Beginning April 15, Filipinos leaving for jobs abroad can already apply for passports at the Department of Foreign Affairs satellite office located at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration in Mandaluyong City.Processing fee is at P500 for 14-working day processing. If you want to claim your passport within seven working days, there is an additional processing fee of P250.
In a press statement, the DFA said the passport processing fee in the Philippines remains among the lowest in the world. Besides, most countries take at least six weeks to process a passport application.
The DFA said the accessibility of passport application at its satellite office in POEA (Epifanio delos Santos Avenue corner Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong City) is for the benefit and convenience of OFWs.
Since July 2007. the DFA has been issuing the maroon-colored machine readable passport that contains a data summary in a format that is capable of being read by machine.
The new passport design was in compliance with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation organization, and facilitates the passport check at port of entry, increases the credibility of Philippine passports and better secures the holder's identity, the DFA said.
All countries in the world now issue and use MRPs.
DFA encourages the public to file their passport applications way ahead of their intended travel date and not to wait until the last minute.
Passport application requirements include personal appearance and submission of a completed application form, three pieces of colored passport photos with royal blue background, authenticated birth certificate and at least two government-issued identification cards and documents proving the applicant's identity and citizenship.
The passport application form and guidelines may be downloaded at www.dfa.gov.ph. -gma news.tv.
