#phpassport

[jazzymesnazzy-blog]

Finally nakuha din!!!! #phpassport #passport #readyfortravel https://www.instagram.com/p/B9BFR0BJxdRgRwfbcRC30tD6a7ZSdyRZG0E9ZI0/?igshid=13vz84cf1wsco

[ysabellesjourney]

We received something cute today 😆🙊😊😂 #passport #travelbuddies #familygoals #phpassport

[acsec]

my Turkish vacation starts today! excited for Istanbul 🇹🇷❤️ to my dearest passeport, you will retire soon, you had served me well, merci beaucoup ❤️ #amazingadventuresofbeaujethro #vacation #vacances #passport #phpassport #istanbul #nice #france #airport #airplane #merci #thankyou (at Aéroport Nice Côte d'Azur)

[traveltheworldwithme]

How To Get A Philippine Passport (Updated: May 14, 2017)

A Philippine passport is a must-have before you’re allowed to go outside your country. (Visas are another matter.) Before, it was really a hassle to get your passport because of the limited places where you can get one. In the past years, however, they’ve introduced those satellite offices where you can get them and they’re conveniently located at malls. Still, the lines are very long and it can take a really long time, sometimes even a whole day plus more, to apply for a passport.

Just recently they required those who want to apply for a passport or renew to set an appointment online. It is hassle-free for those people who just want to stay at home and for those who have internet connection because they can easily look at the place they want to apply to, see when’s the available time, fill-out the forms, and set an appointment!

While this is convenient, if you want to apply for a passport immediately, it is not possible for most places because slots get filled-out faster than you can drink a glass of water. I just checked the DFA-Angeles site and the earliest date you can get scheduled is on June 15, as of March 24. It’s more than 2 months before you can apply for one! Unfortunately, I don’t know how to obtain an earlier schedule if you’re in a rush. You can ask travel agencies to do it for you but remember that they’ll charge fees on top of the passport fees you need to pay.

Enough introduction! Let me take you step-by-step on how to get a passport.

STEP 0:

HAVE A G-MAIL OR YAHOO E-MAIL ACCOUNT OPEN

I have heard of failed scheduling of appointment because of their e-mail accounts. That being said, please just have a working e-mail with G-Mail or Yahoo. I personally prefer G-mail, I never had any problems with it. I receive the appointment confirmation fast, so I suggest you do this.

STEP 1:

SET AN APPOINTMENT

To schedule an appointment, you must go here. You can choose to have an individual appointment or a group appointment if you’re applying with your friends or family. Just make sure though that you have all the needed details as you will be filling out the application forms for them as well. Better yet, just be with them the moment you start setting up an appointment. You should tick the box saying that you understand the terms and conditions. You should read it, though, for your information as well. :)

STEP 1-A:

CHOOSE WHERE YOU WANT TO APPLY

There are drop-down boxes there and you can choose where you want to apply. After choosing, click next.

STEP 1-B:

CHOOSE DATE AND TIME

In the next page, there’s a calendar there. Click on the date to see available time slots. In my opinion, it’s better to get the earliest one if possible and stick to it. That way, you will finish early and you’ll still have at least half a day left. However if you have work or if you’re busy, you can always choose other time slots. Just make sure that you can go there at least 30 minutes before your chosen time.

STEP 1-C:

FILL-OUT THE APPLICATION FORMS

In the next pages, you’ll be asked to fill-out the application forms. Fill it out as accurately as possible because I don’t think you can edit it once you’ve submitted it. Make sure that you have the correct spelling of your name, your correct birthday, address, and all those required information. Also, as I’ve stated in Step 0 of this guide, make sure to have a working e-mail address.

After submitting the form, they will send you a confirmation link on your e-mail address. You should click that link to confirm your application.

Yay, your appointment is now confirmed! I would assume that your appointment will be after a month or so still. So while waiting for that day to come, you need to secure your requirements for your passport.

