(Eagle News) – “The presentation of birth certificate in the application for the renewal of passport shall not be required” anymore by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
This was according to Department Order No. 03-2019 on the “Documentary Requirements for the Renewal of Regular Passports” signed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., on Tuesday, January 15.
Locsin said that the department “recognizes the need to enhance the convenience of and unburden the public and passport applicants from unnecessary requirements for the renewal of their passports.”
The order cited Republic Act 8239, also known as the Philippine Passport Act of 1996” which “imposes only minimum documentary requirements for the application and issuance of regular passports and other travel documents.”
It also cited Section 7 of the Passport Act which does not anymore require the presentation or submission of birth certificates for passport renewal, but only the submission of duly accomplished forms and the old passport, “unless there is a change in the status of the applicant” or change in the passport entries such as a change in surname.
Locsin said the order would only cover regular renewal of passports.
It shall not cover renewal applications for lost and mutilated passports; renewal applications requiring changes in the passport entries; renewal applications of old brown and green passports bearing no complete middle name; and cases where the applicants are included in the Department’s watchlist.
First-time passport applications also require the presentation and submission of birth certificates.
For these cases, the existing application requirements under the Passport Act and other existing relevant circulars shall be applied.
The order said that the “Foreign Service Posts and Consular Offices may also require additional documents to ascertain the Philippine citizenship of passport applicants or proof of filiation for minors.”
The department order will take effect 15 days from date of its filinf with the Office of the National Administrative Registrar of the University of the Philippines Law Center.
(Eagle News Service)