Can I Renew My Passport Before It Expires?

The quickest answer to this question is yes.  In fact, it is highly advisable to have your passport renewed before it expires as most countries require that your passport be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your departure.

Here are a few more pointers that frequent travelers need to know about passport renewals:

1. Frequent travelers must not wait until their passports are nearing expiration before they have it renewed.  If your work or business requires you to travel often, you must renew your passport once you have used up half of its pages.
2. In urgent cases when you need to travel but only have less than six months validity on your passport, the Consulate may extend its validity under the following circumstances:
   • If your passport expired within the last calendar year;
   • If your current passport is not an e-passport (it does not have the symbol for a microchip on its front cover);
   • You have already applied for the renewal of your passport and are just waiting for its release;
   • The reason for your travel is an emergency such as the death of a relative or sudden illness of a family member.  Such cases must be supported by documentary proof (doctor’s certification, emails, and other correspondences).
3. If your passport expires while you are abroad, you may apply for a temporary travel document to allow you to travel back to the Philippines and have your passport renewed.  You may get this at the Philippine Embassy in the country where you are located.
4. Newly married women have the option to change their last name upon renewal of their passports; however, this is not mandatory.  A married woman may keep her maiden last name in her passport if she so wishes. Should she decide to change her last name to her husband’s, she will have to retain this name until her husband passes away or when her marriage is legally dissolved (as in an annulment recognized by Philippine laws).
5. Filipinos who are naturalized as US citizens lose their privilege to renew their Philippine passports.  If their passports are still valid at the time of their oath-taking in US soil, these are automatically invalidated.  They may apply for a Philippine passport upon reacquisition of their Filipino citizenship.

 

Quick Facts for Passport Applicants at the DFA

 

Now that you have finally set an appointment for your passport application, it is time to begin preparing the requirements you need to bring.  Here’s a summary of all the things you need to know when applying for a Philippine Passport at any DFA office:

1. Personal appearance is required for all applicants.
2. A confirmed appointment is required for all applicants except senior citizens, infants, and minors below 1-year-old and OFWs. For OFWs, sufficient proof must be submitted such as a valid employment contract or OEC.
3. Earrings and contact lenses are not allowed during data capture. Smiling with visible teeth is also not allowed.
4. Check all the data in the computer monitor and in the Enrolment Certificate before signing it.
5. Only immediate family members are allowed to get the passport on behalf of the applicant. Immediate family members include father, mother, brother, sister, spouse, and children of legal age.
6. The passport shall be released to an immediate family member only with the proper authorization letter. Passport of a minor applicant shall be released to parents only or to an authorized representative with Special Power of Attorney and Affidavit of Support and Consent.
7. Passports unclaimed after six months will be canceled per Department Order No. 37-03.
8. Check all data in the received e-passport upon release.
9. The number of processing days may vary depending on the location of the Regional Consular Office where the application was filed.
10. The Department may require additional supporting documents as may be necessary, especially for applicants with dual citizenship and with foreign-sounding family names to prove citizenship.

PASSPORT FEES:

For First-time Passport Applicants:

• Regular processing (15 working days): P950.00
• Express Processing (7 working days): P1,200.00

For Renewal of Passport:

• Regular processing (15 working days): P950.00
• Express Processing (7 working days): P1,200.00

For Replacement of a lost expired passport:

• Regular processing (15 working days): P950.00
• Express Processing (7 working days): P1,200.00

For replacement of lost valid passport:

• Regular processing (15 working days): P950.00
• Express Processing (7 working days): P1,200.00
• Please take note that there is an additional fee of P200 for a lost valid MRRP/MRP or P350 for a lost valid e-passport.

Source: www.dfa.gov.ph

Do you need more information about Philippine passports?  Check out our previous blogs, we just might have the answers you are looking for!

How to apply for a passport for the first time.

Passport Application: What You Need to Bring to the DFA Consular Office

How to Apply for a Minor Child’s Philippine Passport?

How to Apply for a Passport if You do not have a PSA Birth Certificate?

What are the requirements for a New Passport Application? 

DFA Passport Appointment: No Show, No Refund

Birth Certificates No Longer Required for Passport Renewal (and why you still need to get a copy of your PSA Birth Certificate!)

List of Valid IDs for Passport Application

When is the best time to get a passport appointment online?

Who may use the DFA’s passport courtesy lanes? 

The four kinds of passport appointment fixers and why you should avoid them.

Can I Renew My Passport Before It Expires?

How to Renew a Lost and Expired Philippine Passport?

7 Things to Remember When Having Your Passport Photo Taken

Solo Parents May Now Use the DFA’s Passport Priority Lanes

How to Apply for a Philippine Passport if you do not have a Birth Certificate

Important Guidelines when Applying or Renewing your Passport

Whether you are applying for a passport for the first time or are about to have your old one renewed, you need to be guided by the following reminders from the DFA.  A lot of applicants fail to check these fine prints in the DFA website and end up losing their slot simply because they are not wearing the prescribed dress code, lack the necessary documents, and sometimes, does not have the exact amount for the passport fees!

