Since 2 June 2008, the Philippine Embassy and
Consulates General in the U.S. have been accepting and processing
applications for Machine Readable Passports (MRP). This is in compliance
with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO) for its member states, including the Philippines, to issue MRPs
not later than 1 April 2010.
Since applications are sent to the Department of
Foreign Affairs in Manila via diplomatic pouch, it may take
six weeks for a passport to
be released to the applicants, from the time the application is
accepted. Personal appearance
is required for data verification, finger-printing and signature
capture.
Applications by
mail are no longer accepted.
In compliance with the new
photo requirements for the MRP, applicants are requested to visit the
Consulate’s website (www.philippineconsulatela.org).
While some
countries may still honor
valid green Philippine
passports beyond 1 April 2010 as
bona fide travel documents
until they expire, most
countries will require
travelers to be holders of either
machine readable passports
or e-passport for their
sojourn by 2010.
In this regard, all Philippine
passport holders are advised
to renew their Philippine
passport six months prior to
its expiration, in
accordance with ICAO regulations, and
to secure their
plane
tickets only after they have
received their
new passport.
All Filipinos,
including those with valid green passports, are therefore
encouraged
to apply for their machine
readable passports as early as
possible.
Los Angeles, 29 January 2009
A. Passport Renewal
Following are
the requirements when applying for passport renewal:
· Children below 8 yrs. Old/ their application should be filed by either parent;
·
65 yrs old and above/ their
application should be notarized and filed by the authorized next of kin
as indicated in the application form;
2.
Original of the most recent expired
passport and photocopies of data page/s
3.
Duly accomplished passport application form (this
could be downloaded at
www.philippineconsulatela.org)
4.
Three (3) identical Passport size (1.77”X 1.37”)
colored pictures with royal blue background (See Picture Requirements at
www.philippineconsulatela.org);
5.
If applicant is minor and traveling unaccompanied by
either parent: a notarized Affidavit of Consent to travel should be
executed by both parents;
6.
Minor applicants aged above 8 yrs old and below 18 years
old should be accompanied by either parent;
7.
For holders of expired passports that do not reflect
their Middle names in full, one certified true copy and one photocopy of
National Statistics Office (NSO) Birth Certificate or other available
legal documents spelling out their middle name will be required.
8.
The applicable fees for passport renewal are as follows:
a.
Passport Renewal Fee: $50.00
b.
Priority Mail: US $6.00
c.
Express Mail: US $20.00
Requirements are the same as renewal requirements
except for item # 2. In addition, applicant must additionally bring
his/her AUTHENTICATED BIRTH CERTIFICATE from the National Statistics
Office or REPORT OF BIRTH (ROB) if born outside the Philippines.
Following
requirements when applying for replacement of lost passport
1.
Personal Appearance is required for all applicants.
2.
Duly-accomplished application form.
3.
Duly Notarized Affidavit of Loss stating the
circumstances of the passport’s loss
4.
Police report in case passport was lost due to
robbery/theft or other similar incidents.
5.
Three (3) identical passport sized picture
(1.77”x1.37”) colored pictures with royal blue background (see Picture
Requirements at
www.philippineconsulatela.org)
6.
National Statistics Office (NSO) authenticated Birth
Certificate
7.
Available photo identification Cards
8.
The applicable fees for Lost Passport are as follows:
a.
Notarization Fee: US $25.00 (If applicant wishes his/her
Affidavit of Loss notarized by the Consulate
b.
Verification Fee: US $10.00
c.
Lost Passport Fee: US$90.00 (to be paid only after the 15
working day verification period and encoding)
D. Additional Requirements for Special
Circumstances
1.
For married women using husband’s surname for first time:
a.
NSO authenticated Copy of Marriage Certificate and its
photocopy if marriage was performed in the Philippines;
b.
Certified true copy of Report of Marriage (ROM) and its
photocopy if marriage was performed outside the Philippines
2.
For woman who was divorced by her foreign husband and
wishes to revert to maiden name:
a.
Original or certified true copy of Judicial Decree of
Divorce from a foreign court and its photocopy. In addition, if divorce
was granted in another foreign jurisdiction, the Judicial Decree of
Divorce must be duly authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or consular
post which has jurisdiction over the place where divorce is obtained;
b.
Report of Divorce and its photocopy
E. Procedures
The following
procedures /steps shall be observed when applying for passport:
Get and
accomplish the new or renewal of application form;
Get the
service number and wait for number to be called;
When called,
proceed to Window 1 or 2. Present application form and supporting
documentary requirements to consular processor. If requirements are
complete, encoding follows. In case of incomplete requirements,
applicant will be notified of the needed requirements by the
consular processor;
If requirements are
complete, the Computer Generated Form (CGF) will be printed and
applicant will review encoded data for accuracy/correctness.
