How to Renew Your Philippine Passport

I previously posted about the 7 handy tips that you must know when renewing your Philippine passport. Those 7 tips will help you avoid mistakes that will cause hassle to your day in DFA Consular Office.

Now, in this post, I list the steps that I went through when I renewed my Philippine passport last December last year. Take note that the steps posted here is only for DFA Consular Affairs office in ASEANA Business Park located along Macapagal Boulevard, Paranaque City.

Before going further to the step-by-step procedure, you should know first the following requirements for Philippine passport renewal:

1. Your expired or expiring Philippine passport
2. e-Passport Application Form (with confirmed appointment) that you got from the DFA online appointment system
3. At least two valid IDs that contain your recent photo, refer to my post “Acceptable IDs for Philippine Passport Application” for the list of valid Ids
5. Photocopy of expired or expiring Philippine passport. The pages that you must photocopy are the page that contains your photo and details, and the last page of the Philippine passport.
6. Supporting documents that will prove your identity. These documents are optional but you should bring it just in case the DFA demands it. Read my post “Acceptable IDs for Philippine Passport Application” for the list of acceptable supporting documents.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Step-by-Step Procedure in Renewing Your Philippine Passport

Step 1: Set appointment in the DFA website

The very first step is by going to the DFA website to set an appointment for your Philippine passport renewal. Their system will let you choose the date and time when you will go to DFA – Consular Affairs Office. You can also set an appointment not only to the Consular Affairs Office but also to the DFA satellite offices around the country.

Read my post “How to Set an Appointment for Philippine Passport Application” to guide you in making an online appointment with the DFA.

Step 2: Appointment Verification

Enter Door 5 of the Consular Affairs Office and look for the booth where you can have your appointment and documents check. Make sure that you have the complete documents before proceeding to this step.

Step 3: Checking of Application Form and Requirements

Go to Door 1 – ground floor for another verification and checking of your passport renewal application form, IDs, and other requirements. This is the step where the DFA clerk assesses you application. Make sure that you already have the photocopy of your passport, your IDs, and other documents before going to this step. You’ll get a billing form in this step.

Take note that this is where you will spend a long time queuing in this step. I actually spent almost an hour waiting in line.

Step 4: Payment of Fees

Go to the second floor (of Door 1) and look for the Cashier Window where you can pay the fees for Philippine passport renewal. Just provide the Billing Form that you obtained in Step 3 when paying. Don’t forget your obtain your official receipt.

Step 5: Processing of Passport Renewal

Go to the booth where you’ll get the queue number then wait for your number to be called. This is the step for personal data encoding, photo capturing, and finger scanning. The queue for this step is also quite long so make sure you have a book or tablet to while away the time. Don’t forget to obtain the Claim Slip after this step.

Step 6: Claim Your Philippine Passport

Return to DFA Consular Affairs office on the date indicated on your Claim Slip. Enter Door 5 and go to the Releasing Section (Window 36) and give your official receipt and Claim Slip to the clerk. Wait for your name to be called to get your new Philippine passport.

I spent less than 30 minutes before I got my new Philippine passport. I suggest that you check if your name and other details in your passport are correct before you leave the DFA Consular Affairs office.

Take note that Philippine passports unclaimed for 6 months or more will be cancelled.

So these are the steps in renewing your Philippine passport in the DFA Consular Affairs Office. Please be reminded that DFA may change the procedures and the steps posted here might not be applicable in the future.

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Do you have other concerns with the Philippine passport? Be guided by reading the following posts:

Tips on Applying for a Philippine Passport
How to Set an Appointment for Philippine Passport Application
7 Handy Tips for a Hassle-Free Renewal of Philippine Passport
How to Cancel Appointment for Philippine Passport Application
Acceptable IDs for Philippine Passport Application
Applying for a Passport? How to go to DFA Office

Share your questions or reactions regarding the renewal of Philippine passport by a leaving a comment on this post.
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7 Handy Tips for a Hassle-Free Renewal of Philippine Passport

Last year, my boss told me that I had to prepare for another office-sponsored trip to Malaysia. I was excited and happy, of course, for another opportunity of traveling outside of the Philippines. But there’s a catch: my Philippine passport is already expired.

As we all know, the Philippine passport is our ticket to legally get out of the country. So, I had no choice but to go the Consular Affairs Office and renew my Philippine passport.

The passport renewal process was not awful but it took me almost a whole day (renewal application + claiming of new passport) just to get my new passport. Aside from the usual time-wasting queue, I didn’t experience any other hassle when I renewed my passport.

