Passport Application/Renewal at DFA Cebu: What You Need To Know

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First: The Basics

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is at the Pacific Mall in Mandaue City, Cebu.

DFA Cebu is open from Monday to Friday 9 AM-6 PM and Saturday 9 AM-3 PM. If you have questions,
you can call them at (032) 520-5898 and (032) 520-6193. You may also contact them via email

at cebu.rco@dfa.gov.ph or dfacebu@yahoo.com.
You can get an application form from the DFA security guard.

A list of the documentary requirements can be found here:New Applications | Passport

Renewal | List of Acceptable IDs and Supporting Documents. Have everything photocopied.

I try my best to answer all questions but I am often very busy, so before you leave a
comment telling me what documents you have and asking me if those are enough, please
check these links first, especially thelist of acceptable IDs and supporting documents. I promise
the list is very easy to understand. And my answer will be based on that list anyway, so, really,

you will get a faster answer if you just look at the list yourself. Thanks. :)
UPDATE (17 Oct 2014): DFA Cebu confirmed today that they dont offer expedited/rush processing
of passports. Regular processing time is 6 weeks. If you need your passport urgently, you

can apply at the DFA office in Aseana Business Park (near Mall of Asia).
UPDATE (February 2015): Still no rush processing or appointment system in DFA Cebu,
according to recent applicants.

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Requirements
Updated 24 Feb 2015 to address readers most frequently asked questions
The list of requirements can be found in the following pages:

Getting A Philippine Passport at DFA Cebu: List of Requirements for First Time Applicants

Renewing A Philippine Passport at DFA Cebu: List of Requirements

List of Acceptable IDs and Supporting Documents

If you dont have a government-issued ID yet, the easiest to obtain is probably the new postal ID.
Although it is not in the official list of accepted IDs yet, news reports say that the DFA will accept the new
postal ID the one with the QR code and other security features and that was launched just recently. You
can find out how to secure the new postal ID in this article: How to Get the New Postal ID in Cebu.
Ang mga papeles nga gikinahanglan sa pagkuha ug passport makit-an dinhi nga mga website:

Getting A Philippine Passport at DFA Cebu: List of Requirements for First Time Applicants

(Bisaya/Cebuano)
Renewing A Philippine Passport at DFA Cebu: List of Requirements (Bisaya/Cebuano)

List of Acceptable IDs and Supporting Documents

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Tips

Priority is given to certain individuals and the persons with whom they are processing their
passports:

Minors (7 years old and below, according to this DFA release)

Senior citizens (people over 60 years old)

Pregnant women

Persons with disabilities

If youve got any of these priority applicants in your family, strongly consider getting your

passport at the same time they are.

The DFA requires photocopies of all your requirements, but if you forget to photocopy something,
dont panic theres a photocopier inside the DFA itself (P3/page).

The Process
This is what the schedule at the DFA looks like:

As early as midnight

People start queueing for priority numbers.

7:00 AM

The security guard gives out priority numbers to those in the queue. The priority numbers
usually run out pretty fast. (There were no more priority numbers available when we arrived
shortly before 8:00 AM.)Applicants without priority numbers MAY still be accommodated in the

afternoon, when those with priority numbers have finished, but this is not guaranteed.
A DFA staff member collects the application forms of priority applicants: minors, seniors,
pregnant women, PWDs, and members of their party. This early collection is done so that their

information can be encoded ahead of time.

Shortly before 9:00 AM

The guard admits all priority applicants and their companions to the building, where they
proceed to the DFA office at the 4th floor.
Another guard right outside the office doors will give instructions (sit down first, form a
queue, et cetera).

Once admitted to the office, those who were able to submit their forms at 7 AM can go

straight in and are called first.

Those who werent able to submit their forms earlier should stop by the Information desk to

hand their forms to the receptionist, who will then have these encoded.
Everyone sits and waits for their names to be called.