Processor will affix picture and applicant will be asked to sign and
affix thumb prints on CGF;
Applicant
will bring original application form to Cashier and pay appropriate
fees. If applicant wishes to receive new passport by mail,
additional mailing fee will be assessed by cashier.
Passport Renewal
Fee: $50.00
For Lost
passports:
Notarization Fee:
US $25.00 (If applicant wishes his/her Affidavit of Loss notarized by
the Consulate)
Verification Fee:
US $10.00
Lost Passport
Fee: US$90.00 (to be paid only after the 15 working day verification
period and encoding)
Priority Mail:
US $6.00
Express Mail: US
$20.00
Cashier
issues official receipt;
Processing and transit of passport to and from Manila may take at least 6 weeks.
-rev%20copy.jpg)
For more information on the new photo requirements for the machine readable passport, kindly visit the website of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs at www.dfa.gov.ph or click HERE.
FREQUENTLY-ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) ON MRP
WHAT IS A MACHINE READABLE PASSPORT?
A Machine Readable Passport (MRP) is a passport where the personal details of the applicant are printed in such a way that it can be read by the naked eye and at the same time, it contains a “machine readable zone” containing the personal data of the passport holder that can be read by a machine or computer.
WHAT ARE THE OTHER FEATURES OF THE MACHINE READABLE PASSPORT?
The MRP is maroon in color, contains 44 pages and the data page is computer printed while the old Philippine passport (Non Machine Readable) is green in color, contains 32 pages and the data page is manually scripted.
IS THERE A NEW PHOTO REQUIREMENT FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A MACHINE READABLE PASSPORT?
Yes, you must have your passport photo taken against a Royal Blue color background instead of a white background. This new requirement is necessary because the security feature encoded in the Printed Photograph of the holder is more pronounced against a royal blue background.
MUST I APPEAR PERSONALLY AT THE CONSULATE?
Yes, all applicants whether for the renewal of a passport or those applying for the first time MUST appear personally before a Consular Officer at the Consulate to affix his thumb mark and sign his application form.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A MACHINE READABLE PASSPORT?
Since a Machine Readable Passport has a machine readable zone that can be read by a machine or computer, the processing of travelers at ports of entry and exit is faster because the data in the passport can be read by the machine and stored automatically in the database of immigration offices. This means greater convenience and security for the traveler. In the past, the information is manually encoded in the database.
With the MRP’s superior security features compared to the green passports, it virtually eliminates the possibility of identity theft and acts of fraud
HOW CAN I GET A MACHINE READABLE PASSPORT?
Only the Department of Foreign Affairs issues Machine Readable Passports at the Main Office located at 2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City. Effective 2 June 2008, overseas Filipinos in the United States of America may also apply at the nearest Philippine Foreign Service Post (Embassy or Consulate).
HOW MUCH IS A MACHINE READABLE PASSPORT?
The passport fee remains the same at US$50.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO PROCESS A NEW PASSPORT? TO RENEW A PASSPORT?
The new passport may be released within six (6) weeks from the receipt of application. Due to the heavy volume of applications received daily, patience is requested from the applicants.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MY OLD GREEN PASSPORT SINCE IT IS NOT YET EXPIRED?
While some countries may still honor valid green Philippine passports beyond 1 April 2010, as bona fide travel documents until they expire, most countries will require travelers to be holder of either the Machine Readable Passport (MRP) or e-Passport for their sojourn by 2010.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE RENEWAL OF PASSPORTS?
Following is a list of requirements:
1. Personal appearance is required for all applicants except for the following:
o Children below 8 years old. Their application should be filed by either parent;
o 65 years old and above. Their application should be notarized and filed by the authorized next of kin as indicated in
the application form.
2. Original of the most recent-passport and photocopies of its data page/s.
3. Duly-accomplished passport application form.
4. Three (3) identical passport-sized (1.77”x1.37”) colored pictures with royal blue background.
5. If applicant is minor and traveling unaccompanied by either parent, a notarized Affidavit of Consent to Travel should be
executed by both parents.
6. Certified true copy and one photocopy of a birth certificate issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) or Report of
Birth (ROB) issued by the Consulate.
7. The applicable fees for passport renewal are as follows:
o Passport Renewal Fee : US$50.00
o Priority/Express Mail : US$ 6.00/$20.00
Note: Payments shall be in cash, cashier's check or postal money order, payable to the Philippine Consulate
General.
Applicants can download the form from the Consulate’s website at www.philippineconsulatela.org.
Applications sent by mail are no longer accepted.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR FIRST TIME PASSPORT APPLICANTS?
Requirements are the same as passport renewal requirements except item #2. In addition, applicant must bring his/her
AUTHENTICATED BIRTH CERTIFICATE
from the National Statistics Office (NSO)