My Experience Getting My Very Own Passport In Davao City.
Before I got my own passport from DFA Davao, I was clueless as to where
to begin. I did not know which documents to procure and present upon my
application and what to do with them thereafter. But when I managed to complete
the process myself, I realized that the process is not as complicated or
intimidating as it seems. Hence, I would like to share my experiencing applying
for my passport for the first time so that other first-timers can learn more about
the process and make it easier for them to handle it.
The most basic step I did when applying for a passport is to obtain the
documents required by the DFA. These documents include an NSO-authenticated
birth certificate, passport application form (that must be filled out with your
personal details), and any 3 supporting documents, such as voter's ID, driver's
license, SSS ID, and other IDs issued by the government. All of these documents
are designed for personal identification and verification.
Once I had prepared all of the above documents and they are ready, I
headed to the DFA office so I can submit those documents. You can visit the DFA
office at Jacinto Street fronting the motorpool for Ateneo de Davao University.
You can easily identify the building because there is a Philippine flag in
front.
There are three important steps involved in the processing of your
passport application. First off, you have to set up an appointment so that your
application can be processed. The DFA recently issued some changes to the
processing format of passports in the country and they also introduced the new
e-Passport system. Unlike before wherein you can simply walk into the DFA
office and have it processed and released within the same day, the changes has
meant that you can only set up an appointment on your first visit to their
office. You will be directed to the Information Desk wherein your passport
application form is stamped with date and time of the processing schedule for
your passport. Without your stamped schedule, you will not be entertained on
your next visit.
Then, the actual processing begins at a later date. Don't forget to
bring the original and photocopy versions of the required documents to avoid
delays. Wait for your turn to be called in at the DFA office because you will
be interviewed. Next on the list is the encoding section (this is also when
your picture will be taken). An important
reminder is that you will get your pictures taken at the DFA office. I did not
know this beforehand and so I brought my own pictures during the processing of
my passport. But it turns out that is not needed. It is recommended that you
review all information to ensure they are correct and then have it verified
again before going to the cashier to pay.
On average, passports are released within 23 working days and you have
to pay approximately PhP 950. But if you want to get your passport sooner, you
can go for express processing with a slightly higher fee of approximately PhP
1,200.
All passports can only be claimed in the afternoon. Don't forget your
receipt because it will be presented upon claiming.
