Posted 21 July, 2010 - 14:04
Philippine Passport Fees Abroad Cheaper Than in Other Countries
7 July 2010 - The US$60 fee that the Philippine Government charges Filipino passport applicants overseas is cheaper compared to those of other countries issuing electronic passports (epassports).
The fee is uniform in all cases, including urgent and expedited applications.
Data culled by the Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of Consular Affairs showed that compared to Malaysia (approximately US$88), Turkey (approximately US$150), United States (US$97), and Japan (approximately US$182), Philippine epassports are priced lower.
There are 27 Philippine Embassies and Consulates General that are already issuing, or in the process of pilot-testing, epassports.
No Appointments, Immediate and Daily Processing for OFWs Applying for Passports
7 July 2010 - Overseas Filipino workers applying for passports, whether for the first time or for renewal, need not secure an appointment, the Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of Consular Affairs (DFA-OCA) reiterated.
Except Sundays and public holidays, OFWs' passport applications are processed immediately and on a daily basis.
Places to submit are the following:
1. DFA-OCA building located at the ASEANA Business Park in Paranaque;
2. DFA-Philippine Overseas Employment Agency Passport Extension Office (DFA-POEA) in Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong City;
3. DFA's 19 Regional Consular Offices and 26 Foreign Service Posts; and
4. DFA mobile passport conducted nationwide.
Eligible OFWs are those who have copies of their Contract of Employment (for new OFWs), Overseas Employment Certificate issued by the POEA (to visiting OFWs), or a valid working visa, as proof of their status.
Passport services at the DFA-POEA, located at the ground floor of the POEA Building, are provided on a first-come-first-served basis.
Other countries charge their citizens opting to work abroad special fees for the processing of their passports. In the Philippines, passport processing is free of charge.
The Philippine basic passport fee is P950 for regular processing, the cheapest in Asia and the rest of the world.
Abroad, Philippine Embassies and Consulates General charge a uniform passport fee of US$60. The Philippines has not increased said fee since 1992.
Meanwhile, the DFA plans to put in place a feedback mechanism for OFWs who wish to send their comments and suggestions on how to improve the DFA's passport services.
ePassport More Secure, Globally Compliant, Benefits Filipino Travelers
8 May 2010 - The Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of Consular Affairs (DFA-OCA) said today that the new Philippine ePassport has special features that make it secure, highly credible and compliant with international standards. It is also significantly benefiting the overseas contract workers and other traveling Filipinos.
"The ePassport is designed to facilitate arrival formalities and immigration checks at international airports, and thus less hassle for our kababayans when they enter other countries. It is also making possible faster airline travel arrangements. Most importantly, the security features of the ePassport prevent identify theft and tampering of the passport holder's personal data," the DFA-OCA said.
It is at a price that is comparable to, and in fact, less expensive than ePassports issued by other countries.
The DFA-OCA has embarked on a full implementation of the ePassport at its new offices at the ASEANA Business Park in Paranaque, and in the DFA regional consular offices around the country. The DFA is in the process of implementing the ePassport in Philippine Embassies and Consulates General.
The new Philippine ePassport features an embedded integrated circuit chip that allows faster verification of the identity of the passport holder. In addition to the information found on the data page, it includes the biometric information of the holder, as well as a unique identification number. These and a host of other security features ensure that the ePassport is virtually tamper-proof, and compliant with the high security standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
There are also more pages available in the new ePassport at 44 pages, providing savings to Filipino travelers.
Furthermore, the fee for the new ePassport compares favorably with the epassports issued by other countries. At US$60, it is still one of the least expensive ePassports.
According to a survey, the fees of ePassports in the Asia-Pacific region are as follows: Malaysia - 300 Ringgit (around US$92), New Zealand - NZ$150 (US$101), Japan - ¥11,000 (US$120), and Australia - A$172 (US$153). Epassport costs €60 (US$77) in France, US$97 in the United States, and £72 (US$107) in the United Kingdom.
The DFA-OCA said that the last time that the passport fee increased was 15 years ago, in 1995. Passport fees was kept at the same level when the country shifted from the manually-scripted passports to the machine-readable passports in July 2007.
For those applying for or renewing their passports, application forms are available for free at the websites of the Embassy or Consulate General in their area. Instructions are also available at the websites to facilitate the application process.
"The DFA will continue to bring world-class passport and consular services for the world-class Filipino. All these bring better and tangible benefits to the Filipino traveler," the DFA-OCA stated.
Renew Passports Six Months Before Expiry, DFA Reminds Public
15 April 2010 - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reminds the public to check the validity of their passports and renew them six months before expiry to avoid the hassle of getting a replacement in light of increased passport applications especially during the summer season.
A passport is valid for five years, but airlines and countries require passports with validity of six months prior to the expiry date.
"We urge everyone to check the validity of their passports, and renew them six months before expiry. This way, they avoid the hassle of rushing at the last minute to secure a passport, especially when they already need to travel overseas," DFA Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Jaime Victor Ledda said.
Currently, the DFA charges P950 for regular processing (20 working days) and P1,200 for expedited processing (10 working days). For those applying in the DFA's regional consular offices (RCOs), another four days is added for transport of the passport booklet from Manila to the RCO.
The DFA also reminds passport applicants to avail of the appointment system to ensure quick and comfortable service. Walk-in applicants are discouraged.
The DFA further reiterates that securing an appointment online is free of charge. It is warning the public against unscrupulous individuals charging applicants P200 fee for securing for them online appointments.
Applicants can check the passport requirements and secure an appointment at www.passport.com.ph or by calling hotline (02) 737-1000. They may also call the DFA helplines at telephone numbers (02) 831-8971, (02) 551-4437, (02) 551-4402, (02) 834-4855 and (02) 834-4424.
