In general, passport renewal is much easier than applying for the first time. but is the renewal process still the same during the pandemic?
We recently renewed our passports, and based on our experience, it’s pretty much the same. Understandably strict implementation of safety protocols are observed and the office hours and daily capacity have been adjusted to ensure proper social distancing. but other than that, not much has changed.
Welcome to our step-by-step guide to DFA PASSPORT RENEWAL. In this post, we’ll share with you the requirements you need to prepare, the steps you need to take, and some additional reminders and tips you might want to remember. Again, this is for RENEWAL. If it’s your first time applying for a passport, check this article instead: new PASSPORT APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS!
WHAT’S covered IN THIS GUIDE?
LIST OF PHILIPPINE PASSPORT renewal REQUIREMENTS1. online appointment Confirmation
2. duly Accomplished Form
3. current passport with photocopy of bio page
4. personal Appearance
POSSIBLE additional REQUIREMENTS
If you’re holding a non-ePassport
If your name has changed
If the applicant is a minor
If your current passport is lost or damaged
STEP-BY-STEP PHILIPPINE PASSPORT renewal PROCESS1. schedule an appointment online.
2. accomplish the online Application Form.
3. settle the Processing Fee.
4. Head to the DFA site you picked.
5. claim your new passport.
FREQUENTLY ASKED questions (FAQs)What are the acceptable IDs?
How early can I renew my passport?
I still have valid visas in my old passport. Can I still use them after I renew?
Can I apply in the province even if I’m not a resident there?
Does everyone need to get an appointment before applying?
I didn’t get an email when I secured an appointment so I don’t know my reference number. What should I do?
Can I reserve multiple appointment slots for myself just in case I change my mind?
I can’t make it on my appointment schedule. What can I do?
How to reschedule my appointment?
I missed my appointment. What can I do?
I found an error on the application form. Can I still change it?
What should I work on first if I need to get a DSWD Clearance, passport, and visa for a minor?
Do I really need to appear personally at the passport site?
How long does the application process take?
How many days should I expect to wait for the release of my passport?
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LIST OF PHILIPPINE PASSPORT renewal REQUIREMENTS
These are the requirements for the regular passport renewal:
1. online appointment Confirmation
You need to secure your slot by setting an appointment on the official website.
If you can, do it months before your desired travel date to give you enough lead time. due to the large volume of applications, slots fill up fast. We’ll discuss this further in the HOW-TO section below.
2. duly Accomplished Form
During the appointment process, you’ll be asked to fill out the application form so you don’t need to do this again. A link to your accomplished form will be sent to you via email and all you need to do is download and print it out (along with other attached documents).
But if, for whatever reason, you need a blank copy of the application form, you can get it here. You need to print it out on A4 size paper.
3. current passport with photocopy of bio page
Aside from the original copy of your current passport, you must also submit a photocopy of the bio page.
Usually, there are photocopy machines at the DFA center and photocopying services around the area. just to be sure, have it photocopied before your appointment schedule to avoid delays and wasting time.
4. personal Appearance
All applicants must be physically present at the DFA office on your appointment schedule.
The renewal process entails collecting your biometrics data and taking a photo of you. For passport photo capturing, take note of the proper attire or dress code. colored contact lenses and accessories like earrings, necklaces, or other facial piercings are not allowed during photo capturing.
POSSIBLE additional REQUIREMENTS
DFA announced that birth certificates for passport renewals are no longer required, but there are some exceptions. You still need to present your birth certificate if:
You lost or damaged your current passport.
You are holding old brown or green passport with no complete middle name.
You are making changes in your personal information.
You are included in the DFA watchlist.
Depending on your status or your current passport’s condition, here are other possible additional requirements for passport renewal:
If you’re holding a non-ePassport
If you’re holding a non-ePassport, provide the following:
original current passport
photocopy of the bio or date page
valid ID and a photocopy (See list of acceptable IDs in the FAQ section below)
Note that not all passports are ePassports. An ePassport has an integrated circuit chip ormicrochip where the biometrics data are stored. The DFA only started issuing ePassports in 2009. how to know whether you have an e-Passport or a non-ePassport? Here’s how to distinguish:
ePassport: There is a chip sign or icon at the bottom portion of your passport’s front cover.
Non-ePassport: It may be brown, green, machine readable passports (maroon), or any older passports. It doesn’t have the chip sign or icon on your passport front cover.
If your name has changed
Additional documents to prove and support the name change must be provided. depending on your situation, these are the documents needed. note that these must be PSA-authenticated.
Marriage Contract
Annotated Birth Certificate
Annotated marriage contract to show annulment/divorce/court ordered instruction
Death Certificate of Spouse
NOTE: You do not need to present your marriage contract if you recently married but you chose to keep your maiden name.
If the applicant is a minor
For minor applicants or those applying for a minor, these are the additional requirements:
Proof of affiliation and/or guardianship with one (1) photocopy. If you are presenting the minor’s Birth Certificate as proof, it must be PSA-authenticated. provide the original birth certificate printed on PSA security paper and a clear photocopy. If the PSA-authenticated Birth Certificate is not readable, get a copy from the local Civil Registrar.
School ID (if applicable)
Valid Government-issued ID of either parent with one (1) photocopy. See list of accepted IDs in the FAQ section below.
IMPORTANT! personal appearance of both the minor applicant and either parent (or authorized adult companion) is mandatory.
If only one parent is accompanying the minor, marriage Certificate must be presented. If the parents are unmarried, the mother must execute a special Power of attorney if she is not accompanying her child. special Power of attorney executed outside the Philippines must be authenticated by the Philippine embassy or Consulate in that foreign country.