So to help you have the same hassle-free experience as me, I suggest that you follow these handy tips:

Tip # 1:  Avoid the Street Vendors

 

Ignore vendors of brown and plastic envelopes outside of the Consular Affairs office. You don’t need those things. All you need to submit is the passport renewal application form, photocopy of your valid IDs, and photocopy of your old passport.

Tip # 2: Set Online Appointment

Set an appointment through the DFA website first before going to the DFA Consular Affairs office. Read my post “How to Make an Appointment for Philippine Passport Application” for the step-by-step procedures setting an online appointment for passport application and renewal.

Tip # 3: Avoid Fixers Like the Plague

Don’t deal with fixers because (1) it is against the law and (2) some fixers provide their clients with fake Philippine passports. It’s better to waste time because of the long queue than be blacklisted by DFA and Bureau of Immigration because of fake passport.

Tip # 4: Avoid Bringing Companions

Only people with appointment and passport renewal form can enter the DFA Consular Affairs office. Security guards will block your companions and they will have no choice but to wait for you outside. This is a big hassle for them because the application process may take for more than an hour.

Tip # 5: Photocopy all Documents

Photocopy your valid ID, the passport renewal application form, and your old passport before going to the DFA Consular Affairs office because the photocopy services in the area are overpriced.

Tip # 6: Be the Early Bird

Go to DFA early, or at least an hour before your appointment because you can enter their office even before your appointed time. It happened to when the guard allowed me to enter at 1 PM even though my appointment is 2 PM.

Tip # 7: Beware of Thick-Faced Singiteros

Be alert and always mind your queue. There are many Pinoys who will do their best to cut the queue instead of going to the end of the line.

Renewing your Philippine passport will be less of a hassle when you follow these tips. I know that there are more tips that you can share with us when it comes to renewal or first time Philippine passport application. I suggest that you share those tips with us through the comment box below.

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How to Make an Appointment for Philippine Passport Application

I was a little confused when I applied for a Philippine passport about three years ago. DFA's Consular Office is flooded with people and there are so many queues. I also experienced being surrounded by many “passport agents” before I entered the DFA office. In short, my experience when I applied for a Philippine passport is not good.

So, it is good news that the Department of Foreign Affairs made an online appointment system for the application and renewal of Philippine passport. The good effect of this is that the long lines at the Consular Office will shorten because DFA can control the number of people that it will entertain per day.

If you're planning to apply for or renew your Philippine passport, I suggest that you follow these easy steps:

1. Go to the DFA Passport Appointment System website. Fill up the reCaptcha form and click on the “Start Individual Appointment Process”.

2. Fill out the application form completely.

Screenshot of the Philippine passport online appointment form.

3. Double check the information that you typed in the application form. Make sure that they are correct. Keep in mind that wrong information will give you problems when you are already in the Consular Office for your personal appearance.

4. Click the “Submit” button located at the bottom of the page after you checked that the info in the application form is correct and complete.

5. A pop-window will appear. Just click the “Yes” if you want to submit the information that you typed in the application form.

6. You will be directed to a page that contains important reminders for the renewal or application for Philippine passport. Take note of the information written on this page. After that click on the “Continue” button at the end of the page.

7. You'll be directed to another page with important reminders. Take note of these info. After that click at the “Continue” button at the end of the page.

8. In the next page, you'll be asked if you're ready to proceed or not. Just click on the “I understand the requirements and I'm ready to proceed” button if you're ready to proceed to the next step.

9. The last step is setting the date of your appointment.

For this step, you must pick the date that you want to go to DFA. Just use the calendar located on the page and click on the day that you want. Then wait for the possible slots to appear. Choose another appointment date if there is no available date on the day that you chose.

This is what the page will look like if there are available slots:

10. A page will appear asking you to confirm your application by clicking the confirmation link on the email sent by DFA. Make sure that you confirm within 24 hours or else your appointment will be canceled.

11. Open your email account and read the message sent by DFA. Click on the confirmation link as shown in the image below:

12. Print your e-passport application form on long bond paper.

Then you're finished with making online Philippine passport appointment with DFA. All you have to do now is to prepare the required documents and make sure to photocopy all of it. You should also have at least one valid ID for Philippine passport application. Go to the Consular Office 30 minutes at most before your appointment time.

Notes: The steps listed here is just for individual appointment at the DFA. For family application, please go to Family Application form of DFA.

If you're applying for a Philippine passport because of medical reasons (i.e. you will go for medication abroad), incident of death or an OFW with job placement order then you must DFA Emergency numbers: 834-4424 and 834-4855. You need to call those numbers so your passport will be processed quickly.

For information on going to Consular Affairs Office, please read my post: “How to Go to DFA Office”.

