As flights and hotel rooms become more affordable, an increasing number of Filipinos are discovering the joys of traveling abroad. Add to that loosening visa requirements, and you have swaths of the population just raring to travel.
Of course, before you pack your bags and apply for that visa, you need to get a Filipino passport first. If you’re a first time applicant, there’s no need to look any further as we’ve gathered all the Filipino passport requirements here:
1. Birth Certificate
There are several types of birth certificates you can submit. One of them is issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in Security Paper. The other is a certified true copy issued by the local civil registrar (LCR). If entries in your birth certificate are blurred and/or unreadable, you will need to supply a transcribed birth certificate from your LCR.
What do you do if you don’t have a birth certificate? These are your options:
If born in or after 1950 (January 1, 1950 or after):
• Apply for the delayed registration of birth at the local civil registry office located at the place of birth of applicant
• Submit authenticated Birth Certificate from PSA and supporting public document/s with correct date and place of birth (i.e. Form 137, Voter’s Registration Record, Baptismal Certificate with readable dry seal or National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) with photo and readable dry seal for Muslim applicants).
If born before 1950 and below (December 31, 1949 and below):
• Certificate of Non-Availability of Record from PSA
• Notarized Joint Birth Affidavit of Two Disinterested Persons
• Any public document/s with correct full name, date and place of birth (i.e. Baptismal Certificate with readable dry seal or NCMF Certificate with photo and readable dry seal for Muslim applicants)
2. Valid Picture ID
The valid picture ID and other supporting documents are to prove your identity. Here are some of the IDs that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will accept.
- Digitized SSS ID
- Driver’s License
- GSIS E-card
- PRC ID
- IBP ID
- OWWA ID
- Digitized BIR ID
- Senior Citizen’s ID
- Unified Multi-Purpose ID
- Voter’s ID
3. Application Form
You can download the application form from the Department of Foreign Affairs website. Make sure that you read the instructions properly and accomplish it correctly.
4. Confirmed Appointment
Appointments can be made on the DFA website. Passport appointment schedules are usually fully booked and the slot you may get might be three months into the future. Schedule your travel period accordingly.
5. Personal Appearance
Once you’ve got the date for your appointment, be sure to make it on time for your appointment. You’re barred from making another appointment for the next 30 days if you don’t show up.
There are also specific requirements for other first-time applicants, which they have to bring in addition to the one’s we’ve listed above. We’ve also compiled them here:
For Married Women:
• Bring a marriage contract in Security Paper issued by the PSA. You can also bring an original and photocopy of the certified true copy of the marriage contract issued by the LCR and duly authenticated by PSA. A transcribed marriage contract from the LCR is required when entries in PSA Marriage Contract are blurred or unreadable.
• Report of Marriage duly authenticated by PSA if married abroad
• Original and photocopy of Commission of Filipino Overseas (CFO) Guidance and Counseling Certificate of Attendance (required for women with foreign national husband).
Applicants who availed of Dual Citizenship under RA 9225:
• Identification Certificate of Retention or Re-acquisition
• Oath of Allegiance
• Order of Approval
Applicants who elected for Philippine Citizenship:
• Identification Certificate of Election
• Oath of Allegiance
• Affidavit of Election of Philippine Citizenship
Applicants who have been Naturalized:
• Identification Certificate of Naturalization
• Oath of Allegiance
For Muslim Applicants
For late registered Muslim applicants:
• Certificate of Tribal Affiliation from the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos
For converts who would like to use their Muslim name:
• Annotated Birth Certificate (BC) in Security Paper issued by the PSA bearing the Muslim name
• National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Certificate of Conversion
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