Legal basis and cited laws
- The Order is issued pursuant to Article IV, Section 8(a), Republic Act No. 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act).
- The Order is issued pursuant to Section 5(f), Republic Act No. 8239 (Philippine Passport Act of 1996).
- The Order applies in relation to Administrative Order No. 60, series of 003 (Amendment in the Guidelines on the Charging of Fees and Services) for fees.
Policy purpose for minors’ travel
- The Order provides direction for the issuance of travel clearance to minors traveling abroad to support efficient public service and address field implementation issues and stakeholder concerns.
Core rule: when travel clearance is required
- A travel clearance is required and must be secured from the DSWD for a minor who is a Filipino citizen:
- when traveling alone to a foreign country, except where special circumstances apply; and
- when traveling to a foreign country accompanied by a person other than the minor’s parents.
- A travel clearance is not required when the minor travels to a foreign country with both or either parents, or with a solo parent or legal guardian.
- A minor traveling abroad whose parents are in the foreign service, living abroad, or are immigrants is not required a travel clearance when the minor holds a valid pass such as a dependents visa/pass/identification card or a permanent resident visa/pass/identification card proving the minor is living with parents abroad and the travel does not constitute child trafficking.
- A minor traveling abroad with either parent does not require a travel clearance.
- When a special-case basis is claimed, the required proof must be presented in the form and manner stated under the Order.
Proof standards for solo parent and guardian
- Solo parenthood or legal guardianship must be proved through one of the following:
- a photocopy of the solo parent identification card from the Municipal Social Welfare & Development Office; or
- a photocopy of a certification from the local Social Welfare and Development Office of being a solo parent, or Tallaq or Fasakh certification from the Shariah court or any Muslim barangay or religious leader; or
- for an illegitimate minor, a certificate of no marriage from the local civil registrar; or
- for a deceased parent, a photocopy of the death certificate; or
- for legal guardianship, a certificate of legal guardianship issued by the court.
- Special circumstances for minors with parents abroad or in the foreign service require a valid pass as proof that the minor is living with parents abroad, and that the travel does not constitute child trafficking.
Validity, changes in circumstances
- A travel clearance certificate is valid for one year from the date of issuance.
- A travel clearance is valid for multiple travels within its one-year validity period.
- A new travel clearance must be obtained if there is a change in the conditions under which the travel clearance was issued, such as a change in traveling companion.
Documentary requirements by travel situation
- For a minor traveling alone to a foreign country for the first time, the application must include:
- a duly accomplished application form;
- a photocopy of the birth certificate or passport of the minor;
- a written consent of both parents or the solo parent or the legal guardian permitting the minor to travel alone to a foreign country;
- as appropriate, a photocopy of the marriage certificate of the minor’s parents or a photocopy of the certificate of legal guardianship of the minor, or for solo parents: a photocopy of the solo parent identification card from the Municipal Social Welfare & Development Office, or a photocopy of a certification from the local Social Welfare and Development Office of being a solo parent or Tallaq or Fasakh certification from the Shariah court or any Muslim barangay or religious leader, or for an illegitimate minor: a certificate of no marriage from the local civil registrar, or for a deceased parent: a photocopy of the death certificate; and
- two colored passport size photos of the minor taken within the last 6 months.
- For a minor traveling alone to another country subsequently, the application must include:
- a duly accomplished application form;
- a written consent of both parents or the solo parent or the legal guardian;
- a photocopy of the previous travel clearance (or as required in the first-time requirements); and
- two colored passport size photos of the minor taken within the last 6 months.
- For a minor traveling for the first time with a person other than the parents or legal guardian, the application must include:
- a duly accomplished application form;
- a photocopy of the birth certificate or passport of the minor;
- a written consent of both parents or the solo parent or the legal guardian permitting travel to a foreign country with a specific person other than them;
- as appropriate, proof of parental status and authority, including a photocopy of marriage certificate of the parents, certificate of legal guardianship, solo parent identification card, local certification of solo parent, court decrees of separation/annulment/divorce, Tallaq or Fasakh certification, certificate of no marriage, or a photocopy of the death certificate;
- two colored passport size photos of the minor taken within the last 6 months; and
- a photocopy of the passport of the traveling companion.
- For a minor traveling subsequently with a person other than the parents or legal guardian, the application must include:
- a duly accomplished application form;
- a written consent of both parents or the solo parent or the legal guardian permitting travel with a specific person other than them;
- a photocopy of the previous travel clearance (as required in the prior applicable requirements);
- two colored passport size photos of the minor taken within the last 6 months; and
- a photocopy of the passport of the traveling companion.
Application, processing time, and issuance
- Applications for travel clearance, together with supporting documents, must be submitted/filed by the parent or legal guardian or by a duly authorized representative at any DSWD Field (regional) office travel clearance unit.
- Application forms may be obtained from any DSWD Field (regional) office or travel clearance office, or downloaded from the DSWD website (dswd.gov.ph).
- Travel clearance may be obtained within 3 working days from the DSWD field (regional) or travel clearance unit where the application was submitted, provided all requirements have been fulfilled.
Fees and official receipt
- The DSWD shall collect a processing fee of P300.00 for each travel clearance issued to minors traveling abroad.
- An official receipt must be issued for the processing fee collected.
- Fee collection is anchored on Administrative Order No. 60, series of 003 (Amendment in the Guidelines on the Charging of Fees and Services).
Revocation and governing effect
- Issuances that are inconsistent with DSWD Administrative Order No. 02, S. 2006 are revoked.
- The Order continues to govern travel-clearance issuance only as to the specific provisions it amends and directs, amending Administrative Order No. 14, Series of 2005 for those covered provisions.