Citizenship Eligibility and Minor Rules
- Passports may be granted and issued only to citizens of the Philippines.
- A minor may be issued a passport upon the minor’s own application, unless the natural or legal guardian requests denial.
- Only persons who are citizens of the Philippines may be included in a passport.
- A passport issued to a husband or wife may include the spouse; a passport issued to a parent may include the parent’s unmarried minor children or step-children.
- A minor brother or sister may be included in the passport of an older brother or sister.
- A minor grandchild, niece, or nephew of tender years may be included in the passport of the minor’s relative if the application is accompanied by a request from the minor’s parental or legal guardian.
- Adopted children who are citizens of the Philippines may be included in a passport issued to their adoptive parents.
- A minor child who will attain majority within two years may be included in a passport issued to the minor’s parent under the conditions above, but the passport’s validity is limited until the minor attains majority.
- A passport that includes a minor child who will attain majority within a period not exceeding three months prior to the date of the expiration of the usual two-year period may be exempted from the limitation on validity until majority.
Passport Application Requirements
- Before a passport is issued, the applicant must subscribe to and submit a written application duly verified by oath.
- The verification must be made before an official of the Department of Foreign Affairs, or a Filipino diplomatic or consular officer abroad authorized to receive and/or act on passport applications, or before a person authorized by law to administer oaths.
- If an application is filed with a diplomatic or consular officer abroad, it must be made in duplicate: the original is retained by the receiving office and the duplicate is forwarded to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila.
- Applications must be executed in person by the applicant and must include an oath or affirmation of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines.
Contents of the Written Application
- Each application must state the following:
- (a) the name of the applicant(s);
- (b) place and date of birth;
- (c) occupation;
- (d) permanent residence;
- (e) present citizenship and citizenship at birth;
- (f) names and nationality of father and mother;
- (g) whether the applicant has been naturalized in a foreign state or has taken an oath of allegiance to a foreign state;
- (h) whether the applicant has accepted a commission in the military, naval, or air service of a foreign country, and if so, the country and date of commission;
- (i) if the applicant’s father was naturalized as a citizen of the Philippines, the date of naturalization;
- (j) if the applicant is a woman: whether she has ever been married, and if so the marriage date, husband’s name, husband’s nationality, husband’s place of residence, the woman’s maiden name, whether previously married (and former husband’s details), and whether the former marriage ended by death or divorce (and the date);
- (k) if the present or former husband was naturalized as a citizen of the Philippines, the husband’s date and place of naturalization, or if naturalized through the father, the father’s name and date and place of naturalization;
- (l) the port from which, and the name and date of sailing of the vessel upon which, the applicant intends to depart from the Philippines;
- (m) names of countries intended to be visited and the object of the visit to each; the Secretary of Foreign Affairs may require documentary evidence of the object of the visit;
- (n) the period within which the applicant intends to return to the Philippines;
- (o) description of the applicant;
- (p) names and dates and places of birth of other persons to be included in the passport; and
- (q) such other pertinent information as the Secretary of Foreign Affairs may require.
Child Applications and Signing Format
- Children may execute applications for passports when they are of sufficient intelligence to understand the statements and the meaning of the required oath or affirmation.
- As a rule, children of fourteen years of age or more should be required to execute their own applications.
- A parent or guardian may execute applications on behalf of minors when circumstances warrant, including cases where the required signing is done for the minor.
- In cases of signing by a parent or guardian on behalf of a minor, the application is signed in a format where the minor is identified (example style: “Juan Reyes by Jose Reyes, the father”), and the oath or affirmation of allegiance need not be administered.
Proof of Citizenship Required
- An applicant must submit documentary proof of Philippine citizenship and evidence of Philippine citizenship of every person included in the application.
- Birth certificates must be submitted when obtainable and must bear the applicant’s parents’ names, date, and places of birth, and the parents’ citizenship.
- If a birth certificate is not obtainable, a baptismal certificate from the church records must be submitted containing the same information required for birth certificates.
- If birth or baptismal certificates are not obtainable, an affidavit by a reputable person, preferably a close blood relative, must be submitted stating:
- place and date of birth of the applicant;
- legitimacy;
- birthplace and citizenship of the parents;
- relationship between affiant and applicant; and
- how and through what source the affiant acquired knowledge of the applicant’s birth and parentage.
- A naturalized citizen must submit the naturalization certificate or a certified copy.