To help you achieve a hassle-free visit to the DFA we summarized the following guidelines when applying for a passport.  You may also download the complete list of the DFA’s required IDs and supporting documents here.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS TO ALL PASSPORT APPLICANTS:

• Personal appearance is required for all applicants.
• Confirmed appointment is required for all applicants EXCEPT:
  • Senior citizens
  • Infants and minors below 1 year old
  • OFWs – OFWs must show sufficient proof such as valid employment contract or OEC.
• Earrings and colored contact lenses are not allowed during data capturing. Smiling with visible teeth is also not allowed.
• Check all the data in the computer monitor and in the Enrolment Certificate before signing it.
• Only immediate family members are allowed to get the passport on behalf of the applicant. Immediate family members include father, mother, brother, sister, spouse, and children of legal age.
• Passport shall be released to an immediate family member only with proper authorization letter. Passport of a minor applicant shall be released to parents only or to an authorized representative with Special Power of Attorney and Affidavit of Support and Consent.
• Passports unclaimed after six (6) months will be cancelled per Department Order No. 37-03.
• Check all data in the received e-passport upon release.
• Number of processing days may vary depending on the location of the Regional Consular Office where the application was filed.
• The Department may require additional supporting documents as may be necessary, especially for applicants with dual citizenship and with foreign-sounding family names to prove citizenship.

PASSPORT FEES:

For FIRST TIME passport applicants:

• Regular Processing (15 working days) – Php 950.00
• Express Processing (7 working days) – Php 1,200.00

For RENEWAL of passport:

• Regular Processing (15 working days) – Php 950.00
• Express Processing (7 working days) – Php 1,200.00

For REPLACEMENT of a LOST EXPIRED passport:

• Regular Processing (15 working days)– Php 950.00
• Express Processing (7 working days) — Php 1,200.00

For REPLACEMENT of a LOST VALID passport:

• Regular Processing (15 working days) – Php 950.00
• Express Processing (7 working days) – Php 1,200

GUIDELINES WHEN HAVING YOUR PHOTO CAPTURED:

1. Your Pose

Your frontal pose looking directly at the camera lens and showing your full face must be used.  Rotation or tilting of the head either in an up/down or left/right direction must be avoided.  The mid points of the mouth and the bridge of the nose should lie on an imaginary vertical line in the center of the image.

2. Expression

Your expression should be neutral with both eyes open and mouth closed.  There should be no hair covering the eyes.  Contrived expressions such as raised eyebrows, squinting, or frowning are not acceptable.

3. Smiling

When having photos captured, applicant may smile but without showing their teeth and gums.  The ‘Mona Lisa’ smile is recommended.

4. Eyeglasses and Contact Lenses

Eyeglasses should always be removed before capturing the applicant’s photo.  The use of contact lenses for medical reasons is accepted, provided that the contact lenses do not change the applicant’s true eye color.  Therefore, applicants are advised to take off their contact lenses before having their photos captured.

5. Ears should be visible

As much as possible, both ears of the applicant should be visible.

6. Earrings and hair accessories

These accessories should be removed prior to photo capturing.  Frizzy/afro hairstyles should be neatly arranged showing full frontal facial image.  Earrings as not allowed.

7. Infants

Infants or very small children who are unable to support themselves should be assisted by either parent or their guardians.  Hands, arms, etc., used to support the child should not be visible.  Highchair for minor applicants may be used, if needed.

COURTESY LANE FACILITY AVAILMENT AT ASEANA: Who are allowed to use the Courtesy Lane?

• Regular government employees / with GSIS / appointed by Civil Service Commission
• Dependent of government employee
  • Legal spouse
  • Parents
  • Unmarried children
• Retired government employees (one year availment)
• Incumbent elected officials
• For barangay level, only the following are entitled:
  • Barangay Chairman
  • Barangay Kagawad
  • SK Chairman
• Endorse from House of Representatives must be endorsed by DLLU before lodging their applications to Courtesy Lane
• Media personnel must first secure endorsement from Public Information Services Unit (PISU) before going to Courtesy Lane.
• Referrals made from DFA employees (limited to 3 referrals per month) and Head/s of other government agencies must secure proper endorsements duly signed by authorized signatories of their respective offices. Only original copies will be accepted for verification purposes. Photocopy of DFA employee’s valid I.D. / government agencies official’s Department I.D. must be attached for verification purposes.
• Minor (7 years old and below)
• Senior Citizens (60 years old and above)
• PWD (genuinely disabled) / with PWD I.D.s
• Pregnant (genuinely pregnant) / with medical certificate
• Passport fees:
  • Php 1,200.00 – 10 working days
  • Senior citizens have an optional processing fee of Php 950.00 – 20 working days

If you have questions about passport applications and renewals, send us a message and we will do our best to find the answers for you.

Source: www.dfa.gov.ph