All Philippine citizens are entitled to a Philippine passport. This right can only be abridged for reasons of national security and the public good. Those who have acquired foreign citizenships, i.e. Filipinos who were naturalized in foreign countries, are no longer entitled to Philippine passports as they are considered to have renounced their Philippine citizenship.
The Consulate helps and protects ALL Filipinos, regardless of their immigration status. A Filipino who has no legal immigration status in the United States deserves the same assistance as that accorded to a legal resident.
The Consulate General no longer collects taxes from Filipino citizens residing abroad in accordance with the Comprehensive Tax Reform Code passed by Congress in 1997. Under the said law, income earned by Filipino citizens outside the Philippines are exempt from taxation.
In order for an individual to qualify for a Philippine passport, the Consulate General must determine two things: the true identity of the individual and that the individual is a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines. For a detailed infomration on requirements and procedures that must be complied with by first-time applicants, see Passport Requirements and Procedures: First-Time Applicants.
If all documents required are submitted, the new passport may be released within five (5) working days from the receipt of application (do not count Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays). Due to the heave volume of applications received daily, immediate release of passports is the exception rather than the rule. Only in extreme emergency cases, such as death of a relative in the Philippines, and subject to the discretion of the consular officer, are immediate release of passports allowed.
Passport renewals may be done entirely by mail or in person. The Consulate General strongly encourages individuals to file their applications themselves, either in person or by mail. Personal applications are normally released faster, as the Consulate normally encounters fewer problems in the application process. In addition, individuals would not have to pay additional fees, other than the consular fees prescribed by Philippine law. A comprehensive list of requirements is included in the downloadable passport application form found in this site.
If you urgently need a travel document because of a serious emergency, such as a death in the family, then the particulars of the emergency should be faxed directly to the Consulate. In the case of a death in the family, for instance, the hospital should fax the death certificate directly to the Consulate.
Passport renewals usually take five (5) working days (do not count Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays) provided that all the documentary requirements are complied with. Due to the heave volume of applications received daily, immediate release of passports is the exception rather than the rule. Only in extreme emergency cases, such as death of a relative in the Philippines, and subject to the discretion of the consular officer, are immediate release of passports allowed.
You must first immediately file a police report and execute an Affidavit/Sworn Statement stating the circumstances surrounding the loss of the passport. Second, apply for a replacement passport at the Consulate with as many of the documentary requirements as you can gather. While it is a good idea to apply immediately, you will eventually have to produce all of the required documents.
Lost passports can only be replaced when the consular officer can determine that, in addition to meeting the minimum requirements for a Philippine passport, that the applicant has actually lost his or her passport.
The documentary requirements for the replacement of a lost passport are essentially the same as for a first time application. Additional supporting documents may also be required to establish the applicant's identity, Philippine citizenship, and the circumstances surrounding the loss of the passport.
In addition to the documentary requirements, the Consulate General has to receive clearance from the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila to replace a lost passport. Due to the significant volume of such cases, the mandatory waiting period for the clearance normally takes 15 working days (3 to 4 weeks - do not count Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays).
A comprehensive list of requirements is included in the downloadable passport application form.
Cases involving assumed names, and cases involving seamen who jump ship, are treated in the same way as lost passport.
The mandatory waiting period is fifteen (15) working days (do not count Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays) from receipt of application provided that all the documentary requirements are complied with.
The Consulate must be able to fully investigate the circumstances surrounding the loss of an applicant's passport. To do this, substantial documentation is needed. Such thoroughness is necessary to protect the integrity of the Philippine passport.
The Consulate must clearly establish the identity of the applicant. To do so, it must be confident that the documents submitted are authentic. Only the new NSO-certified birth certificates provide the required level of security.
The Consulate is also required by law to ensure that all of the particulars that appear in the passport are the same as those that appear in the birth certificate.
Please click here for details on how to secure an NSO-certified birth certificate.
In some cases, the Consul may require an NBI clearance to aid in establishing an applicant's identity. An NBI clearance is usually required in complicated lost passport cases and in situations in which the applicant does not have any form of photo ID.
Please click here for complete information on how to apply for an NBI clearance.
In very limited cases, the Consulate can issue a passport with a limited validity, provided that most of the requirements have been met, and that there is substantial proof of the applicant's citizenship and identity.
A travel document allows the bearer only a direct, one-way trip to the Philippines. It is only issued in critical instances, usually in life or death situations. A travel document is not intended as a short cut in complying with the requirements for the renewal of a passport or the replacement of a lost passport.
You cannot apply for a travel document. Travel documents can only be resorted to when the consular officer determines that its use is warranted.
It is the applicant's responsibility to make sure that a passport will be available at the planned date of travel. Again, a travel document is not intended as a short cut in complying with the requirements for the renewal of a passport or the replacement of a lost passport. Therefore, it is probable that unless you have valid proof of a serious emergency, you will not be issued a travel document solely on the basis of your ticket.
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