Passport Application at DFA Davao

I got my passport, and I was half-smiling on my passport photo. I was very worried after my passport application because I thought that my passport photo would be ugly. Hahaha! Well, my passport photo turned out well and as much as I would like to give a big smile for the camera, showing your teeth on the photo is not allowed. Yes, you can smile, but your pearly whites should not be visible.

Reading a lot of passport application woes has really made me delay going to the Department of Affairs for years. I remember one time when my father asked me to fall in line in his place just to get a priority number at the old DFA office. It was very tiring and disappointing: you need to be there are 4:00 AM, wait OUTSIDE the DFA office with no bench or chairs and the priority numbers will be released at 7:00 AM. Waiting is terrible and because you're outside the DFA, you'll either be under the heat of the sun or be drenched in rain until your priority number is called.

It's a good thing that the Department of Foreign Affairs in Davao City has already transferred its office at SM City Davao, Ecoland. They are occupying the third floor of the mall. And to my surprise, the new DFA Office is very clean, organized, and they have a good system, including computerized queuing. I wonder how much the government has invested in it?

My passport application, which I did last October 4, 2012, took me only less than 3 hours. The passport photo was already taken at the DFA Office. I brought my NSO-authenticated birth certificate and the DFA employee asked me for three identification cards: I showed him my Driver's License, PRC License, and IBP ID. At first, I thought that Birth Certificate and 1 government ID would be enough, as what's indicated in the procedure printed at the Passport Application Form. But DFA asked for more identification documents. Some people, who have no government IDs, brought their school yearbooks. It would be best to be ready with your identification documents when you go to the DFA to apply for your passport.

I noticed that Senior Citizens and minors are prioritized at the DFA. I'm not sure if they have this kind of system at their old office but this one is really helpful. The Senior Citizens and minors are given a different set of priority number.

It helps that photocopying services are already available inside the DFA office. You don't need to go outside to reproduce your IDs and documents. Notarization services are also available.

The releasing of passport is quite tricky. I was actually late in claiming my passport. I was not able to go to DFA on my scheduled date and time of release. When I went back to DFA with the intention of claiming my passport, I was greeted with a long line of applicants outside the releasing area and  was discouraged to fall in line. It was only 1:30 in the afternoon and I thought that it would take hours before I could be accommodated and I did not want to stand up in line during that time.

When I went back again on another day at the DFA, it was already 4:30 and there was no one, as in nobody, inside the releasing area. Just my luck! By the way, the releasing closes at 5pm. The releasing area has benches with seating capacity of 30 people, in my estimate.

I gave my receipt (claim stub) to the staff and then I got my passport in ONE MINUTE! I think it was even less than a minute and I'm so happy that I did not have to wait a long time to get it.

I'm so happy with my passport application. Thank you DFA for your very efficient system.

Updates: 

Since a lot have been asking about PASSPORT FEES and identification documents, take a look at what I got from the DFA website:

Passport Fees

For First time passport applicants:

• Regular Processing (15 working days): P950.00
• Express Processing (7 working days): P1,200.00

For Renewal of passport applicants:

• Regular Processing (15 working days): P950.00
• Express Processing (7 working days): P1,200.00

For Replacement of a lost expired passport:

• Regular Processing (15 working days): P950.00
• Express Processing (7 working days): P1,200.00

For Replacement of a lost valid passport:

• Regular Processing (30 working days*): P950.00
• Express Processing (20 working days*): P1,200.00

Please take note that there is an additional fee of P200.00 for a lost valid MRRP / MRP or P350.00 for a lost valid e-passport.


PLEASE TAKE NOTE THAT IF YOU WILL BE PROCESSING YOUR PASSPORT IN DAVAO CITY, THE PROCESSING TAKES LONGER. PLEASE BE GUIDED BELOW:

REGULAR PROCESSING - 30 WORKING DAYS
EXPRESS PROCESSING - 20 WORKING DAYS

LIST OF ACCEPTABLE IDS (At least 1 of the following):

• Government-issued picture IDs such as the following:
  • Digitized SSS ID (meaning, the new SSS ID)
  • Driver’s License
  • GSIS E-card
  • PRC ID (be sure that it is NOT EXPIRED)
  • IBP ID
  • OWWA ID
  • Digitized BIR ID
  • Senior Citizen’s ID
• Other acceptable picture IDs such as the following:
  • Old College ID
  • Alumni ID
  • Old Employment IDs

LIST OF SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS (At least 3 of the following):

• Voter’s ID
• NSO Marriage Contract
• Land Title
• Seaman’s Book
• Elementary or High School Form 137 or Transcript of Records with readable dry seal
• Government Service Record
• NBI Clearance
• Police Clearance
• Barangay Clearance
• Old documents issued at least one year prior to date of application that show correct name, date and place of birth, picture and signature of applicant such as the following:
• NSO Birth Certificate of child / children
• SSS-E1 Form or Microfilmed Copy of SSS-E1 Form
• Income Tax Return
• Voter’s Certification, List of Voters and Voter’s Registration Record (for newly issued VRR, please attach receipt)
• School Yearbook
• Community Tax Certificate

*updated as of June 20, 2013

DFA Davao Telephone Number (082) 2854885 and (082) 2851900.

DFA Davao OFFICE HOURS:
10AM to 6PM Monday to Saturday
Saturday (They will accommodate150 persons only)