STEP 2:

SECURE THE REQUIREMENTS NEEDED FOR YOUR PASSPORT APPLICATION

The full list of requirements needed is in their website. For new applicants, click here for the requirements. For renewals, click here for the requirements.

STEP 2-A:

SECURE A PSA-AUTHENTICATED BIRTH CERTIFICATE

Your birth certificate should be the one issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA, formerly National Statistics Office or NSO). You can search for guides on where to get one as I am not well-versed on that, but I can share my experience when I got mine.

I requested for my birth certificate at SM City Clark, SM Business Center. You just have to go at the Business Center, tell them you’re getting a birth certificate, and they’ll give you a form which you’ll then fill-out. After filling it out, you would go to the cashier and pay it. One copy is Php 140 plus Php 20 for the service fee, so total is Php 160 per copy. You can request for more than one copy to save you the hassle of requesting it again in case you need it in your Visa application. Take note that the DFA will get your original PSA-authenticated birth certificate and not just a photocopy of it.

I requested 3 copies (because I’ll be applying for a Visa, and I need the other one for my school) along with my two sisters and our dad. After paying, they’ll give you a receipt with the date on when you’ll get your birth certificate. We got ours 2 weeks after. I’m not sure if it’s because we requested for a lot or if many people requested for their birth certificates on that week. I remember before that I got mine after just one week, but that was a long time ago.

FAQs ON REQUESTING A BIRTH CERTIFICATE AT SM MALLS

Can you request for the birth certificate of other persons?

Yes, I have seen in the form that there’s an information there where if you’re not the one getting a birth certificate, you should indicate it there.

Can you receive the birth certificate of other persons?

Yes, provided that you have a signed authorization letter from that person, a photocopy of his ID with signature, and a photocopy of your ID.

(May 14, 2017 update) IMPORTANT! If for some reason you have a birth certificate which is registered late, you need to secure these things:

This image is taken from DFA Calasiao. My friend was not able to apply for a passport because they needed these things. The source is a memorandum, apparently. This is not listed on their website but to be sure, please secure these requirements beforehand.

STEP 2-B:

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE VALID IDs/SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS REQUIRED IN APPLYING FOR A PASSPORT

The list of valid IDs and supporting documents are on the third page of your application form from DFA which was e-mailed to you. You can download the PDF of your application form and refer to it.

I have a valid Driver’s License and a Voter’s ID. Both are considered as VALID IDs in the list. The list provides that you should have at least 1 VALID ID and at least 3 SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS. Just to be safe, I also requested for my NBI Clearance as a supporting document, but I didn’t need to submit it there.

FAQs ON VALID IDs/SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS REQUIREMENTS

I’m still a minor (less than 18 years old). How do I apply for a passport?

The link I provided above gives the requirements for minor applicants. Please do check it out.

I’m above 18 years old already but I don’t have any government-issued ID because I’m still a student, what should I do?

My two sisters, 19 years old, and 18 years old, just showed their school ID and their certificate of enrollment from their school and it was accepted. I’m not sure if this applies to every DFA branch. We prepared other documents such as a Police Clearance, and an old school ID in case they’ll need it. However as I’ve stated, they didn’t really ask for it.

STEP 3:

HAVE YOUR APPLICATION FORM PRINTED, YOUR IDs PHOTOCOPIED, AND BRING A BALLPEN

Before heading to the DFA on your appointment, you should bring your application form. Print the application form in A4-sized bond paper. You only need one copy of this. Do not sign it, just bring it.

Have your IDs photocopied in A4 size as well for uniformity. You just need one copy of your ID.

You don’t need to have your birth certificate photocopied because they’ll get the original.

You need to bring a pen because you’ll be filling out forms.

STEP 4:

GO TO THE DFA BRANCH YOU CHOSE WHEN YOU APPLIED AT LEAST 30 MINUTES EARLIER

The next guide will be based on my experience at DFA-Angeles, Marquee Mall branch.

I set up a group appointment with my 2 sisters and we went there last February 21, 2017. The time we chose was the 1PM-2PM slot. We went there at 12NN and we asked if we can already line up.

