Getting First-time passport in the Philippines

[SuperDuper! 230]

We know that the applicant must go to a DFA office in the Phils to apply for passport

DFA

But some folks get help from a travel agent in doing the paperwork.

Does it take 2 days to get a first time passport, and is it worth it to have a "fixer" work for you?

The people in the provinces dont have the luxury of living near a DFA office or satellite center, so the travel kinda makes the passport process a big deal. Any ideas for short cuts would be most welcomed. Thanks ahead, and more power! :star:

[happywifeymom 4]

We know that the applicant must go to a DFA office in the Phils to apply for passport

DFA

But some folks get help from a travel agent in doing the paperwork.

Does it take 2 days to get a first time passport, and is it worth it to have a "fixer" work for you?

The people in the provinces dont have the luxury of living near a DFA office or satellite center, so the travel kinda makes the passport process a big deal. Any ideas for short cuts would be most welcomed. Thanks ahead, and more power! :star:

Travel agencies can do that but just be prepared of the charge coz am sure they will charge you times 5.. mostly.Even if you will ask assistance from a travel agency the applicant's personal appearance is needed so it's better to do it yourself if you can.

Edited June 10, 2009 by happywifeymom

[sasha414 0]

a travel agency has a liason officer to do everything for you, all you need to do is show up for the personal appearance. its a bit more expensive by about a few hundred pesos but the convenience is well worth it.

[RonMay 1]

We know that the applicant must go to a DFA office in the Phils to apply for passport

DFA

But some folks get help from a travel agent in doing the paperwork.

Does it take 2 days to get a first time passport, and is it worth it to have a "fixer" work for you?

The people in the provinces dont have the luxury of living near a DFA office or satellite center, so the travel kinda makes the passport process a big deal. Any ideas for short cuts would be most welcomed. Thanks ahead, and more power! :star:

when i applied for a passport back then (firs-timer) i didnt use any fixer or any travel agency... i believe i paid extra to expedite my passport. gosh if im not mistaken i paid back then P750 to get my passport in 3 working days compared to P500 in 7 working days... i had my NBI clearance, BC, school ID, College transcript, baptismal and they never gave me a hard time... and ive heard and its proven on my part that its better to tell them (DFA) that you're getting a passport for vacation purposes like going to the US as tourist or any other country. coz they might ask for more requirements if they know you're getting it as a fiancee or spousal visa (though if one is married already to a foreigner they would know otherwise lol) but it works for single women... good luck!!! its up to you if you guys think its better to get help than do it yourself

[MarPhee 1]

hi... if ur fiancee doesnt have the luxury of time then she can have it done by the agency. as for mine.. i was working and i dont have time to process it my own so i paid P1500 for a processing for 1 month coz i was not in a hurry that time though. all i passed was my NSO birth cert and baptismal and my local birth cert if your NSO birt cert is partly not clear and yea it needs personal appearance and u dont need to line up there coz there's somebody that will do that for u. and i have a co-worker who expedited hers for like 3-5 working days and she processed it her own just that u have to talk to the director of DFA that it is urgent. somehow they will consider it... case to case basis.

[xylide 2]

We know that the applicant must go to a DFA office in the Phils to apply for passport

DFA

But some folks get help from a travel agent in doing the paperwork.

Does it take 2 days to get a first time passport, and is it worth it to have a "fixer" work for you?

The people in the provinces dont have the luxury of living near a DFA office or satellite center, so the travel kinda makes the passport process a big deal. Any ideas for short cuts would be most welcomed. Thanks ahead, and more power! :star:

Travel agencies can do that but just be prepared of the charge coz am sure they will charge you times 5.. mostly.Even if you will ask assistance from a travel agency the applicant's personal appearance is needed so it's better to do it yourself if you can.

yea thats right.... even if u use travel agencies,u still need to go to DFA for personal appearance and fingerprinting...

why dont u just make an online appointment?if u make an appointment today,u will be scheduled for tomorrow or the following day..