- A person claiming citizenship through naturalization of husband or parent must submit the husband’s or parent’s naturalization certificate or a certified copy.
- A married woman or widow must submit her birth or baptismal certificate, plus her marriage certificate and whatever evidence she has regarding her husband’s Philippine citizenship.
Name, Titles, Photos, and Identification Forms
- The passport application must contain the applicant’s full name without titles or title abbreviations (e.g., “Jose Roldan Cruz” or “Jose R. Cruz,” not professional titles).
- A married woman’s name should ordinarily be written in the form used for her full name, not by using “Mrs.” followed by the husband’s name.
- If a person’s name has been changed by court order, the applicant must submit a certified copy of the order or decree with the application.
- The applicant must submit three identical photographs measuring not more than 3 by 3 inches and not less than 2½ by 2½ inches (unmounted), printed on thin paper on a light background, showing the full front view of the applicant’s features, and taken not more than six months before submission.
- Snapshot, newspaper, or full-length photographs are not accepted.
- One photograph must be signed by the applicant with a signature corresponding to the signature on the application; that signed photo must be affixed to the passport to be issued.
- The unsigned photographs must be affixed to the application to be filed in the records of the Department or the receiving office abroad.
- When an applicant wants family members included in the passport, the applicant must submit three identical photographs of each family member, and a group photograph is preferable.
Supporting Witness Affidavit Requirements
- When applying for a passport, the applicant should be accompanied by one credible witness who must be:
- a citizen of the Philippines;
- known to the applicant for not less than two years; and
- able to show a definite place of residence.
- The witness must give a statement that:
- the witness is a citizen of the Philippines;
- the witness knows the applicant is a citizen of the Philippines;
- the statements in the application are true to the witness’s knowledge and belief; and
- the witness has known the applicant for the stated definite period.
- If no Filipino citizen is available as witness, an alien known to the issuing office may act as witness.
- The witness statement must be subscribed and sworn before any of the officials or persons referred to for oath verification.
- No lawyer or other person who expects to receive a fee in connection with the passport application may serve as supporting witness.
Amendment, Inclusion, and Validity Rules
- Passports may be amended by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs or by duly authorized diplomatic or consular officers.
- Amendments may include only persons who are citizens of the Philippines and who could have been issued passports under the same rules.
- To request an amendment to include a person, the request must be written and accompanied by:
- documentary evidence that the person is a citizen of the Philippines; and
- three identical photographs of the person meeting the photograph requirements.
- A passport must be submitted for cancellation before it can be amended to include a person previously issued a valid passport in that person’s name.
- A passport must be submitted for amendment to exclude a person if that person is included in another valid passport.
Passport Validity and Renewal Periods
- The original period of possible validity of a passport is two years.
- A passport may be renewed for a period of not more than two additional years, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
- The Secretary and any duly authorized diplomatic or consular officer may restrict the original or renewal period to less than two years.
Passport Fees and Exemptions
- A fee of PHP 2 is collected for the execution of each application for a passport.
- A fee of PHP 25 is collected for the issuance of a passport.
- A fee of PHP 10 is collected for passport renewal.
- No fee is collected for issuance to government officials going abroad in the discharge of their official duties.
- No fee is collected for issuance to immediate members of government officials’ families.
Effect of Supporting Affidavits
- Any affidavit required under the passport rules or submitted to support an application, renewal, extension, or amendment becomes part of the application.
Discretionary Control, Restrictions, and Consequences
- The Secretary of Foreign Affairs and any duly authorized diplomatic or consular officer may, in discretion:
- refuse to issue a passport;
- restrict a passport for use only in certain countries;
- withdraw or cancel a passport already issued; and
- withdraw a passport to restrict its validity or use in certain countries.
- If a person knowingly uses or attempts to use a passport in violation of its conditions or restrictions, or in violation of these rules, the Philippines’ protection may be withdrawn from that person while the person continues to reside or travel abroad.
- The Secretary may require an applicant for a passport, or for renewal or amendment, to submit satisfactory evidence of the object of the journey abroad.
- The Secretary may prescribe additional regulations on issuing, renewing, extending, amending, restricting, or withdrawing passports, provided they are additional to and not inconsistent with these rules.
Issuance Date, Effectivity, and Transitory Operation
- Executive Order No. 1 provides that it takes effect as of July 4, 1946.
- The Order is signed by Manuel Roxas as President of the Philippines, with Emilio Abello as Chief of the Executive Office for the President.
- The issuance date is July 04, 1946.