Melo Villareal
How to renew your Philippine Passport via DFA Courtesy Lane?
The DFA Courtesy Lane is a special lane meant for the special use of applicants under a certain category set forth by the Department of Foreign Affairs. This special lane called the courtesy lane is implemented by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Certain types of applicants don’t have to schedule a Passport Appointment from the Philippine Appointment System.
This simply means that if an applicant meets the criteria to fall under one of the categories set forth by the DFA, they get exclusive use of the special lane or courtesy any time without setting an appointment.
However, with the ongoing health crises, as of June 3, 2020, applicants eligible to use the courtesy lane are required to set an online appointment just like regular applicants. This ensures the safety of the staff and other applicants in the DFA Office by strictly following the health protocols and physical distancing.
Securing online appointments for the use of the courtesy lane limits the applicants that can enter the DFA Office at any given time; however, this also results in a speedier process in processing the applicants’ papers. Applicants eligible to use the DFA Courtesy Lane will also have exclusive rights to use the lane, separated from regular applicants.
Who is allowed to use the DFA Passport Express Lane?
The following categories of applicants below can use the DFA Courtesy Lane once they secured an online appointment as enumerated by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Regular Government Employees
This includes:
- Retired Regular Government Employees not passed 1 year of retirement
- Incumbent Elected Officials down to Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman
Senior Citizens (60 years old and above)
- Senior Citizen applicants may be accompanied by one (1) adult who is their immediate family member or travel companion.
People with Disabilities (PWDs)
- PWDs applicants may be accompanied by one (1) adult who is their immediate family member or travel companion.
Solo Parents
Minors seven (7) years old and below with their parents and minor sibling(s)
- Minor applicants must be accompanied by their parents, legal guardians, or an authorized representative.
Pregnant women
Overseas Filipino Workers
Is there an exception when using the DFA Passport Express Lane?
Yes.
There might be cases where an exception may be made for certain individuals to use the DFA courtesy lane, such as during an emergency. To avail of this exception to use the DFA courtesy lane, applicants must have a written request to get the approval of the following Department Officials:
- The Secretary of Foreign Affairs;
- The Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Concerns; or
- The Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs
What are the requirements needed to use the DFA Passport Express Lane?
To be given the privilege of using the DFA Courtesy Lane, applicants must present proof in the form of documents if they belong to one of the categories of applicants that the DFA had set forth. Applicants must bring the original documents and one photocopy of the documents during their visit to the DFA Office.
Here are the documents required for each category of applicants who can get privileges to use the DFA Courtesy Lane and where to obtain them:
Regular Government Employees
- GSIS ID
- GSIS Certificate of Membership
- CSC Appointment for newly hired
- Latest Service Record or Latest Payslip GSIS Contribution
- Oath of Office
- Certificate of Incumbency
Where can I acquire these requirements?
- GSIS
- CSC
- Government Agency where the employee is assigned
- City/Municipal Hall
- DILG
Senior Citizens
- Senior Citizen ID
- For adult immediate family members serving as a companion: Proof of relationship to Senior Citizen applicant (i.g. birth certificate)
- For traveling companion who is a non-immediate family member: Proof of travel with senior citizen (e.g., hotel booking or confirmed flight) and must also state their reason or justification for traveling with the senior citizen applicant (e.g., acting as a medical escort or nurse)
Where can I acquire these requirements?
- City/Municipal Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs
- Airline/Hotel
People with Disabilities
- PWD ID
- For adult immediate family members serving as a companion: Proof of relationship to PWD applicant (i.g. birth certificate)
- For traveling companion who is a non-immediate family member: Proof of travel with PWD (e.g., hotel booking or confirmed flight) and must also state their reason or justification for traveling with the PWD applicant (e.g., acting as a medical escort or nurse)
Where can I acquire these requirements?
- City/Municipal Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs
- Airline/Hotel
Solo Parents
- Solo Parent ID
Where can I acquire these requirements?
- City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office
Minors seven (7) years old and below with their parents and minor sibling(s)
- PSA Birth Certificate
Where can I acquire these requirements?
- Philippines Statistics Authority
Pregnant women
- Medical Certificate/Record (If pregnancy is not visible)
Where can I acquire these requirements?
- Hospital
- OB-Gynecologist
Overseas Filipino Workers
- OWWA E-Card
- Employment Contract
- Work Visa
- Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book (SIRB) stamped at an international border (should not be more than three hundred sixty-four (364) days from the date of the application)
- Expired or canceled working visa or employment contract (with a Philippine Passport with an immigration arrival stamp that should not be more than three hundred sixty-four (364) days from the date of the application
Where can I acquire these requirements?
- OWWA Regional Welfare Office
- Overseas Employer
- Foreign Embassies
- Marine Industry Authority
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Also read:
- DFA Announces Birth Certificate Is No Longer Required To Renew Passport
- The Quick Guide To Getting Your Passport In Cebu
