Saturday, February 25, 2012

How to Apply for a Passport in Cebu

Note: This is the detailed version of the guide. A quick guide is also be available here.

The Department of Foreign Affairs Cebu is located at the 4th floor of Pacific Mall Mandaue (formerly Super Metro Mandaue). If you are an individual applying for a passport for the first-time, here's a guide (accurate as of February 24, 2012):


How to Apply for a Passport - New Applicants (Walk-In)

  1. Prepare your requirements and supporting documents.

    Find the list of requirements here. You don't have to worry about the accomplished application form as you can get this from the DFA on the day of your application. The form is quite quick and easy to fill out too. There's also the E-Passport Application Form you can download online but I'm not sure if this will be honored since it has some slight differences with the form distributed at the DFA.

  2. Get your priority number.

    The mall and the DFA office opens at 9am. However, you can already queue up outside the mall beforehand. If you don't have an application form yet, ask for it from the security guard. At around 7am, the first 200 priority numbers shall be given.

    If there are no more application forms or priority numbers when you arrive, they will no longer require you to line up. But once the mall opens, ascend to the DFA office, get an application form, completely fill it out and wait for the security guard to call out a line for new applicants (they will first entertain those with pending applications). Prepare a valid ID. When it's already your turn, submit the form and ID to the person-in-charge, and you'll be given your priority number.

    Wait outside the DFA office for your priority number to be called. While waiting, you may also have your documents photocopied. Photocopy services are available inside the DFA processing area (I guess the guard will let you in if you tell him you'll just have your requirements photocopied), or at a souvenir shop at the mall's 2nd level.

    Note: Although the DFA closes at 5:30pm, they will no longer receive new applications after 4pm.

  3. Processing: Have your requirements checked.

    The numbers will be called out by batch (either in groups of 10 or 20). Queue up in line again according to your numbers. Once inside, your ID and application form will be given back to you. You'll then be seated at the processing area. You'll be directed to sit at the back of the middle portion, and you'll move closer to the front until it's your turn to be served. (Follow the security guard's instructions on where to be seated. The left side is for those who are processing via agency, while the right side is senior citizens, minors and families.)

    Give your requirements, supporting documents and IDs to the checker. He/she will staple together the documents you will be submitting. Depending on the document, the DFA will get the original or just the photocopy. For example, they'll take the original of your birth certificate, but they'll need just a photocopy of your Transcript of Records (but you'll still have to present the original).

    If your requirements are sufficient, the checker will give the stapled requirements back to you and tell you to proceed to the payment area.

  4. Payment: Let go of your cash!

    You'll pay P950 for regular processing, or if you're in hurry to get your passport, it's P1,200 for express processing. The DFA website says 10 working days for express, and 20 working days for regular. At the DFA office, you'll be told it's 15 for express, 25 for regular. But on a personal note, it's 30 days for regular, based on the release date indicated on my receipt.

  5. Encoding: Have your data inputted on the computer.

    There will be another queue at the encoding area. While waiting, you may play some games on your mobile phone or start a conversation with your fellow applicants, whatever suits you. Then, give your stapled requirements to the encoder. He/she will scan your documents, take your picture via the official DFA camera, left and right thumb marks and signature. He/she will then encode your information. Watch the screen and check if the input is correct; it is your responsibility (not the encoder's) to make sure that the information encoded is accurate (beware of misspellings). Else, you might be made to pay for an amendment fee if you find it out too late.

    The encoder will then ask you to proceed to Window 1, where you will be given a print-out of the encoded information. Review this one carefully (last chance to notice any wrongly-typed data). After reviewing, sign the document and give it back to the person-in-charge. Now all that's left to do is wait for your passport to be released!

  6. Releasing: Hello Passport, Hello World!

    As already mentioned in step 3, the release date of your passport is indicated on your receipt. You can either come back to the DFA on the said date to claim your passport, or you can have it delivered via LBC for only P120.

