Hoping to travel internationally soon? Make sure your passports are ready! Here's a quick guide to DFA passport appointment here in the Philippines.
What can you read in this article?
- Steps for online passport appointment
- Do minors need an appointment schedule from DFA?
- Check if there's a DFA Satellite Office in your area
We've been confined in our homes for too long that we're all eager to travel to a new place and let the kids experience new things. And now that travel restrictions have eased up and we are now allowed to go out, we can plan those family trips again.
But before you think of your next international destination, is your passport good to go, and does every member of the family have one?
Aside from the ongoing pandemic, Filipino families have been putting a pin on their travel plans as for the past months, it has been so hard to secure a new application or renew expired passports from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
While it's supposed to be easier now since the process for DFA passport appointment is done online, it was just so hard to schedule an appointment and get a slot from the DFA Consular website.
But good news! DFA has opened new passport slots so everyone can have a chance to apply for a passport or renew them in satellite offices near their area.
I was one of the "abangers" for DFA passport appointment slots since four out of five of us in the family had expired passports. And since we really want to travel when it's already safe for us to do so, having valid passports was really on my to-do list.
So every day, I would go to the website of the DFA Office of Consular Affairs and check if any slots opened up in the satellite offices near our place, but weeks passed and I had no luck.
So imagine my surprise when one morning, I just tried going to the website and there were slots available. I immediately picked a date, filled in all the required details, paid online, and within a few minutes, I was able to secure a passport appointment with DFA in the satellite office nearest to where we live.
On the date of our appointment, it was a smooth process as we had all the requirements. The whole process took less than an hour because minors, along with their companions were included in the courtesy lane. After a couple of weeks, we got our new passports!
Steps for online passport appointment
Because of the pandemic, all Philippine passport applications are strictly by online passport appointment basis only. So you will have to secure a lot by going to the DFA consular website.
If you're new to the process, simply follow the steps below:
Step 1: Schedule your DFA passport appointment
- Go to https://passport.gov.ph/appointment to schedule your DFA passport renewal appointment.
- Read and review the Terms and Conditions and scroll to the bottom.
- Tick the checkbox if you have read and understood the information.
- Click the Start Individual Appointment OR Start Group Appointment if you want to apply for more than one person.
Step 2: Input all the required personal information
The website gives you a time limit in filling in all the required fields, so make sure that you have all the information you will need ready. You will have to supply your:
- Personal Information
- Family Information
- Application Information
- Contact Information
- Group Contact Information
Regardless if you're applying as an individual or as a group, make sure that all information you key in are correct. Double-check everything because any error or discrepancy may result in delay or rejection of your Philippine passport application.
If you want to renew your application, it's best to have your old passport beside you so you can key in all the necessary details like your old passport number, where it was acquired and the expiration date.
Step 3: Wait for the email confirmation and pay the Philippine passport application fee
After completing your DFA online application, you will receive an email from appointment@passport.gov.ph with your reference number and payment instructions.
As of writing, Philippine passport fees are as follows:
- ₱950 for regular or 12 business days
- ₱1,200 for expedite or 6 business days
When you have the payment instructions, you must pay immediately as you only have 24 hrs to process the payment. You can opt to pay online via credit card or through these following payment centers:
- Bayad Center
- EcPay
- Pera Hub
- Robinsons Business Center and Department Stores
- Waltermart Department Store
- 7-Eleven
- USCC (Western Union)
- Villarica Pawnshop
Step 4: Show up for your scheduled appointment with all the necessary documents.
After you have paid the application fees, you will get a confirmation via email of your successful DFA appointment. Along with the email is a PDF file is attached containing some important reminders, steps at data capturing site, completed Philippine passport application form, and electronic receipt.
Print all the attached DFA passport requirements in an A4 paper and bring them with you when you personally appear on your scheduled Philippine passport renewal appointment.
For those with minors, you need to bring additional requirements such original and photocopy of their guardian's valid ID, and their valid IDs as well (if they have school IDs, that will suffice. If they're not studying yet, bring their birth certificates and make sure you have photocopies).
After your personal appearance and once you have finished all the steps in your DFA passport appointment, you can just wait for a week to have your passport delivered to your given address.
READ MORE:
Parents’ Guide: Step-by-step guide to applying a passport for baby
May National ID na ba ang anak mo? 5 steps sa pagkuha nito para sa adults at mga bata
Do minors need an appointment to apply?
Previously, minors were allowed to go to the consular offices without a schedule appointment (aka walk-in), but according to the DFA website, "due to the current health emergency arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, applications for consular services are strictly by appointment only."
However, after they present their passport application form and electronic receipt, minors 7 years old and below are admitted in the courtesy lane along with senior citizens, pregnant women and persons with disabilities, and even solo parents, where their application will be prioritized so they won't have to wait in the queues for a long time. Click here to learn more about DFA courtesy lane.
Is there a satellite office near you?
Aside from the consular offices in different parts of Metro Manila and different provinces, DFA has also launched temporary off-site satellite offices in more areas so there will be more slots for applicants and it will be easier for them to apply for a passport.
Here are the new satellite offices that have opened in 2021:
- Robinsons Las Pinas
- Robinsons Magnolia
- SM Aura
- SM Olongapo
- San Pedro Laguna
- Robinsons Novaliches
- Robinsons Lipa
- SM Manila
An off-site courtesy lane was also launched at Ayala Malls Glorietta to qualified applicants with urgent travel needs.
So, what are you waiting for? Head to the DFA Consular website and check if there are available slots in a DFA satellite office in your area.