DFA appt. system

[SuperDuper! 230]

We know that the applicant must go to a DFA office in the Phils to apply for passport

DFA

But some folks get help from a travel agent in doing the paperwork.

Does it take 2 days to get a first time passport, and is it worth it to have a "fixer" work for you?

The people in the provinces dont have the luxury of living near a DFA office or satellite center, so the travel kinda makes the passport process a big deal. Any ideas for short cuts would be most welcomed. Thanks ahead, and more power! :star:

when i applied for a passport back then (firs-timer) i didnt use any fixer or any travel agency... i believe i paid extra to expedite my passport. gosh if im not mistaken i paid back then P750 to get my passport in 3 working days compared to P500 in 7 working days... i had my NBI clearance, BC, school ID, College transcript, baptismal and they never gave me a hard time... and ive heard and its proven on my part that its better to tell them (DFA) that you're getting a passport for vacation purposes like going to the US as tourist or any other country. coz they might ask for more requirements if they know you're getting it as a fiancee or spousal visa (though if one is married already to a foreigner they would know otherwise lol) but it works for single women... good luck!!! its up to you if you guys think its better to get help than do it yourself

Thanks everyone for the quick responses.

Do you have to go back to DFA to pick up the passport or will LBC deliver it if you pay them?

Are there different types of passports for tourism, OFW, Visa? I dont think so, so why would they care why someone wants a passport?

Does it take 2 days to apply for the passport? I heard the travel agency can help get the info to the DFA, then Pinay must go sign and appear for it.

Thanks ahead again, hehe. :star:

[RonMay 1]

We know that the applicant must go to a DFA office in the Phils to apply for passport

DFA

But some folks get help from a travel agent in doing the paperwork.

Does it take 2 days to get a first time passport, and is it worth it to have a "fixer" work for you?

The people in the provinces dont have the luxury of living near a DFA office or satellite center, so the travel kinda makes the passport process a big deal. Any ideas for short cuts would be most welcomed. Thanks ahead, and more power! :star:

when i applied for a passport back then (firs-timer) i didnt use any fixer or any travel agency... i believe i paid extra to expedite my passport. gosh if im not mistaken i paid back then P750 to get my passport in 3 working days compared to P500 in 7 working days... i had my NBI clearance, BC, school ID, College transcript, baptismal and they never gave me a hard time... and ive heard and its proven on my part that its better to tell them (DFA) that you're getting a passport for vacation purposes like going to the US as tourist or any other country. coz they might ask for more requirements if they know you're getting it as a fiancee or spousal visa (though if one is married already to a foreigner they would know otherwise lol) but it works for single women... good luck!!! its up to you if you guys think its better to get help than do it yourself

Thanks everyone for the quick responses.

Do you have to go back to DFA to pick up the passport or will LBC deliver it if you pay them?

Are there different types of passports for tourism, OFW, Visa? I dont think so, so why would they care why someone wants a passport?

Does it take 2 days to apply for the passport? I heard the travel agency can help get the info to the DFA, then Pinay must go sign and appear for it.

Thanks ahead again, hehe. :star:

for some reason, some of the staff will ask for a CFO seminar certificate etc (at the back of the form, they wrote what requirements to bring if your applying for this and that) it was my experience back then... i went there to apply personally (took about 2 hrs maybe till it was my turn)... then went back 3 days later to get my passport and just took 30 mins then im out of the office...

[happywifeymom 4]

We know that the applicant must go to a DFA office in the Phils to apply for passport

DFA

But some folks get help from a travel agent in doing the paperwork.

Does it take 2 days to get a first time passport, and is it worth it to have a "fixer" work for you?

