenship
- Original and one (1) photocopy Identification Certificate issued by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate or the Bureau of Immigration (BI) or valid ID from country of second citizenship.
FOR REPLACEMENT OF LOST PASSPORT
Submit requirements listed under First Time Passport Applicant and the following additional requirements:
- Photocopy of the lost passport (if available)
- Notarized Affidavit of Loss in English
- One (1) colored passport-size (4.5cm X 3.5cm) photo with plain white background. You may have your photo taken at any studio, as these will only be used for filing purposes.
- Police Report in English
FOR REPLACEMENT OF DAMAGED/MUTILATED PASSPORT
Submit requirements listed under First Time Passport Applicant and the following additional requirements:
- Surrender original damaged/mutilated passport
- Notarized Affidavit of Explanation
TRAVEL DOCUMENT
This applies to applicant who previously used or lost a Travel Document (TD) to travel back to the Philippines.
Submit requirements listed under First Time Passport Applicant and the following additional requirements:
- Affidavit of Explanation
- Original Travel Document (for used TD)
- Original Travel Records from the Bureau of Immigration (for lost TD)
*Examples of Proof of Filipino Citizenship are:
- For natural-born Filipinos: US Permanent Resident Card, Work Permit, or US Visa
- For dual citizens: Identification Certificate issued by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate or the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and government-issued IDs (Philippine or from country of second citizenship).
- For naturalized Filipino Citizen: Identification Certificate of Naturalization issued by BI
- For applicant who obtained Filipino Citizenship by Election: Affidavit of Election of Philippine Citizenship and Identification Certificate of Election from BI
- For applicant granted Filipino Citizenship by Act of Legislation: Certified true copy of the law granting citizenship and Foreign Birth Certificate with Apostille.
The Consular Officer reserves the right to require additional documents from the informant or applicant.
Downloadable Forms
- Regular Passport Application Form (Minor)
- New Regular Passport Application Form (Adult)
- Renewal Regular Passport Application Form (Adult)
- Affidavit of Discrepancy (Use of Passport)
- Affidavit of Explanation for Passport under Assumed Name
- Affidavit of Loss of Passport
- Affidavit of Passport Destruction/Mutilation
- Affidavit of Consent (Minor’s Passport Application & Travel)
- Affidavit of Support and Consent and SPA (Minor’s Passport, DSWD Clearance & Travel)
- Sworn Affidavit of Filipino Citizenship (for passport)
- Travel Document Application Form (FA Form 79B )
Reminders Before Proceeding to the Consulate
Health Protocols
ONLY ONE PERSON IS ALLOWED
FACE MASK REQUIRED
TEMPERATURE LESS THAN 100.4F
Reminders After Passport Application
RELEASING OF NEW PASSPORT
BY MAIL
For passport releasing through mail, applicants should provide USPS Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope ($10.45), (FedEx no longer accepted).
Mail old passport for cancellation to:
Philippine Consulate General
556 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
Frequently Asked Questions
The passport remains at all times the property of the Philippine Government, the holder being a mere possessor thereof. The fraudulent acquisition, loss or destruction of the Passport is a crime punishable under the law, with penalties stipulated under RA 8239. The Consular Officer is authorized to determine if the applicant can apply for a passport, and what documentary evidence must be presented.
Only the Secretary of Foreign Affairs or any of his authorized consular officers may issue a Philippine passport
- Only citizens of the Republic of the Philippines are entitled to a Philippine passport.
- Former Filipino Nationals who are naturalized citizens of foreign countries are no longer entitled to use or renew their Philippine passports, having lost their Philippine citizenship (Commonwealth Act No. 63 of 1936)
- Those who have acquired foreign citizenship by naturalization but have reacquired Philippine citizenship upon taking the oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines in accordance with R.A. 9225 the “Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003″ may apply for Philippine passports, if they satisfy the requirements of R.A. 8239 “The Philippine Passport Law”
In the interest of national security, public safety and public health, a consular officer may refuse to issue a passport, restrict its use, withdraw or cancel a passport.
In view of the need to determine an applicant’s current citizenship, a consular officer may require an applicant to present a valid document of foreign residency i.e., a US Permanent Resident Card, US Visa, INS notice, etc.
No matter what your status is here in the US, you can apply for a Philippine Passport, provided that you can show us that:
- You are who you say you are – Proof of Identity
- You are still a Filipino citizen – Proof of Citizenship
What the Consulate verifies is the truth of the Oath signed by all passport applicants, which says:
“I solemnly swear under penalty of law that I am a Filipino; I am the person in the attached photograph; the thumbprints on this form are mine, I have never made false representations in any of my passport applications; the statements made on this Application Form are true and correct; and the attached supporting documents are authentic.”
All passports are printed by the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila. Regular passport applications received from Philippine Embassies/Consulates will be available from four (4) to six (6) weeks from the date of application. Applicants are advised to plan trips or interviews where they will need valid passports only after receiving the new passport.
No. You may renew your expired passport any time you wish.
However, we strongly recommend that you should have a valid passport with at least seven to eight (7-8) months validity prior to making any travel plans.
No passport photo is required. Your photo will be taken digitally by our Data Encoders during the passport application enrollment step. Please note of the following tips for posing during photo capturing :
- Straight frontal shot (no tilting of head)
- “Medium” smile (no teeth showing)
- Collared shirt/decent attire
- Both ears visible/both eyebrows visible (no bangs)
- Head scarf/veil for religious or health reasons allowed
Image can be rejected for the following reasons:
- Distorted image – head is tilted or smile is too wide
- Women – excessive makeup, large earrings
- Men – wearing makeup, earrings
- Colored contact lenses that disguise the natural color of the applicant’s eyes. Clear contact lenses however, are allowed.
- Use of headgear other than scarf/veil for religious or health reasons
- Use of eyeglasses/shades
- Poor photo quality/poor or uneven lighting
The applicant is advised to present documents to justify the need to change/amend data found on his/her passport. The Consular Officer reserves the right to require further proof. Applicant is further advised that implementing changes/amendments may not be carried out immediately, but may require corresponding with the Philippine Statistics Authority.
The Consulate will not cancel a passport as long as it is valid. The applicant is only required to present it to Consulate for cancellation once the new passport arrives. Once cancelled, the old passport will also be returned to the applicant.
In accordance with Department Order No. 010-2017 or the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 10928 (2017), the Philippine passport has a ten-year validity period, for those issued to Filipinos 18 years or older. Filipinos under 18 years will still be issued five-year valid passports.
No. The Philippine passport has a standard booklet containing forty-four (44) pages. Should the passport run out of pages, you need to renew your passport.
Yes. You may request for a Certificate of Unclaimed Passport from DFA-Aseana or the concerned Consular Office or Philippine Embassy/Consulate, and submit this certification together with your application.
No. Your passport must be at least six-months valid for you to be able to travel abroad.
However, Filipinos who are currently abroad may travel back to the Philippines even if their passport are less than 6-months valid.
No. Expired and Renewed passports do not affect the validity of the foreign visas. However, you must bring your old passport with valid visas along with your new passport when travelling. When in doubt, consult the Foreign Embassy that issued your visa.
No. Stapling documents, especially on the covers, and putting unnecessary designs or accessories may damage the passport or which might damage the chip and make the ePassport invalid.
Before leaving the consular office, make sure that you check the details of your new passport carefully. If the details on your passport are incorrect, such as your name, sex or date of birth, you may reapply for a passport and pay the regular passport fee of $60.00.