    If you choose the latter, the LBC Delivery Service is located just beside the photocopying booth at the processing area. Mr. LBC will take your receipt, so they can claim your passport on your behalf. You can have your passport delivered to a specific address, like your home, or have it sent to an LBC branch where you can pick it up. Delivery of your passport shall be 1 to 2 days after the release date.

Applying for a passport is actually fast enough and convenient, thanks to a well-organized Department of Foreign Affairs office. Provided that your requirements are complete, you can definitely be able to finish processing your application in just one day. So what are you waiting for? Get your passport now (before the fees increase)!

41 comments:

  1. Hi , i just want to ask, if it will be a sufficient documents: Birth Certificate, School ID(College), and Voter's Certificate. Thanks po!

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  2. The requirements are:
     
    1. Birth certificate - OK.
    2. Proof of identity/supporting documents indicating your full name, date and place of birth and citizenship - Just make sure your school ID and voter's certificate provide these information. If they do, then it should be sufficient enough.
     
    Hope this helps.

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  3. do i need to bring some photos with me ?

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  4. You don't need to bring any photos with you. They'll take your passport picture in Step 5. However, make sure the ID cards you bring also bear your picture for Step 3. :)

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  5. should i get a Police Clearance and NBI clearance ?

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  6. These are not explicitly required. If you have other supporting documents, I suggest you only get an NBI clearance, it should be sufficient enough. But if you don't, then you might as well get both in order for you to have a surer shot of getting through the requirements checking.

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  7. is really necessary to bring 2 valid id. school id and voters id

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  8. They don't necessarily require any number of IDs, but what they require is a proof of identity. As long as your full name, date and place of birth, and citizenship are indicated, then one ID should be enough. The Voter's ID already has these information (except for birthplace, but this can be found on your birth certificate). However, it doesn't hurt to bring other IDs for backup to show in case they would need to check (especially if there are discrepancies, e.g. your name has different spellings in the documents you presented, or different birthdays, etc).

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  9. thank you so much for the info:) really helped me a lot. God Bless you:)

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  10. what to do if today is your assigned date to claim the passport and you didn't show up? Do they charge you when you get the passport on a later date? Or what are the consequences of claiming it later than the assigned date? Thank you. :)

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  11.  Hi, do the nso birth certificate should have a receipt?

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  12. If I remember correctly, a co-applicant had no receipt with her NSO birth certificate, but it was accepted. So I guess they aren't particular regarding that. If you have your receipt though, just bring it along just to be sure. :)

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  13. Gustavo O. MercadoJune 28, 2012 at 10:41 AM

     I don't have passport  pictures yet, can we have it taken at DFA Cebu thru Metro Pacific Mall Office?

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  14.  Hi Gustavo, you don't need to bring pictures with you upon applying. Your passport picture will be taken at the DFA Office during the Encoding step. They have their official DFA camera over there. :)

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  15. hello.. good afternoon.. i just want to ask if its ok I have only one supporting documents like baptismal certificate.. so, i have only my nso, baptismal and voter's id.. is it acceptable? thank u..

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  16. Hi Rachel, I couldn't say for sure if the documents and ID you have are sufficient. But based on the DFA checklist, you already meet the necessary requirements (they did not specify how many other supporting documents one should present). :)

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  17. i want to get passport as soon as possible but my problem is i have some of the requirements but one thing i dont have its ID...i dont have any of that..what will i do??? please help me..

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  18. If you don't have an ID, an NBI clearance will do. You can also opt to get a postal ID. :)

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  19. is it the same process for lost passport? i inquired thru an agency and was told that i would need an affidavit of loss indicating my passport details w/c i can only get from dfa. i thought that if i would have to go to dfa for these infos, then i would just rather process my passport in dfa as well..

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  20. Hello where can i get a duly accoplished application form????.. Plz reply.

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  21. i would like to ask if nso bcert is still needed to renew my maroon colored passport

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  22. I am a new Passport applicant and I wish to apply at the newly opened DFA office at the Pacific Mall Mandaue, Cebu, I learned that online application is also accepted. Is it true? Because I have already applied for an online application but as to this date I have not yet received any response from the DFA. What can you share or what is the best thing to do so that I can save time and money by not going to Manila. thank you...