We went to the space on the left, facing the DFA main entrance. It’s where the Pag-ibig, NSO, and other agencies’ offices are located. We approached the guard seated there (there’s a table on the left side when you enter) and he asked for our application forms. He just checked the names and asked us to sign our application forms. After that he asked us to sit in the waiting area and wait for our names to be called.

While waiting, you’ll see a TV there with a slideshow of the process, and the things you should not wear and all those guidelines. Also, located on a table are the dates when you’ll get your passport if you’ll choose the regular processing, which is Php 950 or the rush processing, which is Php 1,200. On that day, February 21, the claiming of the passport for regular processing is on March 21, while the rush one is February 10 if I’m not mistaken. As our trip is still on May, we just chose the regular processing to save up on fees.

After about 10 minutes, our names were called and we were asked to proceed to the main entrance. On the main entrance, they’ll give you your application form, a waiver form, and a feedback form, together with your number. You’ll be asked to sit there and wait for your number to flash on the screen.

PROCESSING

This is where we waited for a long time. We were seated, yes, but it really took a long time. I guess it’s because it’s lunch break and some took their breaks that’s why there’s not many employees there to process documents. Still, what made it long are the people with incomplete or inconsistent documents. They have to explain everything to them one by one, so just imagine how long it will take per person.

(May 14, 2017 update) If you go before lunch time, processing is faster because most, if not all, of them are not on break yet.

Before our number, I guess there are about 30 persons to be called still, not including the senior citizens who are given priority.

During the waiting time, fill-out the waiver given to you, and also fill out the details in the feedback form given to you. You don’t need to complete the feedback form yet, you have to complete it after you’re done with everything. The waiver however must be filled out already as it will be submitted in the processing stage along with your application form.

Also, prepare your ID and your documents while waiting. Take out the IDs you had photocopied as they will still look at it in the processing stage. Prepare the application form, your birth certificate, and photocopy of your IDs or supporting documents. Include the waiver as well as they’ll ask for it there.

After about 2 hours of waiting, we went to the processing one by one and the officer there just checked the details if they’re consistent. After that you’ll be asked to go to the payment part.

PAYMENT

After the processing area comes the payment. You have to go there and sit first and wait for your name to be called by the guard there. When he calls your name, you’ll get your application forms back and you have to go to the cashier to pay. After paying, you’ll be asked to get seated again and wait for your number to flash on the screen.

PICTURE-TAKING, FINGERPRINT, SIGNATURE

When your number is flashed on the screen, go to the counter where it’s flashed and you’ll have your picture taken, and your fingerprints as well. Remember to remove any jewelry as this is not allowed.

When your photo is being taken, you’re allowed to smile but you should not show your teeth. You’ll also be asked to put your hair at the back as your ears should show in the picture.

After this they’ll take your fingerprints and you’ll sign. They’ll also ask you to check the information they’ve inputted for errors.

After that, it’s done!

After the waiting period in the processing area, the next steps just took around 10 minutes tops. It’s really fast and hassle-free.

Now you have to go back on the date indicated in your receipt!

STEP 5:

GO BACK TO CLAIM YOUR PASSPORT

There’s a releasing area on your right side facing the main entrance, you should go there. You can ask the guard there on where to line up. We lined up outside and we had to fill out this logsheet and give our receipt. After that we were ushered inside to wait there. After just around 5 minutes or less, our names were called and they gave us our passports already! They’ll ask you to check if it’s correct and all that.

After that, you’re done! You can buy a passport cover there as well but we didn’t buy one because we wanted a cute passport cover, which we still don’t have unfortunately.

It took less than 10 minutes to get our passport, totally hassle-free!

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If this guide still is not enough and you have more questions, feel free to hit me up through my Ask or send me an e-mail at [email protected]. You can also leave a comment below on my Disqus comment box.

Thank you for reading this!

(Posted on March 24, 2017)

(Edited on May 14, 2017)