The people in the provinces dont have the luxury of living near a DFA office or satellite center, so the travel kinda makes the passport process a big deal. Any ideas for short cuts would be most welcomed. Thanks ahead, and more power! :star:

Travel agencies can do that but just be prepared of the charge coz am sure they will charge you times 5.. mostly.Even if you will ask assistance from a travel agency the applicant's personal appearance is needed so it's better to do it yourself if you can.

yea thats right.... even if u use travel agencies,u still need to go to DFA for personal appearance and fingerprinting...

why dont u just make an online appointment?if u make an appointment today,u will be scheduled for tomorrow or the following day..

DFA appt. system

Hello Xylide,

We are planning to get a passport for myminor child this week with an agency and they charge me P2.500just for the passport plus the fare goingback and forth to Manila for my mom and my 8 yr old son..My mom will be my son;s legal guardian . can i do it by infopass appointment?Is it possible to get a first time passport for my 8 yr. old son?Iknow DFA will need an authenticated Affidavit of support and consent from the DFA in Washington DC(I already did that)Since the biological mother is not present.You think I can do it online?

I would appreciate your help.

[happywifeymom 4]

We know that the applicant must go to a DFA office in the Phils to apply for passport

DFA

But some folks get help from a travel agent in doing the paperwork.

Does it take 2 days to get a first time passport, and is it worth it to have a "fixer" work for you?

The people in the provinces dont have the luxury of living near a DFA office or satellite center, so the travel kinda makes the passport process a big deal. Any ideas for short cuts would be most welcomed. Thanks ahead, and more power! :star:

Travel agencies can do that but just be prepared of the charge coz am sure they will charge you times 5.. mostly.Even if you will ask assistance from a travel agency the applicant's personal appearance is needed so it's better to do it yourself if you can.

yea thats right.... even if u use travel agencies,u still need to go to DFA for personal appearance and fingerprinting...

why dont u just make an online appointment?if u make an appointment today,u will be scheduled for tomorrow or the following day..

DFA appt. system

So sad that online application is valid only in Manila.

[Pinay Wife 47]

Are there different types of passports for tourism, OFW, Visa? I dont think so, so why would they care why someone wants a passport?

There are two types of passports, the regular passport, issued to ordinary people like us and the official passport (it is also called the red passport) issued to government officials and employees.

I dont think so, so why would they care why someone wants a passport?

The requirements and level of difficulty in applying for Philippine passport is case-to-case basis, depending on your personal circumstances. For "tourism purposes" is the one with less requirements. However, if you are already married and want to use your husband's surname, the CFO requirement will kick in, plus your MC, plus his divorce decree (if he was previously married), and possibly, evidence of support from him, etc.

Examples of requirements for different purposes of travel:

a. Tourism - birth certificate, picture, (marriage certificate if you are married), (if no BC then additional requirement would be baptismal, transcript, postal ID, etc.)

b. OFW/Work - additional requirement that would kick in would be POEA clearance, contracts, etc.

c. Marry a foreign national - additional requirements would be CFO seminar, his divorce decree, evidence of support etc.

If purpose of travel is other than tourism, expect more requirements.

[Ken-Love 0]

hello!

im going to apply a passport for the first time the first week of august coz i am waiting for my voter's certificate. in a form it stated there...

purpose of travel: and there are choices..Tour, Seaman, business, Migration, Study, Work and others. in my case wut i am going to put? Tour? coz my friend told me she met someone in davao said she had a foreign fiance she was asked to get a CFO certificate.

i appreciates any reply. thanks!

[Pinay Wife 47]

Ken-Love, choose tourism as purpose of your travel so you will not be asked to present CFO certificate. Do not mention that you have a foreign fiance. You can do the CFO later after you get your passport or are done with your visa, whichever is convenient.

[RonMay 1]

PW!

Ate Cora very great input about the passport infos. Thanks for this detailed infos! Super ka talaga!

[Ken-Love 0]

Ken-Love, choose tourism as purpose of your travel so you will not be asked to present CFO certificate. Do not mention that you have a foreign fiance. You can do the CFO later after you get your passport or are done with your visa, whichever is convenient.

thank you te ...

----Luv

Edited June 11, 2009 by Ken-Love