How to Apply for a Passport for Your Child

Are you planning to go on a holiday abroad with your child soon? Thankfully, you no longer have to go through the old application procedures, which were horrendously time-consuming and byzantine in complexity. Yes, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) now has a more efficient passport appointment system.

Everything you need to know about applying for a passport—whether you are getting one for your baby for the first time or renewing an existing one for an older child—can be found at the DFA’s passport appointment system website. Of course, nobody wants to go through the whole caboodle, so we are outlining just the things you need to know about acquiring a passport for minors.

There are two ways to initiate the application: you either call the DFA passport appointment hotline at (632) 737-1000 or apply online. For both procedures, you will need to provide personal information and choose an available date and time for your appointment.

1. When you call the DFA hotline, a customer care representative will help you schedule an appointment, and you will be asked to provide personal information, including the complete names of your parents, your address, and your existing passport number. Afterwards, you will be given a print code, which you need to input at the website passport.com.ph/print so that you can print a hard copy of your application. You will also be advised about the documentary requirements you need to bring on your appointment. Don’t worry! We have also outlined these things below.

2. If you choose to apply online instead, you just need to fill out an online application form, and choose an available date and time through the website’s online scheduling application (take note that the schedule slots can get filled up pretty fast). The DFA will email you a copy of your form along with your schedule.

Appointment
Now that you have secured a schedule, start preparing the documents required (see below).

On the day of your appointment:

• Make sure to arrive at the DFA 30 minutes before your scheduled time. The DFA Consular Office is Located at the ASEANA Business Park, Bradco Avenue corner Macapagal Boulevard, Paranaque City.
• Present your printed application form at the Appointment Counter.
• Make sure to obtain a queue number at the Information Counter.

After you have been attended to:

• Proceed to the Passport Enrollment Section to pay for the passport fees.
• Go to the encoding Section for data capturing.

Fees
Currently, the passport processing fees stand at P950 for regular processing and P1,200 for rush processing. An additional P200 will be charged for the processing of a lost passport if it is still valid at the time you apply for a replacement.

If you wish to have the passport delivered to your home instead of going back to the DFA on its release date, you need to pay an additional P120 delivery fee at the Delivery Counter.

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Documentary requirements
Take note that the DFA requires either one of the child’s parents to be present during the appointment if the child is traveling with both parents or with one of them. The same goes for all minors or those below 18 years of age. If the child has legitimate legal status, make sure to bring or fulfill the following requirements:

Traveling with both parents (legitimate child)

• The parents’ passports. Bring both the original and photocopies thereof.
• The child’s original birth certificate in security paper (SECPA), which can be obtained from the National Statistics Office (NSO). You may call (632) 737-1111 for any NSO documents you might need. For renewal of expiring passports, the DFA requires only a photocopy of the birth certificate. However, it would be wise to bring the original copy just in case it is needed.
• Personal appearance of the child with either parent.
• If the father will appear with the child during the appointment, bring a copy of the NSO marriage certificate in SECPA. If the mother will appear with the child, there is no need to bring it.

Traveling with just one parent (legitimate child)

• The passport of the parent who will be traveling with the child. Bring both the original and a photocopy thereof.
• The child’s original birth certificate in SECPA from NSO.
• Personal appearance of the child with either parent.
• If the father will appear with the child during the appointment, bring a copy of the NSO marriage certificate in SECPA. Likewise, there is no need to bring the marriage certificate if the mother is the one accompanying the child.

Traveling with a guardian and one of the parents is in the Philippines (legitimate child)

• The passport of the guardian who will be traveling with the child. Bring both the original and a photocopy thereof.
• The child’s original birth certificate in SECPA from NSO.
• Original and photocopy of the travel clearance provided by the Department of Social welfare and Development (DSWD).
• A notarized affidavit of support and consent indicating the name and relationship of the guardian.
• The passport or a valid original identification card (with a signature) of the parent who executed the affidavit of support and consent.
• NSO marriage certificate in SECPA if the father is the executor of the affidavit of support and consent.
• Personal appearance of the child with either parent.
• Valid original identification or passport of the parent who will be appearing with the child during the appointment.
• If the father will appear with the child during the appointment, bring a copy of the NSO marriage certificate in SECPA. If the mother will appear with the child, there is no need to bring it.

Traveling with a guardian and both parents are abroad (legitimate child)

• The passport of the guardian who will be traveling with the child. Bring both the original and a photocopy thereof.
• The child’s original birth certificate in SECPA from NSO.
• Original and photocopy of the travel clearance provided by DSWD.
• An affidavit of support and consent indicating the name of the guardian traveling with the child and that person’s relationship with the child. The affidavit must be authenticated by the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate General.
• NSO marriage certificate in SECPA if the father is the executor of the affidavit of support and consent.
• A special power of attorney designating a representative by name and authorizing him or her to apply for a passport on behalf of the child. Take note that this document must also be authenticated by the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate General.
• Certified true copies of the parents’ passports, which must be authenticated by the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate General.
• The passport or a valid original identification card (with a signature) of the authorized representative mentioned in the special power of attorney.
• Personal appearance of the child with the authorized representative mentioned in the special power of attorney.

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If the child has an illegitimate legal status, only the mother or an authorized representative needs to be present during the appointment at the DFA. Take note of the necessary documentary requirements:

Traveling with just the mother (illegitimate child)

• The passport of the mother. Bring both the original and a photocopy thereof.
• The child’s original birth certificate in SECPA from NSO.
• Personal appearance of the child with the mother.

Traveling with just the father (illegitimate child)

• The passport of the father. Bring both the original and a photocopy thereof.
• A notarized affidavit of support and consent from the mother.
• The child’s original birth certificate in SECPA from NSO.
• Personal appearance of the child with the mother.
• Valid original identification or passport of the mother.
• Original and photocopy of the travel clearance provided by DSWD.

Traveling with a guardian and the mother is in the Philippines (illegitimate child)

• The passport of the guardian who will be traveling with the child. Bring both the original and a photocopy thereof.
• The child’s original birth certificate in SECPA from NSO.
• Original and photocopy of the travel clearance provided by DSWD.
• A notarized affidavit of support and consent from the mother indicating the name and relationship of the guardian.
• The passport or a valid original identification card (with a signature) of the mother who executed the affidavit of support and consent.
• Personal appearance of the child with the mother.

Traveling with a guardian and the mother is abroad (illegitimate child)

• The passport of the guardian who will be traveling with the child. Bring both the original and a photocopy thereof.
• The child’s original birth certificate in SECPA from NSO.
• Original and photocopy of the travel clearance provided by DSWD.
• An affidavit of support and consent from the mother indicating the name of the guardian traveling with the child and that person’s relationship with the child. The affidavit must be authenticated by the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate General.
• A special power of attorney designating a representative by name and authorizing him or her to apply for a passport on behalf of the child. Take note that this document must be authenticated by the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate General.
• Certified true copies of the parents’ passport, which must be authenticated by the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate General.
• The passport or a valid original identification card (with a signature) of the authorized representative mentioned in the special power of attorney.
• Personal appearance of the child with the authorized representative mentioned in the special power of attorney document.

If an illegitimate child has been awarded legitimate status by a later marriage, the parents should bring these additional documents:

• Marriage Certificate from the NSO in SECPA
• The child’s birth certificate from NSO must be annotated.

Photo from sxc.hu