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  23. Im new here po, want to apply for passport, pwede po ba ask ano mga new requirements? kasi dami bagong requirements na naririnig ko.. tanggap po ba ang postal Id(pra sa two ID's na require)? di ko po kabisado lahat-lahat..

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  24. Hi LJ, postal ID will not be considered as valid. You may look up the list of acceptable IDs and supporting documents here.

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  25. hello.. I would like to ask if there are no delays in the releasing of passport? my receipt says it will be on the 19th of March.. I am expecting to fly on the last week of March, so I badly need it to book a flight.. Will it really be released on time?

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  26. Under normal circumstances, your passport should be ready by the date indicated on your receipt. I got mine on time, so no problem on that. :)

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  27. Frustrating. The LBC courier service is lousy. I already called up and my passport was all ready for pick up long time ago and until now it's not yet arrived on my hand. -_-

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  28. I went there on Feb 14 and until now, I don't have it.

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  29. Hi, have you already tried checking the status of your passport delivery through LBC's Track and Trace?

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  30. What a terrible procedure dfa cebu is having....people wNt to have passport should queue up early as 4am?!?...what a mess....its too frustrating when u want to apply & be there at around 7 or 8 am & there's no fricking priority number available? What an inconvenient to all passport applicants.. my husband & my daugther Arrived b4 8am, didnt got a p.number..the person who is assigned to gv the numbers told them that they have to queue up earlier as 4am to catch up priority numbers, what the heck!!!...tsk,tsk,tsk...dfa should improve their procedures or i think they are too lousy & lazy with thier jobs....awful!!!!

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  31. is e-passport is acceptable in dfa cebu?

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  32. i heard that for new passport application, dfa will take the original birth certificate. I would like to confirm if that is true?

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  33. hi i badly need help.. I am flying next month but i dont have a passport yet.. what should i do?I want to have my passport as soon as possible. pls help.

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  34. Help me to get my passport b4 dec. 23 i need it! Im new of this

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  35. I'm not sure on the actual day you could get your passport, but if you apply immediately, like tomorrow, and pay for express processing, then you might just get your passport on or before Dec. 23. :)

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  36. They have changed the process now. April of this year 2014. I have applied for my passport. I did not go their at 4am but instead went at the mall at 5 pm to get a priority number, this number will ensure you that you will be prioritized to get inside the building before the mall opens. It will be provided to you in exchange to your old ID as deposit. So i went home after getting this number and had all my requirements checked. Take note, i was able to have a complete goodnight sleep. :) LOL. So i went there 6am(coz i heard they will start at 6am and i dont want long wait) boy its wrong. i waited in line for maybe 30 mins to 1 hours and they started releasing another number as your priority number in DFA. Like your final priority number. Once your in the mall with your DFA number, you still have to wait until they would officially start. DFA process starts at 9am. So we had our breakfast at dimsum while killing the time. My number was around 120 if im not mistaken. Then i was finally done at 130 pm.

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  37. NSO and Baptismal - same level.
    you need
    1. NSO/BirthCertificate - names/ details must be clear otherwise you need to provided, Local Birth or Baptismal.
    2. 3 supporting Docs (with Address, Names etc)
    ex. NBI, TOR, CEDULA, Barangay clearance,
    3. 2 VALID IDS
    ex. school ID (old or new), company ID (if employed), Voters ID.

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  38. I have a question.... Is there a site where I can apply a passport through online??? my mom badly need a passport.. helppp pls :(

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  39. hi ask if my requirments is enough already i have my BC,NSO,NEW AND OLD BAPTISMAL, COZ. Before they ask me to getnew baptismal,NBI,BIR,POSTAL ID,BRGY ID,DRIVERS LICENSE,AND PHILHEALTH WAIT FOR YOUR ANSWER THANK YOU SIR

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  40. I want to apply for passport could you will you accept and nso with certified tru copy from attorney coz my original nso was already used?

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  41. It has to be the original. You will need to procure a new copy of your birth certificate from NSO.

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