If either parent can’t accompany the child for the application, a special Power of attorney must be executed by the parent to designate and authorize someone else to accompany and help the child through the application process. A copy of parent/s valid ID and/or passport attached to the special Power of attorney or Affidavit of support and Consent. The authorized adult companion must present his/her Passport or Valid Government-issued ID. See the list of acceptable IDs above.
If either parent is not traveling with the minor, DSWD Clearance and Affidavit of support and Consent must be submitted. Affidavit executed outside the Philippines must be consularized by the Philippine embassy or Consulate in that foreign country. The authorized adult companion must present his/her Passport or Valid Government-issued ID. See the list of acceptable IDs above.
NOTE: before the pandemic, minors aged seven (7) and below don’t need to secure an online appointment. They could just walk in and use the courtesy lane. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic health emergency, all courtesy lane service is strictly by appointment only.
Visit the DFA Consular website if you have other specific concerns and inquiries (no birth certificate, illegitimate child, etc.)
If your current passport is lost or damaged
Whether it’s an ePassport or non-ePassport, the process is the same for damaged or lost passport — new APPLICATION.
Therefore, you need to submit the requirements for a new passport application rather than the requirements for the passport renewal application. check the list of requirements here: new Application Requirements!
But wait! On top of the requirements for new passport application, you need to provide the following:
Lost VALID ePassport
– police report (English). submit the original and a photocopy.
– Affidavit of Loss (English). submit original and a photocopy.
– penalty Fee: PHP 350
– additional 15 days for clearing process
Lost EXPIRED ePassport
– Affidavit of Loss (English)
– penalty Fee: PHP 350
DAMAGED ePassport
– Surrender damaged passport
– Affidavit of Explanation
– penalty Fee: PHP 350
NOTES: If you lost your passport but were able to save a photocopy of it, you don’t need to present your birth certificate anymore, but make sure you bring that photocopy with you.
Visit the DFA Consular website or contact the DFA directly if you have other specific concerns and inquiries.
STEP-BY-STEP PHILIPPINE PASSPORT renewal PROCESS
1. schedule an appointment online.
Walk-in applicants are normally not allowed except for emergency and special cases. regular and non-emergency applicants must secure their slots by setting an online appointment.
As much as possible, do it months before your desired travel date to give you enough lead time. Nowadays, if you try to secure an online appointment, the earliest available slot is more or less two months away. To give you an idea, say you decide to get an appointment inNovember, the earliest available slot might be in December, or if you’re unlucky, January.
But if you’re really unlucky, there may be no more slots available. In this case, you can either wait and try again another day or find an available slot in another DFA site.
How to set an appointment online?
Visit the DFA online Passport appointment System website.
Read the Terms and Conditions, and then tick the box. This means that you have understood the terms.
There are two options: individual appointment and group Appointment. choose the one that’s applicable to you.
Choose a DFA office/branch. select the one nearest you or the one most convenient for you. later on, you can change it and check other branches if you are having a hard time securing a slot with your first choice. hit the next button.
Select a date and time from the provided calendar. The earliest open date is noted above the calendar. The dates in green are AVAILABLE, while those in RED are FULL.
The most challenging and frustrating part is finding an available slot. There are just a lot of applications per day and slots are quickly filled. The DFA has taken steps to improve the system to serve applicants better, but it can still take a lot of attempts to finally find availability. You may check other branches or try again later.
You may also try some of these tips:
Ensure that you have strong Internet connection. When slots become available, they are snatched easily by other applicants. They will not wait for your network to keep up.
List down all your preferred dates. This will give you more options in case the date you originally want is already full. This will save you time too. instead of spending precious seconds weighing other dates, you already have shortlisted the most convenient dates for you.
Decide quickly. Again, you are beating time here, so you must be decisive because slots can be taken in a snap. You see the date you want is still available one minute, but then it’s gone the next. afternoon schedules are usually the first to get filled.
Refresh the page. There are times when available slots pop out of nowhere. Well, these might be those slots reserved for applicants who failed to pay within the allotted time period.
Check the site regularly. As much as possible, the DFA opens additional slots daily. The system refreshes regularly, so check the site from time to time for possible additional slots.
Try searching at around these times: 6AM – 8AM, 12NN, and 9PM. available slots usually appear at these times, from Mondays to Saturdays (except holidays).
Search other DFA branches/offices. There are six (6) branches in Manila: DFA central (ASEANA), DFA NCR North (Robinsons Novaliches), DFA NCR Northeast (Alimall), DFA NCR West (SM Manila), DFA NCR east (Megamall), and DFA NCR South (Alabang). However, these NCR branches run out of slots real quick. If you desperately need to renew your passport, you may try looking at regional branches/offices.
UPDATE: In addition to the regular processing sites, the DFA has set up temporary Off-site Passport service (TOPS) facilities within Metro Manila that can process passport applications. These are:
– Robinsons Las Pinas
– Robinsons Magnolia, Quezon City
– SM Aura, Taguig
– SM mall of Asia, Pasay
– SM North EDSA, Quezon City
But certain restrictions apply. Passports processed at any of these TOPS sites will be shipped via courier, adding an extra 3 to 5 working days. payment for TOPS is via credit CARD or DEBIT CARD ONLY! Make sure you have your card with you when you start the appointment process.
When you get a slot, you need to finish the next step within 20 minutes or lose that slot.
2. accomplish the online Application Form.
After you get a slot, you will be directed to the next step, which is filling out the four-page online application form. Remember, you only have 15-20 minutes to complete this so prepare the following information:
Personal Information: