The time has come to renew my passport which has reached its six-month validity this December 2012.
On November 26, I logged on to www.passport.com.ph and set a ‘family appointment’ for passport renewal. We would have wanted to have an earlier schedule but the available date for us was December 17 at 11:30 AM.
The online appointment system gave out a complete list of requirements as soon as I filled out the needed information.
REQUIREMENTS for PASSPORT RENEWAL:
- Old Passport + photocopy of the first page (the one with your photo and details) and last page (This contains info for emergency purposes and your signature)
- NSO Birth Certificate
- Government Issued ID (TIN, SSS, DRIVER’s LICENSE or VOTER’s ID)
- Printed out Application form from the website
- Personal Appearance
If you don’t have an NSO-issued Birth Certificate, you can have it delivered in 3 days through this website. Fee is Php 350.00 per copy.
BEFORE GOING TO THE DFA-ASEANA/SM Megamall/SM Manila/ Robinsons Galleria, here are important things to do:
- Photocopy all the requirements. In case you forgot to photocopy the documents, you can photocopy them at Yah Suy (2nd floor) across DFA-Aseana or at the DFA office itself. However, prepare to pay Php 3.00 per page.
- Make sure that you have all the requirements in an envelope/folder.
ON THE DAY of your Appointment for PASSPORT RENEWAL:
- Come with a full stomach.
- Be early. If your appointment is 11:30 AM like our schedule, then be there by 11 AM. But we were at the DFA by 10:30 AM.
- Come in business/corporate attire. Wear something with collar. Don’t wear any jewelry. Remove contact lenses as well.
- Wear closed shoes.
At the DFA-Aseana, here are what we did:
- The signages guided us. Since we had an online appointment, we proceeded to GATE 1.
- At the gate, the guard checked whether we brought the requirements needed.
- From the gate, we approached the desk outside the building. It has a label: Verification/Assessment.
- Then we were ushered inside. We were asked to sit down. It didn’t take awhile and we were readily called to a window dedicated for passport renewal.
- The officer asked for our docs: old passport, application form. He actually didn’t look at the birth certificate or the ID. But still, it’s better to bring these just in case.
- We then proceeded to STEP 2: PAYMENT at the 2nd floor of the ASEANA bldg. We chose Regular release (15 working days). Fee is Php 950.00. If you choose Express, you have to pay Php 1,200.00 for your passport to be released in a week
7. After the payment, we got our number. STEP 3 is for encoding / enrollment of your application. This may take time. Even if your appointment is at 11:30, it doesn’t mean that you’ll be called at 11:30 AM. This was what I learned from today. You will be called depending on the number that you got.
8. After encoding, pay delivery fee of Php 120.00.
Hence, it’s better to be early hours before your appointment. We finished the process in 1.5 hours. Kudos to the Department of Affairs! Somehow, it’s an improvement for a government agency. I expect to receive my passport on January 11, 2013! 
It will be delivered to our house. Yes, you don’t have to go and pick your passport.You can have it delivered to your home for Php 120.00.
RELATED/ HELPFUL LINKS from the DFA:
