5 Easy Steps for Getting a Passport in the Philippines (A How-to Guide)

Getting a passport in the Philippines used to be very tricky, but not anymore! Now, you can get one in 5 easy steps. Let me tell you how!

Getting a passport is the biggest hurdle for many Filipinos who wish to travel, mainly due to the misconception that the application process is tedious and expensive. This isn’t true. Even without the help of a travel agent, you can get your own passport in no time. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has streamlined its passport application process, making it extremely simple and straightforward.

The folllowing sections describe the passport application process step-by-step, and don’t forget to read the tips that I’ve inserted at the end of each section!

Let’s begin!

Getting a Philippine Passport Step 1: Prepare your Birth Certificate and Valid ID’s

Getting a Passport in the Philippines: NSO Birth Certificate on Security Paper

The first step is a given: gather all the required legal documents. The required documents are:

1. Birth Certificate
   
   • Printed on NSO Security Paper
   
   
   • You can get one from any NSO Census Serbilis Center or you can order one by calling (02) 737-1111.
   
   


2. At least one Valid ID
   
   • Digitized SSS ID
   
   
   • Driver’s License
   
   
   • GSIS E-card
   
   
   • PRC ID
   
   
   • IBP ID
   
   
   • OWWA ID
   
   
   • Digitized BIR ID
   
   
   • Senior Citizen’s ID
   
   
   • Old College ID
   
   
   • Alumni ID
   
   
   • Old Employment IDs
   
   

Tips:

1. NSO Birth Certificate: If you need to get your NSO Birth Certificate really quickly, you can go to your Census Serbilis Center a few minutes before they open for business so you can be on top of the daily queue. This way, you can politely ask the NSO officer if it’s possible to claim your document in the afternoon. I have done this a couple of times and it worked.

2. Valid ID’s:  Valid ID’s are extremely important. However, if you don’t have one, the DFA officer will usually ask for some other proof of your identity. In some cases, they will ask for a high school or grade school yearbook with your picture in it: that’s what happened in my case.

Getting a Philippine Passport Step 2: Book an appointment with a DFA representative.

Getting a Passport in the Philippines: A Snapshot of the DFA Appointment-setting Page

Back then, passport applications are done by just walking into DFA consular offices, so applicants usually expect excruciatingly long queues and waiting times. Today, you can look forward to the new appointment system, which allows you to get in and out of the DFA offices in no time.

1. Go to Passport.com.ph


2. Fill out the forms completely.


3. Print the filled-out forms and take note of your appointment reference number.

Tips:

1. Appointment Dates: The DFA website allows you to choose from a set of dates and timeslots. However, the range of options depends on the number of applicants at the time. The more applicants there are, the worse your choices will be. Hence, I suggest that you take the schedule very seriously.

2. No Appointment System:  some consular offices such as DFA Region III in San Fernando, Pampanga,  don’t follow that appointment system.

Getting a Philippine Passport Step 3: Photocopy each document twice.

The DFA office will ask for photocopies of your IDs, Birth Certificate, and application form so make sure they’re ready.

Tip:

1. DFA’s On-site Photocopying Services: Each DFA consular office offers photocopying services but they charge heavy fees (like 2-3 pesos per page) and you’ll surely suffer from long queues, so have your docs photocopied somewhere else.

Getting a Philippine Passport Step 4: Go to DFA on the appointment date.

Getting a Passport in the Philippines: The DFA Passport Processing Section

1. Metro Manila applications are processed in DFA Aseana.


2. Provincial applications are processed in their corresponding regional offices.


3. The appointment involves 4 stages:
   
   • Stage 1: Show your appointment form to the DFA receptionist.
   
   
   • Stage 2: Get a queue number.
   
   
   • Stage 3: After submitting the documents and receiving a go-signal from the consular officer, go to the cashier to pay the processing fee:
   
   
   • Stage 4: Go to the encoding section for biometric data capture.
   
   

 

Tip:

1. Processing Fees:

Php 950 for regular processing (25 working days)

Php 1200 for expedited processing (15 working days)

2. No Regular Processing: Some regional/provincial DFA offices do not offer regular processing, i.e. prepare Php 1200 just in case. (e.g. DFA Region III – San Fernando Pampanga).

Getting a Philippine Passport Step 5: Claim your new passport on the scheduled release date.

Getting a Passport in the Philippines: Types of Philippine Passports

And there you go! If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to post a comment below and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible!

5 Easy Steps for Getting a Passport in the Philippines (A How-to Guide)