Archive for the 'FAQs' Category
How to renew or apply for your Philippine passport
(in less than an hour)
I recently entertained the thought of going out of country this year – Japan preferably. I browsed some sites, check the requirements, and realized that my passport is due to expire in May 2010! That means unless I renew my passport soon, it will be a very long wait to go out of country.
I was hesitant though, because the last time I had my passport renewed, I had to wait in queue. I hate waiting. So I was surprised to find out that you can now actually schedule an appointment in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for a hassle-free passport application or renewal through the DFA appointment system online! (Warning: this feature is applicable only in DFA Manila)
What’s really great about this is that I was able to renew my passport in less than an hour! I find this really amazing especially for a Philippine government agency that I just have to post this. I’m pretty sure a lot of people would love to avail of this fast way to renew or apply for a Philippine passport.
DFA is currently offering two types of passports – the ePassport and the Machine Readable Passport or MRP.
The difference between getting the Philippine ePassport and MRP
Both MRP and ePassport appointment system can be used for renewal. At the moment though, only applicants for passport renewal may apply for the DFA ePassport Appointment System. Only 100 ePassport applicants can be accommodated daily which definitely ensures a smooth-sailing, fast process.
New passport applicants, Senior Citizens (more than 60 years old), and others not qualified can apply for the Machine Readable Passport Online Appointment System in the DFA website. Again, the MRP appointment system can also be used for passport renewals.
Lost passports and others not qualified can still avail of the Appointment System by Personal Appearance at the Gate 2 of the DFA, Pasay City.
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For the technical details on the difference between e-Passport and MRP you can check out the detailed post at notoffline.com.
You can click here to know more about the Philippine ePassport
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Once you have decided which type of passport you would like to apply for, below are quick steps on
How to get an e-Passport vs. MRP
| 8 Easy Steps | ePassport | Machine Readable Passport or MRP |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Set an appointment at the DFA WebsiteNote: You will need these information: a. Full name of applicant (first name, middle name and surname) b. Date of birth c. Place of birth d. Birth Right (legitimate/illegitimate) e. Latest Passport Number and Date and Place of Issuance f. Full Fathers Name & Mothers Maiden Name g. Contact Information - phone, address, e-mail address |
Make an ePassport Appointment here | Make an MRP Appointment here |
| 2. Check your email to see if you have successfully submitted your request for an appointment. The email subject is: | YOUR E-PASSPORT APPOINTMENT |
MRP APPOINTMENT |
| 3. Another email will be sent to you within 1-7 days with the confirmed Date, Time, and Reference Number of your scheduled appointment with this subject:Note: check your spam/junk mail as well to make sure it did not get filtered as spam | RE: E-PASSPORT APPOINTMENT | RE: OCA-SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT |
| 4. Print a copy of the email with the schedule and prepare all the documentsNote: you can easily get and fill up the passport application form on the day of your appointment at the information desk inside the basketball court near DFA Gate 2 |
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| 5. On the day of the appointment, ignore everyone who will approach you near the DFA and just proceed to… | proceed to Gate 3, window 26-28, of DFA-Pasay City (for documents verification) | proceed to Gate 2, windows 1-4 of the DFA-Pasay City (for documents verification) |
| 6. After documents verification you will be paying for the passport | Pay at any of the Cashier window 1-4 near Gate 3 entrance | Pay at any of the Cashier window near Gate 2 entrance |
| 7. Passport data input | Proceed to 2nd floor for the digital picture, signature, and thumb scanningUsing your application form as reference, a DFA employee will input your passport data in a computer, print it, and have you sign the printed document to confirm that those information are correct.The queue is very short here with 12 DFA employees processing the documents. | Proceed to the auditoriumUsing your application form as reference, a DFA employee will input your passport data in a computer, print it, and have you sign the printed document to confirm that those information are correct.The queue is long here but there are a lot of DFA employees processing the documents so it’s also quite fast. |
| 8. Wait for the passport release (7-14 working days, depending on what you opted) | Done! ^_^ | Done! ^_^ |
| Optional | Proceed to the LBC desk and apply for the door-to-door passport delivery. The fee is Php 100 only. | Proceed to the LBC desk and apply for the door-to-door passport delivery. The fee is Php 100 only. |
Map to DFA Manila
Here’s a map to help you find and locate DFA Manila:
Even though you have already set an appointment, I suggest you still go there an hour before your appointment to give a leeway for unpredictable occurrences. Do make sure you have all the requirements before going to DFA.
So, what are you waiting for? Avoid the long queue, set an appointment at DFA, and go get your passport in less than an hour! ^_^