Let me share my experience on passport renewal but please bear with me if I have lotsa kwento on this. I was planning to travel outside PH by mid November and is on the process of requesting for a temporary tourist visa. And while doing so, I remembered that my passport is soon to expire on May 2017! Oh no, panic mode on! It’s true that I still have more than 6months but, it is highly advisable to have it renewed prior to getting a Visa. So, I checked the web to check availability and lo and behold, the earliest is on October 24 in Lucena (‘twas September 8 when I do the search). I tried to search other locations such as Batangas, Pampanga and even Baguio (Desperate moves mga bes hahaha ) and the earliest I got is in Baguio, October 7. I was like, gosh, Im gonna go to Baguio to renew my passport, will travel 16hours (back and forth) depending on the traffic, will spend more - around Php3500+ (fare, food, passport fee etc) . Whew! Am I doing the right thing? Hahaha. Nakakaloka di ba? Since Baguio has the earliest appointment schedule, I still grabbed it. I have checked all the necessary requirements needed for passport renewal. I’ve also contacted our partner travel agency (domestic) to check if they have an earlier appointment, but since they’re also using the same appointment calendar, they can only offer the same schedule found on DFA’s website and of course, their transaction fee costs a hefty amount. It’s better pa rin to process everything on your own. So I just stick on my original plan which is to travel Baguio. While waiting for the appointment, I’ve checked reviews and FAQs in DFA Baguio and most of the reviews I’ve read isn’t encouraging at all. So, I was like, oh my, if I’d encountered problems during the renewal process, it will be too difficult for me to fix it since I am from the South, Mahirap to. I tried searching for availability again, playing on the dates and location and dyaraaan, I got a green slot. My eyes widened and I panicked again, hahaha, I have to get this schedule, September 24! So I complete the form first, then before hitting the submit button, I cancelled my application in Baguio. Mind you, you cant proceed to your new application if you have an existing appointment. I cancelled the booking as fast as I can and click the submit button on the other window! Wohooo! Success :) Clever, right, or feeling ko lang yun.
Lesson: Keep on searching until you find the right one for you. No pain, not much sacrifices. #hugot.
Here’s the steps I've followed:
1. Go to DFA website. https://www.passport.gov.ph/ then select Renewal under the Requirement’s drop down menu.
PASSPORT RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS
Personal appearance
old passport (original and photocopy of pages 1-3 and amendment page)
NSO birth certificate (original and photocopy)
NSO marriage certificate (original and photocopy, for females who want to use married surname)
one (1) valid government-issued ID (original and photocopy)
other back-up supporting documents to prove identity (original and photocopy)
passport processing fee (P950 for regular processing; P1200 for rush)
Please click here to get full details of the requirements https://www.passport.gov.ph/requirements/passport-renewal
2. Schedule your appointment online.
A confirmed appointment is required. Walk-ins are no longer entertained, but there are some locations that still accept walk-ins, i.g DFA Lucena - PWDs, senior citz, pregnant women and kids, but please note that they will still give you an appointment date, so dont expect that your request will be processed on the same day. Going back to the online process - It is advisable to schedule your appointment to the location near you- remember my dilemmas mentioned above :). A registration and confirmation email will be sent to your email address within 3-5mins, Please make sure that you have access to the email address you’ll be using, I have read lotsa people complaining they haven’t received the confirmation – some of them doesn’t have access to the email and others typed in the email address incorrectly (typos). You'll receive 2 emails from DFA - If you do not confirm within 120 hours, your provisional appointment will be automatically cancelled to give way to other applications. So make sure that you click the link on the 1st email.
Important:
Carefully review all fields in the online form and provide complete and accurate information.
The system relies on email messaging to inform you of updates. Depending on actual server load and network traffic, the server may take some time before it can send a confirmation email for the selected booking.
Depending on your email provider and configuration settings, the system-generated email may be incorrectly tagged as spam and delivered to your JUNK/SPAM folder. Check your spam folder for emails if no message appears in your Inbox after a considerable amount of time.
3. Proceed to DFA office on your appointed time and date.
My schedule’s at 10am. I went to DFA Lucena (3rd floor Pacific Mall) around 930am. By the way, it is better to be at the location 30mins early so you don’t have to wait on line that long, remember there are bunch of applicants too. I gave my printed application to the guard on duty and he put a number on top of the paper, I was number 18, not bad. There’s few chair outside but most of the applicants preferred to stand, idk. Hehehe :) At exactly 10am, we were asked to go inside. I double checked the papers/document just to make sure that everything’s there. There’s a photocopy service inside but I guess it’s 4php per copy.
It only took me 40mins (including the wait time inside the office). The process itself is seamless and fast and the staff are efficient. If you have all the documents ready and there’s no problems/issues on your papers, it would only take 20mins (yung process lang ha?)
PROCESSING AREA: Duration : 2-3mins
I gave the requirements to the man on duty, checked my requirements and asked if I prefer regular (4weeks) or express (2weeks). I chose the latter as I need it as soon as possible. He cancelled my old passport and ask me to proceed to the Cashier.
CASHIER COUNTER: Duration: 1-2mins
I just paid P1,200.00 at the counter and was given the receipt. Passport processing fee (P950 for regular processing; P1200 for rush)
ENCODING SECTION: Duration: 5-15mins
This is the last step – image and data capturing. You may want to freshen up ladies, put some lippies and powder, while waiting for your turn. Make sure to remove your necklace, headbands/hairclips and earrings. Monalisa smile is recommended, but it’s a no-no to show your teeth, even if it’s pearly white! Lol J The person taking my picture kept on asking me to put my hair behind my ears, and this is the most difficult part haha. I have this very cute little ears and it cant hold much hair. Believe me, the struggle is real hahaha J I asked Kuya if I can use a bobby pin to secure my hair or perhaps ponytail it, but he told me, try ko lang ulet. After 5mins or so of struggle, he gave up. Haha :) “pwede na yan, di naman buhok ang titingnan eh, mukha mo.” (mukha mo rin po kuya. Charot).
You can get your passport delivered to you, but this is optional. If you'd opt to do this, just pay the required fee of Php150.00 at the DELIVERY COUNTER. This is done so you can have the passport delivered to your home during the release date without the need to return to the DFA office. I opt to pick it up so on a Saturday, btw :) Yes, they are open on Saturdays.
10 days later...
I got my passport in less than 10mins! I went directly to the releasing section, showed my receipt and he asked me to wait for my name to be called. I got it in no time.
TIP: Just remember, bring all the necessary documents listed on the web before going to DFA to avoid delays.
Disclaimer:
This is not a paid post and I am not a DFA agent. Like you, I’m just a traveler. I’ll try to lend a hand as much as I can but please know that my knowledge is restricted and limited to my experience only. Please note that whatever works for me, not necessary means that it would also work for you.
Unless otherwise noted, all requirements listed above were valid at the time of my application. Please be sure to check DFA website for updates. If you need answers to any pressing issues, then it’s best that you call them directly.
All the best,
Ash