For more info on applying for Philippine passport, please read my tips on applying for Philippine passport.

Acceptable IDs for DFA Passport Renewal and Application

Comments: Aldrin Somera, a commenter of this blog post, said that the DFA at ASEANA did not accept the supporting documents if there is no valid ID. Because of this, I suggest that you get a valid ID when applying for passport.

Another commenter said that the DFA doesn't accept student driver's license. Aycee, another commenter, said that the DFA accepted the postal ID as valid ID for her aunt's and cousin's passport application.

Nfinium mentioned that DFA accepted her application even if she doesn't have ay valid ID. She submitted supporting documents that have photos like NBI clearance, police clearance and TOR with picture.

In the early comments, I said that supporting documents can be used in obtaining a passport even if you don't have any valid ID. Please disregard those old comments of mine. I was corrected by helpful commenters on this blog post. They clarified that valid ID is needed and the supporting documents is just used bolster the validity of your identity as shown on the ID.

Take note that the DFA is inconsistent when it comes to accepting IDs not included in their list of acceptable IDs. So, to be on the safe side I suggest that you bring valid ID when applying for a passport.

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Majority of commenters in my post “Tips on Applying for a Philippine Passport”, asked me about the identification cards or IDs that are acceptable when applying for a Philippine passport. Many were afraid that the IDs that they have will not be accepted by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

I understand their worries. The DFA is so strict when it comes to documents being submitted to them for passport application. The department is strict because they are avoiding fraud. Many people tried to provide false identity for their passport.

To help those who are confused with the strictness of the DFA, here are the list of IDs acceptable when applying for a Philippine passport:

Government issued IDs

1. Digitized Social Security System (SSS) ID

2. Driver's License

3. Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) E-card

4. PRC ID or professional ID.

5. IBP ID

6. OWWA ID

7. Digitized (Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) ID

8. Senior Citizen's ID

Non-government issued IDs

1. Old College ID

2. Alumni ID

3. Old Employment Ids (current employment ID may also be acceptable)
4. Voter's ID (included in the list as suggested by commenters on this post)

You only need to show at least one of the government issued and non-government issued IDs listed above.

If you are using Old College ID then you should bring your Transcript of Record (TOR) as supporting document.

IDs Accepted According to Commenters

1. Old High School ID (with accompanying TOR OR form 137)
2. Postal ID

Take note that these IDs may or may not be accepted by DFA. It all depends on the strictness of the DFA clerk that you will encounter.

Here are the supporting documents that you should bring together with your acceptable IDs listed above:

1. Marriage Contract issued by the NSO

2. Land Title

3. Seaman's Book

4. Elementary or High School Form 137 or Transcript of Records with readable dry seal

5. Government Service Record

6. NBI Clearance

7. Police Clearance

8. Barangay Clearance

You can also bring old documents issued at least one year prior to the date of your passport application. The old documents must show your correct name, date and place of birth, picture and signature. Here are the acceptable old documents:

1. NSO Birth Certificate of child or children

2. SSS-E1 Form or Microfilmed Copy of SSS-E1 Form

3. Income Tax Return (ITR)

4. Voter's Certification, List of Voters and Voter's Registration Record. Attach receipt in case of newly issued Voter's Registration Record (VRR).

5. School Yearbook

6. Community Tax Certificate (Cedula)  

You should bring to DFA at least three of the supporting documents or old documents with an acceptable ID to prove your identity.

Hope this post help you. Don't hesitate to leave a comment if you have more questions regarding passport application.

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Want to know how to go to the DFA office that issue Philippine passport? Please read my post, How to Go to DFA Office.

Visit the DFA website for more info on acceptable IDs for Philippine passport application. 

Applying for a Passport? How to go to DFA Office

Are you applying for passport? Then all you need to do is to go to the Office of Consular Affairs of Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The Office of Consular Affairs is the office responsible for issuing passports for Filipino citizens. Originally, the Office of Consular Affairs was located in the DFA compound located along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City. However, in 2010, the Office of Consular Affairs was transferred to Aseana Business Park in Paranaque City. The office could be found along Diosdado Macapagal Avenue corner Bradco Avenue. Visit my article, Tips on Applying for a Philippine Passport, for information on applying for passport.
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Office of Consular Affairs building

The new building of the Office of Consular Affairs is high-tech as compared to its old building. Also, the old passport application procedures were changed. Visit my post, Tips on Applying for a Philippine Passport, for information in applying for a passport.

