Declaration of Policy
- Protect the constitutional right to travel.
- Ensure issuance of passports using secure technologies.
- Prescribe minimum requirements.
- Expedite application and issuance processes.
Definition of Terms
- Definitions cover key terms such as Ambassadors, Biographic and Biometric data, Consular Offices, Emergency Travel Document, Foundling, Fugitives from Justice, Foreign Service Posts, ICAO, Issuing Authority, Legal Guardians, Passport Personalization, Recognized Alien Residents, Refugees, Stateless Persons, and Travel Documents.
Authority to Issue, Deny, or Cancel Passports
- Secretary of Foreign Affairs (DFA Secretary) or authorized consular officials may issue, deny, or cancel passports.
- Philippine consular officials abroad have jurisdiction.
- Denial or cancellation can be for reasons of national security, public safety, or public health.
- Emergency Travel Document issuance to ensure safe return.
Requirements for Application and Issuance
- Personal appearance for biometric and biographic data.
- Completed application form.
- Proof of citizenship: Certificate of Live Birth, Naturalization, or other relevant documents.
- Valid proof of identity, preferably PhilID.
- Marriage documents if surname change is requested.
- Special provisions for minors, foundlings, and adoptive children.
- Renewal flexibility for senior citizens and migrant workers.
- Assistance for PWDs, illiterate applicants, senior citizens.
- Name discrepancies resolved in favor of PSA records.
- Government officials applying for diplomatic or official passports require travel authority.
Prohibition Against Unfair and Discriminatory Practices
- DFA and personnel to require only identity, citizenship, and absence of travel restrictions.
- Compliance with Ease of Doing Business Act.
Types of Passports
- Diplomatic Passport: For high-ranking officials, diplomats, designated attaches, and their families.
- Official Passport: For government staff on official trips without diplomatic status.
- Regular Passport: For citizens not eligible for diplomatic or official passports.
- Officials may hold two passports simultaneously (regular and diplomatic/official).
- Option for additional pages subject to fees.
Emergency Travel Documents
- Emergency Passport: For lost passports overseas with validity of one year.
- Emergency Travel Certificate: For returnees with lost passports or inability to issue regular passports; valid 30 days to 6 months.
- Alien spouse and children of Filipinos may also receive Emergency Travel Certificates if returning residents.
Convention Travel Documents
- Issued to stateless persons or refugees recognized as permanent residents.
- Valid for five years.
Grounds for Denial, Cancellation, or Restriction
- Denial: Court orders, parental authority requests, violations of the Act, or other disqualifications.
- Cancellation: Court orders related to criminal conviction, fugitive status, terrorism charges; fraudulently acquired passports; returned passports.
- Restrictions: Hold departure orders, political instability, severance of diplomatic ties, government policy travel restrictions.
- Appeals allowed for non-court related denials/cancellations.
Passport Database
- Contains biometric, biographic, demographic data, records of denials, cancellations, lost/stolen passports.
- Collaboration with other agencies for data protection.
Validity of Passports
- Regular passports valid for 10 years.
- Passports for individuals under 18 valid for 5 years.
- Validity may be limited for national economy or political stability reasons.
Ownership of Passports
- Passports remain property of the Philippine government.
- Only DFA can legally confiscate passports.
- Unauthorized confiscation punishable.
Names and Titles in Passports
- Contains full name only, no titles or professions.
- Governed by Philippine naming laws.
Loss or Destruction of Passports
- Must be reported immediately to DFA or Foreign Service Post.
- Affidavit required detailing circumstances.
- Found passports must be turned over.
Fees
- Reasonable processing and issuance fees.
- Fee increases limited to once every 3 years.
Passport Revolving Fund
- DFA may charge extra service fees (up to 30%) for special cases or extended hours.
- Fund used to improve passport and consular services.
- Subject to auditing and Congressional review.
Online Application and Electronic One-Stop Shop
- Mandatory establishment of online application portal for convenience.
Offsite and Mobile Passport Services
- DFA empowered to provide services outside main consular offices.
Special Lanes for Vulnerable Groups
- Special lanes for senior citizens, PWDs, pregnant women, minors, solo parents, OFWs, Muslim pilgrims.
Fee and Requirement Waivers
- DFA Secretary may waive requirements and fees on humanitarian grounds.
Offenses and Penalties
- Confiscation or unlawful withholding: imprisonment 12-20 years, fines P1M-P2M.
- Forgery-related offenses: imprisonment 6-15 years, fines P100K-P250K.
- Improper use of passports: same penalties as forgery.
- Unauthorized issuance or facilitation of passports: 6-12 years imprisonment, fines.
- False statements: 6-12 years imprisonment, fines.
- Unfair/discriminatory practices: administrative and criminal penalties including dismissal and imprisonment.
- Syndicate or large scale offenses receive maximum penalties.
- Public officials: additional dismissal and perpetual disqualification.
- Juridical persons' responsible officers punished; automatic revocation of licenses.
- Aliens additionally deported and barred from re-entry.
Appropriations
- Funding included in the General Appropriations Act.
Implementing Rules and Regulations
- DFA to promulgate rules within 60 days of effectivity.
Separability Clause
- Invalid provisions do not affect the rest of the Act.
Repealing Clause
- Previous inconsistent laws and regulations repealed or amended.
Effectivity
- Effective 15 days after official publication.