Renewing your passport is so easy now. Ever since the Department of Foreign Affairs implemented online registration at http://www.passport.com.ph/ for appointments and passing applications, it has made life easier for people like me.
You can register online either by yourself or as a family. But if you are in a hurry to get your passport renewed like I was, try calling the 7371000 number to set an appointment.
You can actually choose your location whether you would like to have your passport renewed in Megamall, Galleria, SM Manila or in the DFA Main Office. The operator I talked to was nice enough to give me a choice of the earliest dates possible along with locations.
If you have your data encoded and printed out, please make sure to listen to the spelling of the encoder and double check the data link that they will ask you to print out. Oh and don’t forget to printout all 3 pages of your application including the cover page. The cover page is important, it is the first page that the security guard at the DFA checks in order to make sure that you do have an appointment. Only seniors are allowed to go in without an appointment.
Please make sure to go through the website carefully and read about IDs and other requirements. Don’t forget to bring the requirements and xerox copies of the requirements so you get your documents processed at once. There is no need to bring an pictures as you have your picture taken there. Please don’t wear contact lenses as well.
On the day of your appointment, you need to be at the DFA 30 minutes before the appointed time.
In my case, my printout was riddled with errors. I couldn’t believe that the encoder spelled ” gmail” as “gamil”. I had to bring liquid paper to the DFA and ask permission from the officer to erase the spelling. Oh and by the way, never sign your application in advance. The DFA application print out must be signed in front of the officer.
I went with M1 and M3. I was amazed at how courteous the guards were when I went up to them to ask about my appointment and that I had little kids with me 10 and 5. Yayas by the way are not allowed inside. The guard allowed me to go in earlier than the appointed time. I consider myself lucky.
DFA Aseana is not a comfortable place to wait. If you don’t have anyone who is a minor, or a senior or someone with some form of disability, you get to line up outside the gate along the street near S n R in the scorching hot sun.
I was glad I decided to renew all our passports together and because I had my kids along with me. The guards let me through and even let me go through the courtesy lane on the 2nd floor which meant that I would have to pay a higher rate for the passport processing.around Php 1200 per passport instead of the regular Php 700 per passport.
If you are a Filipino, the passport process shouldn’t take you more than 30 to 40 minutes. If you are a Senior Citizen, the processing is even faster, it took my father-in-law less than 30 minutes to finish renewing his passport in Megamall. If you have a foreign sounding name, the entire process can take you as long as 1 1/2 hours since each and every person is interviewed by an officer.
It would’ve even been a lot faster if he had remembered to xerox his requirements. He ended up xeroxing his requirements at 3 pesos per age just to comply with the requirements.
For me, they only asked for my NSO and xerox of marriage certificate. For my kids, a copy of the NSO, marriage certificate, and my kids’ school ID. The Notarized Authorization wasn’t even needed ( you only need it if someone else aside from the parents is taking the child out of the country).
The people at the DFA are very professional, cheerful and courteous. This is one of the few government offices that I am very satisfied with and amazed with the speed of service.
I opted to pay an additional Php 120.00 per passport and had it sent via LBC to my house. I’m supposed to get my passport in 12 days. Just make sure to keep the receipt and have someone present it once the passports are delivered.
waismiss 