Here is the map showing the location of the Office of Consular Affairs.
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Click on the map for a bigger view.
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How to go to Office of Consular Affairs to Get Your Passport

There are two ways of getting to the Consular Affairs Office in Paranaque City. One is to ride a bus that has a placard saying “MIA,” which stands for Manila International Airport. Buses with this placard could be found along EDSA and go around the big globe monument of Mall of Asia before passing along Diosdado Macapagal Avenue. These buses pass right in front of the Consular Affairs Office.

To board the MIA bus, all you need to do is to go to any part of EDSA (specifically the breadth of EDSA between MRT Kamuning and MRT Taft Stations). MIA buses are aplenty along EDSA and you can choose either air-conditioned or ordinary bus. Also, these buses also show placard that says “DFA” or “DFA-Passport.”

Another way is to go to SM Mall of Asia and ride a Baclaran bound jeepney at the terminal there. Those jeepneys ply along Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard and in front of the Consular Affairs Office.

So, those are the way on how to reach the new location of the Consular Affairs Office. My only tip for you is to ask questions when you are riding so as to make sure that you are boarding the right bus or jeep.

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Photo taken from DFA website. Map taken from Google Maps.

Tips on DFA Passport Renewal and Application

In the old version of this post, I talked about the old process of applying for passport at the Consular Affairs Office of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). In the old system, passport applicants just walk in the Consular Affairs Office to apply for passport. In the new system, passport applicants need to make an appointment with the Consular Affairs Office before actually going there.

Applying for a passport at the Consular Affairs Office is still quick and easy, as long as you follow the DFA’s application procedures and you are not absentminded. If you need information on how to go to Consular Affairs Office, read my post, How to Go to DFA Office.

Tip # 1: Set an Appointment First

The DFA changed the old system and now requires passport applicants to set an appointment with the Consular Affairs Office first before going to their office. For those who don't know, the Consular Affairs Office transferred their office from the DFA main office in Pasay City to Aseana Business Park in Paranaque City.

The first that you should do is to set up an appointment by filling up the appointment application form in the DFA website. Please read my post, How to Make an Appointment for Philippine Passport Application, for the step-by-step procedure in setting up an appointment with DFA.

Tip # 2: Do visit the DFA Website

The DFA website contains the step by step procedure that you must follow when applying for a passport. For the appointment system, visit the DFA Passport Appointment System website. For the requirements for first time passport applicants, visit DFA’s First Time Applicant page. If you are renewing your passport, visit DFA’s Requirements for Renewal of Passport Page.

For a list of valid IDs, read my post about the list of IDs that are accepted by DFA for passport application.

Just visit DFA’s website and the basic information that you will need for your passport application or renewal is there.

Tip # 3: Beware of Fixers


Even if DFA improved the passport application system, there will always be people who will take advantage of passport applicants. You must avoid these fixers because you do not need them, unless you are planning to submit falsified documents.

Never believe anyone outside DFA and always ignore any fixers. They have many tricks and modus operandi. It is better to ask the guard for information. If the guard pointed you to the fixers, then you can always have him fired by telling the DFA management of his activities with the fixers.

Tip # 4: Bring Enough Money

It is good to make sure that you always have spare money whenever you go to any place. Bringing extra money will make sure that you will never need to go home if the money in your wallet is not enough when applying for the passport.


Tip # 5: Don’t Submit Fake Documents


I have seen one applicant who is submitting a marriage certificate for her passport application. The employee of DFA inspected the document and immediately confiscated it. She said that the marriage certificate that she is submitting is a fake. She threatened that the applicant may be penalized because she is falsifying documents.


It is better not to submit fake documents or else you will be penalized or even be blacklisted by DFA. If you are keen in submitting fake documents, then you must ensure that your fake documents 99.9% resembles the authentic documents.


Tip # 6: Never Be Afraid to Ask Questions


I suggest that you ask questions if you are lost or confused with any of the application procedures. However, you should not just ask anyone. The people that I usually ask for directions and clarifications are the guards inside the DFA. They are more credible because they are easy to recognize and it is hard to impersonate a security guard inside the premises of DFA. Fixers can trick you with fake DFA employee IDs but they can’t wear a guard’s uniform. If the guard does not know the answer to your question, then he will refer you to a legitimate DFA employee. There are also information booths inside DFA that are manned by DFA employees who know the application procedures.

Tip # 7: Call the DFA if You Have Questions

DFA set-up a hotline for passport related inquiries. If something is bothering you about your passport or your passport application, then I suggest that you call Consular Information at telephone number (632) 556-0000. You can only contact them from 8 AM to 4 PM, Monday to Friday.

These are some of the many tips when applying for a passport in the Philippines. Be alert and always be on a look-out of possible tricks from fixers. Follow these tips and your passport application will flow smoothly.