Planning to Renew Your Passport? Here’s One Great Reason to Wait Till Next Year

Get the extended validity!
by Desiree Pore | November 20, 2017

The Department of Foreign Affairs announced last month the extension of passport validity to 10 years, an increase to the current validity of five. Passports with 10-year validity will be released starting on January 1, 2018 to give enough time to inform other countries about the changes.

Though the passport validity will be increased, passport fees will remain at PHP950 for the regular processing (delivered within 15 working days) and at PHP1,200 for express processing (delivered within 7 working days).

However, not everyone will be granted with the 10-year valid passport, as applicants below 18 years old will still be given the 5-year passport: “Kasi below 18 years old po, nagbabago pa ‘yung mukha, so it’s better that after 18, ‘pag expired na ‘yung passport, saka mo irenew na saka na mag-10 years,” DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano explains.     

The extension of the passport validity will benefit the OFWs according to Senator Sonny Angara, one of the authors of the bill. More on the bill, Angara said “This measure will certainly give comfort to our OFWs. Often, they have to file a leave from work for them to be able to travel back and forth to the nearest Philippine embassy or consular office to get their passports renewed.”

The news comes after the Department of Foreign Affairs removed 1,200 slots reserved to travel agencies and were given to regular applicants.

To book your appointment, go to www.passport.gov.ph/appointment.