QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 11983)
Its short title is the “New Philippine Passport Act.” The policy is to protect the constitutional right to travel while ensuring issuance of passports/travel documents in line with international instruments, using secure passport personalization and data management technologies, prescribing only minimum requirements, and ensuring expedited actions on applications and issuance.
A passport is an ICAO-compliant machine readable travel document issued by the Philippine Government containing a request to other governments to permit safe and free passage and provide lawful aid and protection if needed.
Denial/cancellation must not result in loss where safety and interest of the Filipino citizen are at stake (i.e., no denial should apply if safety and interest are at issue). Also, denial/cancellation cannot prevent issuance of an Emergency Travel Document to allow safe return to the Philippines.
Personal appearance for biometric/biographic capturing; duly accomplished application form; proof of citizenship (e.g., PSA-authenticated birth-related documents for natural-born, and specified documents for naturalized, etc.); valid and sufficient proof of identity (foremost PhilID or competent proof); and additional documentary requirements depending on marital status, name usage, and special cases (minors, foundlings, PWD/senior/special assistance, diplomatic/official passports, etc.).
Use of husband’s surname: Certificate/Report of Marriage authenticated by PSA. Reversion to maiden name: duly authenticated birth certificate by PSA, allowed only once; other ID cards/docs must reflect the maiden name. If reversion is due to annulment, declaration of nullity, legal separation, judicially-recognized foreign divorce, or death, applicable annotations and/or Certificate/Report of Death must be PSA-authenticated.
For minors: application may be filed by either parent. If a person other than the parents files, a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) executed by a person exercising parental authority is required. For foundlings: an adult guardian may file using (1) a letter of guardianship issued by a Family Court and (2) a DSWD clearance.
The DFA Secretary may waive any requirement under Section 5 and waive fees for processing/issuance under Section 16 on humanitarian grounds.
Diplomatic passports, Official passports, and Regular passports. Diplomatic: for officials with diplomatic status/diplomatic missions. Official: for government officials/employees on official trips not on diplomatic missions. Regular: for Filipino citizens not eligible for diplomatic/official passports, including private travel.
Emergency Passports: issued to Filipinos who lost passports overseas and need to complete intended overseas travel before returning; valid for one (1) year from issuance. Emergency Travel Certificate: issued to Filipinos returning to the Philippines who lost passports overseas or cannot be issued a regular passport; valid for thirty (30) days up to six (6) months from issuance.
The DFA and authorized passport-issuing authorities/personnel shall only require documents to prove: (i) identity of the applicant; (ii) citizenship; and (iii) lack of legal travel restrictions—consistent with the Ease of Doing Business/Efficient Service Delivery Act principles.
Denial: (1) court orders holding departure; (2) notarized request by person exercising parental authority over a minor/incapacitated applicant; (3) applicant violated provisions of the Act; (4) other disqualification under existing laws. Cancellation: court orders upon conviction, fugitive from justice, suspected terrorist charged under specified sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act (with issuance allowed after acquittal/dismissal/discretion); fraudulent/tampered/erroneous acquisition; or return by other government agencies/recipients (new passport possible). Restrictions: hold/precautionary hold departure orders; political instability; fractured/severed diplomatic ties; destination travel restrictions by government policy/UN enforcement/state of war.
Regular passports are valid for ten (10) years. For individuals under eighteen (18), only a passport with five (5)-year validity shall be issued. The issuing authority may limit validity to less than ten years in the interest of national economy or political stability.
A Philippine passport remains government property and may not be confiscated except by the DFA. Any other agency/official/person must promptly turn it over to the DFA. Those confiscating or withholding without authority are penalized under Section 22(a), with imprisonment and fines.
(1) Illegal withholding/confiscation: imprisonment of not less than 12 years 1 day to not more than 20 years plus fine of ₱1,000,000 to ₱2,000,000. (2) Forgery: imprisonment 6 years 1 day to 15 years plus fine ₱100,000 to ₱250,000. (3) Improper use: imprisonment 6 years 1 day to 15 years plus fine ₱100,000 to ₱250,000, covering use for another person, use of supporting documents belonging to another, and selling/trading/pawning/mortgaging or using as collateral/currency.
The DFA must maintain its own database containing applicants’ biographic/biometric/demographic data; records of denials, cancellations, stolen/lost passports; and other necessary information. In coordination with DICT, National Privacy Commission, PSA, and other agencies, DFA must implement organizational, technical, and physical security measures to protect data against tampering, loss, destruction, damage, and unauthorized access/use/disclosure.