How to apply for a Philippine passport?

Filipino citizens must have a Filipino passport to go abroad. Whether they apply for the first time or renew their passports, they can now make an appointment on the website of the Philippine Ministry of Foreign Affairs and even send their passports home by express. Application for a passport requires planning in advance, and the whole process takes about 6 to 12 weeks.

Documents to be prepared for the first application for a Philippine passport

1. Provide at least one valid ID with photos. You need to identify yourself with an ID. In the whole application process, it is needed to fill in the form and other links. The ID must be issued by the government with your photo on it. Valid identity documents issued by the Government include:

• Driver's license

• Digital Social Insurance Identification Card (SSS)

• Government Service Insurance System Electronic Card (GSIS)

• Professional Management Committee Identification Card (PRC

• Philippine United Bar Association Identification Card (IBP)

• Overseas Labor Welfare Administration Identification Card (OWWA)

• Digital Internal Revenue Service Identification Card (BIR)

• Senior Citizen Card

• The old university student card, alumni card, and old employment identification card are also valid identity documents.

2. In addition, you need to prepare three supporting documents to prove your citizenship together with photo identification documents. If it is not clear what the auxiliary documents mean, you can contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for more information. Usually when you contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to apply for an appointment, the customer service officer who calls you will explain what kind of supporting documents need to be prepared and presented. Auxiliary files can be yours:

• Vote card

• National Bureau of Statistics Marriage Certificate

• Land Certificate

• Seafarers card

• Primary school or Senior high school 137 form, or report card with steel printing

• Government service records

• Philippine National Bureau of Investigation certifies

• Police Department Certificate

• Village Certificate (Barangay Clearance)

3. Request a birth certificate from the National Bureau of Statistics. A birth certificate is required when applying for a passport for the first time. In most cases, a birth certificate is not required to renew a passport. Applications can be made on the website of the National Bureau of Statistics, fees can be paid online and processing can be tracked. You can also call the hotline (02) 737-1111 to apply for a birth certificate. They will send you the birth certificate.

• You can also go to the National Bureau of Statistics's local population survey centers and apply for a birth certificate in person. Use the Population Survey Center Address Query function to find the center closest to you. It can be a long queue to apply in person.

• The delivery time can be found on the website of the National Bureau of Statistics. In most cases, it can be received within 3 to 9 working days. If you apply in person at the population survey center, you can receive it within 2 to 3 working days.

• The National Bureau of Statistics is the main statistical agency in the Philippines and is responsible for maintaining demographic records.

4. Obtain marriage certificate. Depending on your personal status and spouse status, you may need a marriage certificate, together with your birth certificate and other supporting documents. A complete list of relevant additional requirements is available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

• Married women should submit a marriage certificate issued by the National Bureau of Statistics or a certificate issued by the local civil registration office and certified by the National Bureau of Statistics.

• The spouse of an expatriate or a non-citizen Filipino resident shall submit a marriage certificate issued by the National Bureau of Statistics or a certificate issued by the Local Civil Registry (LCR) and certified by the National Bureau of Statistics. The marriage must be reported to the National Bureau of Statistics before. Also provide the original and copy of the Philippine Overseas Commission (CFO) guidance consultation course attendance certificate.

• Persons married overseas should submit a marriage report certified by the National Bureau of Statistics.

• Marriage certificates are obtained in the same way as birth certificates are obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics.

5. If the applicant is under 18 years old, other documents, such as the parents' marriage certificate or passport copy, shall be submitted together with the applicant's birth certificate. Applicants are also required to provide supporting documents such as student ID cards. There is a complete list of relevant additional requirements on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the relevant requirements that minors are orphans or children born out of wedlock. The general documentation requirements are as follows:

• Birth certificate issued by the National Bureau of Statistics.

• Identity documents with photos, such as student ID cards and stamped 137 forms, are limited to applicants aged 8 to 17. If the minor has not attended school, parents need to provide a notarized affidavit detailing the reasons why the child did not attend school.

• If the parents of the minor are married, a marriage certificate issued by the National Bureau of Statistics is required.

• Copies of valid passports of both parents, or any other valid identification documents.

• The original and photocopy of the passport of the person traveling with the minor.

• If the child is born out of wedlock, all documents required by the parent shall be provided by the child's biological mother.

6. If the applicant is a Muslim, a sectarian certificate issued by the Philippine Muslim National Committee (NCMF) shall be submitted. To obtain this certificate, the applicant needs to apply in person at the Bureau of Foreign Relations (BER) and submit a passport-sized color photo.

If you want to use a Muslim name on your passport, you need to obtain a raised birth certificate from the National Bureau of Statistics, which will show your Muslim name.

7. If you have dual nationality, you need to provide proof of Philippine citizenship. These documents can prove your loyalty and citizenship to the Philippines and are issued by the Immigration Bureau. Maybe you already received these documents when you applied for dual citizenship. You need the following documents:

• Identity authentication

• Pledge of Allegiance

• Approval Letter

• Birth report (applicable to those born overseas)

8. Copy all identity documents and original documents. Make at least two copies of each document. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will not accept the original and copy when traveling to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.