9:00 AM

Another guard starts calling the names of priority applicants. When your name is called, you
are told which counter to approach.
At the counter, present all your documents.
Once your documents are examined and approved, you proceed to the cashier.
(Its P950 for regular processing, and you will make the cashier very happy if you bring the

exact amount.)
After paying, you get your photo taken and verify all your information. You then sign a form
that says everything (spelling, dates, other info) is as it should be, and you are then told when

to come back to get your passport.

10:00 AM

The rest of the [non-priority] applicants are admitted to the DFA office.

FAQs

DFA Cebu does not have the appointment system yet, as far as I know.

For emergency cases or lost passports, or if you need your passport validity extended for good
reason, its best to go to DFA Cebu and present your case to them directly.

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If youre planning to travel outside the country, read this: What Filipinos Need to Know About
Traveling Abroad: Guidelines from the Bureau of Immigration.

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Passport Application/Renewal at DFA Cebu: What You Need To Know was created by LSS for travel
site Small-Town Girls, Midnight Trains. Parts of this post were originally published inWhat You Need to Know
for Passport Application/Renewal at DFA Cebu. Reposted with permission. All rights reserved.

Getting A Philippine Passport at DFA

Cebu: List of Requirements for First
Time Applicants
6
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These are the requirements for first-time passport applicants:

1. NSO birth certificate

2. 1 valid picture ID such as a drivers license or PRC ID. For a complete list of acceptable IDs,
please click here.
3. 3 supporting documents such as a voters ID, NSO marriage contract, and community tax
certificate (cedula). For a complete list of supporting documents, please clickhere.
4. Application form can be obtained from the guard or downloaded online
The following applicants need to submit additional requirements:

Minors (below 18 years old) see this page for passport requirements, as well as the
documents required by the Bureau of Immigration when traveling with children; you can also see

the DFA website for more information

Married women marriage contract issued by the NSO

Late registered Muslims Certificate of Tribal Affiliation from the National Commission on

Muslim Filipinos (NCMF)

DOST scholars certification or clearance from DOST

For the following applicants, please see the DFA websitefor the complete list of additional
requirements:

Applicants with no birth record

Spouses of foreign nationals

Applicants who availed of Dual Citizenship or Election of Philippine Citizenship under RA

9225
Converts who would like to use their Muslim name

Getting A Philippine Passport: List of Acceptable IDs and Supporting Documents

To get a passport, you need 1 ID and 3 supporting documents.
Usa ka ID ug tulo ka supporting documents ang kinahanglanon para makakuha ug passport.

ID
As of February 24, 2015, these are the IDs accepted by the DFA:
Mao kini ang mga ID nga dawaton sa DFA:

Government-issued picture IDs such as the following:

BIR ID (Digitized)

Drivers License

GSIS E-card

IBP ID

OWWA ID

PRC ID

Senior Citizens ID

SSS ID (Digitized)

Other acceptable picture IDs such as the following:

College ID

Alumni ID

Employment/Work ID

You need only 1 valid ID.

Usa ra ka valid ID ang kinahanglanon.
If you dont have a government-issued ID yet, the easiest to obtain is probably the new postal ID.
Although it is not in the official list of accepted IDs yet, news reports say that the DFA will accept the new
postal ID the one with the QR code and other security features and that was launched just recently. You
can find out how to secure the new postal ID in this article: How to Get the New Postal ID in Cebu.

Supporting Documents
As of February 24, 2015, these are the supporting documents accepted by the DFA:
Mao kini ang mga supporting documents nga dawaton sa DFA:

Barangay Clearance

Birth Certificate of Child/Children (NSO)

Community Tax Certificate (Cedula)

Elementary or High School Form 137 or Transcript of Records with readable dry seal

Government Service Record

Income Tax Return

Land Title

Marriage Contract (NSO)

NBI Clearance

Police Clearance

School Yearbook

Seamans Book

SSS-E1 Form or Microfilmed Copy of SSS-E1 Form

Voters Certification, List of Voters and Voters Registration Record (For newly issued VRR, please

attach receipt)
Voters ID

You need at least 3 supporting documents.

Labing menos tulo ka supporting documents ang kinahanglanon inigkuha ug passport.
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs: List of Acceptable IDs