Getting a passport for a minor child follows the same basic process required for adults with some additional IDs and documents. There is no prescribed age when a child may apply for a passport. In fact, babies, and children from zero to seven years old are welcome to use the Courtesy Lane at DFA consular offices if they are accompanied by a fully vaccinated parent or adult. DFA Aseana accommodates up to 300 qualified applicants to their Courtesy Lane daily. A passport appointment for minors aged eight years old and above is needed. A Philippine passport can be a child’s very first valid government-issued ID, apart from his PSA birth certificate.
A minor’s passport is valid for five years and may be renewed at as early as six months before it expires. Passport renewal for minors also follow the same process as the renewal of an adult’s passport, including a confirmed DFA online appointment for children older than seven years.
The secret to a hassle-free passport application, whether for minors or adults, is to make sure you have the complete set of requirements with you on the day of the appointment. It is important that the parent or guardian can present the IDs and documents required by the DFA, and that these documents contain complete and correct information such as the child’s name, parents’ names, birth date and birthplace.
Here is a complete guide for the DFA requirements and processes involved in passport application for minors.
Core Passport Requirements for Minor Applicants
These are the passport requirements for minors.
- A confirmed online appointment at a DFA consular office of your choice. Related article: List of DFA Branches in the Philippines: Where to Get or Renew Your Philippine Passport
- Courtesy Lanes are open for qualified applicants. DFA Aseana accommodates up to 300 qualified applicants in its Courtesy Lane daily.
- Duly accomplished application form.
- Personal appearance of the minor applicant accompanied by either parent or authorized adult or guardian.
- PSA birth certificate of minor applicant. If the PSA birth certificate is not available, blurry, or cannot be read, please bring the Local Civil Registrar copy instead.
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PSA marriage certificate of the parents if only one parent will appear at the DFA.
- If the parents are not married and only the father will accompany the minor child: Special Power of Attorney (SPA) executed by the mother is required.
- The SPA must be authenticated by the Philippine Embassy.
- Original and photocopy of the passport or any valid government-issued ID of either parent.
- Minor child’s school ID (if applicable)
Apart from the core requirements, additional documents may be required by the DFA, based on the following cases:
For newborn or less than one-year old applicants
In case the minor is a newborn and does not have a PSA birth certificate or Report of Birth yet, the following must be presented:
- Certified True Copy of Local Civil Registrar (LCR) Birth Certificate authenticated by the PSA, if the child was born in the Philippines.
- Original copy of Report of Birth or first indorsement from the Consular Records Division, if the child was born abroad
For minor applicants who are not accompanied by parent/s during passport application
- Special Power of Attorney (SPA) executed by one or both parents to authorize the minor’s adult companion to assist the child in the passport application process. The SPA must be authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate if executed abroad.
- The parents’ SPA or Affidavit of Support and Consent must also include a copy of the parent/s valid government-issued ID or valid passport.
- The authorized adult companion must present his or her passport or any valid government issued ID during the application process.
For minors not traveling with parent/s
- A clearance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Affidavit of Support and Consent from the child’s parent/s.
- If the parent’s affidavit was executed abroad, the SPA must be authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate.
- The authorized adult companion must present his or her passport or any valid government issued ID during the application process.
For illegitimate minor child who is under mother’s custody
- The minor child and his or her mother, or authorized adult guardian must personally appear at the DFA consular office on the day of the appointment.
- The child’s PSA birth certificate
- Valid passport or any valid government-issued ID of the mother or of the authorized adult guardian.
- If the mother is unable to personally accompany her minor child during the passport application, she must execute a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) to authorize the child’s adult companion to assist in the passport application process. As always, SPAs executed outside the Philippines must be authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate.
- If the minor child is traveling without his or her mother, she must secure a clearance from the DSWD and execute an Affidavit of Support and Consent. If the affidavit is executed abroad, it must be authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate.
For illegitimate minor child and mother is deceased and father is unknown
This is a special case that may require proof that the child’s father’s whereabouts are unknown.
- The minor applicant must personally appear at the DFA consular office accompanied by an adult guardian.
- The minor child’s PSA birth certificate
- Valid passport or valid government-issued ID of the adult guardian
- Clearance from the DSWD
- Letter of Guardianship issued by a Family Court
For minor child who underwent process of domestic adoption
- The minor applicant must personally appear at the DFA consular office accompanied by his or her adoptive parent/s
- The minor child’s PSA birth certificate
- The adoptive parent/s’ valid passport or valid government-issued IDs
- Copy of the Court Decree of Adoption
- If the adoptive parents are unable to personally appear during the passport application process, they must execute an SPA to authorize an adult companion who will assist the child in the passport application process
- If the applicant is not traveling with his or her adoptive parents, submit a clearance from the DSWD and Affidavit of Support and Consent. The latter must be authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate if executed abroad.
For minor child who underwent or is currently undergoing foreign adoption
This is for minor children whose adoptive parents reside abroad.
- The minor applicant and the Inter Country Adoption Board (ICAB) representative must personally appear at the DFA consular office
- PSA birth certificate of the minor child. If the child is a foundling, present the PSA Certificate of Foundling.
- Endorsement from the ICAB
- Certificate of Child Available for Adoption/Deed of Voluntary Commitment
- Placement Authority issued by ICAB
- Certificate for Issuance of Passport issued by the ICAB
- Clearance for inter-country adoption
- Child Study Report
- DSWD clearance
For minor child who is a foundling and not for adoption
A foundling is an abandoned child whose parents and birth facts are unknown. A foundling is issued a Certificate of Foundling in place of a birth certificate.
- The minor child and his or her adult guardian must personally appear at the DFA consular office
- Present the child’s PSA Certificate of Foundling
- The adult guardian must present his of her valid passport or valid government-issued ID
- Present a clearance from the DSWD
- Letter of Guardianship issued by the Family Court
Online passport application may be done online through the DFA website. The passport fee must be paid within 24 hours after completing the online application to keep your appointment time. Otherwise, your reserved time and date will be made available for others to book. The passport fee for regular processing (12 business days) is Php 950 while expedited processing is at Php 1,200 (7 business days). You have the option to have your passport delivered to your address or to claim it personally at the DFA consular office where you applied.
