1.Who is entitled to a Philippine passport?
All Philippine citizens are entitled to a Philippine passport. This right can only be abridged for reasons of national security and the public good. Those who have acquired foreign citizenships, i.e. Filipinos who were naturalized in foreign countries, are no longer entitled to Philippine passports as they are considered to have renounced their Philippine citizenship.
2. I am an undocumented Philippine citizen (TNT). Can I apply for a passport? Will the Consulate help me?
The Consulate helps and protects ALL Filipinos, regardless of their immigration status. A Filipino who has no legal immigration status in the United States deserves the same assistance as that accorded to a legal resident.
3.Does the Consulate require the payment of taxes before it issues a passport?
The Consulate General no longer collects taxes from Filipino citizens residing abroad in accordance with the Comprehensive Tax Reform Code passed by Congress in 1997. Under the said law, income earned by Filipino citizens outside the Philippines are exempt from taxation.
4.What are the requirements for a first-time applicant for passport?
In order for an individual to qualify for a Philippine passport, the Consulate General must determine two things: the true identity of the individual and that the individual is a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines. For a detailed information on requirements and procedures that must be complied with by first-time applicants, see Passport Requirements and Procedures: First-Time Applicants.
5.How long does it take to process a new passport? to renew a passport?
If all documents required are submitted, the new passport may be released within six (6) weeks from the receipt of application. Due to the heavy volume of applications received daily, patience is requested from the applicants.
5.What are the requirements for the renewal of passports?
Personal appearance is required for those who wish to renew their passports. Application sent by mail are no longer accepted. In addition, individuals would not have to pay additional fees, other than the consular fees prescribed by Philippine law. A comprehensive list of requirements is included in the downloadable passport application form found in this site. Click here to go to the Machine-Readable Passports.
6.What constitutes valid proof of an emergency?
If you urgently need a travel document because of a serious emergency, such as a death in the family, then the particulars of the emergency should be faxed directly to the Consulate. In the case of a death in the family, for instance, the hospital should fax the death certificate directly to the Consulate.
Guidelines in Extending the Validity of Passports
In view of the longer period required for the processing and issuance of machine-readable passports (MRP) and pending the implementation of the e-Passport, the following guidelines shall be observed in the application for extension of the validity of Philippine passports:
1. The passport holder must personally file for the extension of his/her passport with the Consulate;
2. The passport to be amended has a validity of less than six months;
3. The extension of the validity is a measure to address emergency or meritorious cases;
4. The extension of the validity of passport should not be considered as an alternative in lieu of a renewal of the passport;
5. The passport holder must submit an application form for the amendment of the validity of the passport, with the affidavit and passport to the Consular Officer. In the affidavit, he/she must state:
a. The reason/s for the urgency of having the validity of the passport extended for one (1) year and that he/she cannot wait for the issuance of the MRP or e-Passport;
b. The affiant undertakes to apply for a new passport within the extended period of validity; and,
c. The affidavit must be duly authenticated by the Philippine Consulate where a person is applying for the renewal of the said passport.
6. If the Consulate finds the applicant's stated reason/s for extension to be meritorious, the validity of the passport may be extended for a period of not more than one (1) year from the date of the application;
7. In the application for the extension of the validity of his/her passport, the fee for affidavit required is waived as it addresses an emergency situation and is considered to be done gratis or free of charge. The applicant should only be charged with a flat fee of $20 for amendment of passport and shall be paid prior to any extension.
7.I just lost my passport. What should I do?
You must first immediately file a police report and execute an Affidavit/Sworn Statement stating the circumstances surrounding the loss of the passport. Second, apply for a replacement passport at the Consulate with as many of the documentary requirements as you can gather. While it is a good idea to apply immediately, you will eventually have to produce all of the required documents.
8. What are the requirements for the replacement of a lost passport?
Lost passports can only be replaced when the consular officer can determine that, in addition to meeting the minimum requirements for a Philippine passport, that the applicant has actually lost his or her passport.
The documentary requirements for the replacement of a lost passport are essentially the same as for a first time application. Additional supporting documents may also be required to establish the applicant's identity, Philippine citizenship, and the circumstances surrounding the loss of the passport.
In addition to the documentary requirements, the Consulate General has to receive clearance from the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila to replace a lost passport. Due to the significant volume of such cases, the mandatory waiting period for the clearance normally takes 15 working days (3 to 4 weeks - do not count Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays) and another six (6) weeks will be required for the issuance of the new passport.
A comprehensive list of requirements may be found in this site.
Source: Philippine Consulate General
