Summarized in 4 Steps (that would actually take more than two hours to do)
Step 1. Processing documents.
Step 2. Payment of Passport Fee.
Step 3. Data capturing. (digital photo, signature and thumbprint just like during the election registration or applying for a driver's license)
Step 4. (OPTIONAL) Payment and arranging for passport delivery.
Renewed my passport last week and this is how it went.
Coming from the airport, we, along with my son and a friend, took a taxi and headed straight to the DFA in Macapagal Hi-way. As described by other bloggers, there was a McDonalds across from the the building which we missed because we went on the right side which rightt on the part where the New DFA Bldg. is located. I guess, I forgot that it was on the corner of Macapagal and Bradco. McDo is on Macapagal Hi-way, opposite corner side. My best guess is that the taxi took the Bradco route coming from Roxas Blvd.
We got off the nearest gate, Gate 1 which turns out to be wrong. Passport Renewal is at Gate 2. Anybody who doesn't have any appointment is not allowed to get in except children who came with an adult who has an appointment. My friend and my son had to moved their address for the next two hours across at MCDo. I've seen children inside and I think they were also prioritized during the queue. ( Kids might be actually be an advantage, haha!) By the way, no food and drinks allowed inside so you might want to fill up your tummy before plunging into the passporting process.
12:40 PM
DFA Gate 2: Right on the corner of Bradco. (Sorry for the bad shot, didn't have the time to wait for the car to pass.)
The Appointment Counter
Step 1
I went to the appointment counter (the one with three gentlemen with pcs in front of them) and had them check my print out. The officer told me to fill up another application form since my printout may not be that clear because I printed it back to back. ( I was trying to be earth-friendly by saving paper and trees. It worked against me.) Make sure you have a pen coz you might just have to buy the pen that a guy standing beside the table was offering. The whole time that I was filling up the form, all I heard was "ballpen..baka kailangan nyo ng ballpen."
After filling up the form and getting verified, I was told to find the 1PM waiting area. There were plastic benches that filled up the area with different times schedule (1pm, 1:30 pm, 2 pm, 2:30 'til 4 pm). You have to figure out where does the line ends or you might just end up cutting the line and get some angry looks or worse. The wait starts here. Mind you, you're in for a long wait. The queue is really loong starting outside while seated and continues on as you actually get inside the building.
This is a shot taken at more than half-way to the windows as seen far back. More or less one-third of the actual chairs there.
Starting from the chairs by the door, take a look at all the people seated on aluminum chairs snaking all through the whole ground floor. There were about twelve rows of chairs, each with around 20-30 people filling up each row. Do your math, and take your time doing that as it will take more than an hour for you to get to the end of the queue for processing your documents.
If you're there for passport renewal, you may not need a lot but do prepare the necessary documents. (Please check the DFA passporting website for specifics.)
In my case, I had the necessary photocopies and wasn't even bothered for a second ID save for my SSS card. One of the people beside me wasn't able to complete hers because she doesn't have enough ID card presented. She had to come back the next day. There are about twenty or so windows to receive your documents. From the directions given in another blog, the window number where you will be displayed somewhere but I didn't notice it coz there was a DFA personnel (plus a man in a SG uniform) who informed us of the next available window. It took more than an hour for that first step of submitting the papers.
Step 2
The next one is to find your way upstairs, with a working escalator, and follow the signs that says CASHIER. When I was there, I think I saw three windows for the payment and there wasn't much line. Got a little lucky or payments really do take quicker than others. Hand in the application form, along with your P950, and they'll give you a printed out receipt.
A shot taken around the entrance of Step 2 and 3 Area. The windows on the left are where you pay.
Here's the shot in front of the cashier windows.
Another shot showing the three windows for cashier.
Step 3
Show your receipt to the guy that sits under the STEP 3 sign and he will give you your queue number for the digital photo and personal information capturing. There is actually a queue machine but I just don't understand why the guy still has to be there. This is PH and perhaps that machine is not that common yet, the government can afford to hire someone to operate that machine or just that a lot of people still are not familiar with it so human is still needed to gove out queue numbers. (Whew! That was a mouthful!)
The waiting area in front of the cashier, with Step 3 sign quite visible at the far back.
Blocked by a head here, the queue slip guy can found under this Step 3 sign.
The monitor on the upper left is where you can find the encoder number that you need to go to when your number is flashed.
The ladies in black pants above are the ones shouting out the "passport delivery service".
Once you get your receipt, you will finally take notice of the ladies standing around that area offering passport delivery at P120. While waiting for your "digital turn", you may opt to arrange and pay for your passport to be delivered to you. From what I've heard, this will take a day or two from the official release date of your new passport.
Since I live quite far, I handed my cash to the lady and she ripped off a piece from her pad of receipts which has already been filled out. Then, I was told to head to the delivery area for encoding the address etc. I'm not sure what courier companies were there but I'm hoping that mine would be LBC. Based from previous experience, their local delivery men are better at finding my place than 2GO.
Encoding area for the passport delivery service.
Last part is your second to the last wait for you to get your passport. If your queue number is still far, you may choose a bit far place near the windows which may not be that crowded. Keep an eye on the flashing number and if it is less than 20 to go before your number, park your butt somewhere in front of the queue guy and study the maze. There is some sort of a map on the table with numbers of the location of the computers.
Sad thing is that I wasn't able to take a photo of this. I lost my chance coz I was so disturbed and annoyed by the guy I happen to sat beside who was yapping with a girl on the phone. I guess he was on the phone for more than 30 minutes! I had to move somewhere else.
Around past 2:30 PM
Finally, my number was flashed and I tried to find my way through the maze of computers. It was quite fun and wished that there were more encoding stations, haha!
The lady encoded my personal info while I looked over and double checked whatever she was doing. Then, I signed on the digital sign pad, did the thumbprint and prepared to take my passport photo. As much as I want to take a couple more just to really get the best shot, I had to refrain from doing that coz I do realize that there are still a lot of people waiting for their turn. At this point, I kinda wish that they still have the non-digital photo system. At least I can choose the best photo that I want to put on my passport. ^,^
That's it! You may start counting the days to receive your passport, roughly after more than a month. Worry about if the courier will find your address as you follow the EXIT sign going downstairs (different staircase from where you entered) into the passporting area (for travel agents I think.)
Exit from DFA gate at 3:35 PM.
For a more technically written steps, please refer below.
(This is what I prepared for myself. Take note that more specific requirements may be needed depending on your case so please check the DFA Passporting website)
Passport Renewal:
Green Passport or issued after 01 May 1995
• Present passport and photocopy of pages 1,2,3 (amendment) and last page.
• The pages showing latest Bureau of Immigration departure and arrival stamps.
Supporting Docs (this is what I have available)
• Digitized SSS-ID
• School Form 137 or Transcript of Records with Dry Seal
Passport Fees
* Regular Processing: Php 950.00 (20 working days)
Rush Processing: Php 1,200.00 (10 working days)
An additional fee of Php 200.00 will be charged for processing of Lost Passports if it is still valid.
1) On your appointment date, proceed to the DFA Consular Office located at ASEANA Business Park, Bradco Avenue corner Macapagal Boulevard, Paranaque City (see locator map).
You must be at the DFA Consular Office 30 minutes before your scheduled time. Early/Late comers will not be entertained.
2) Present your printed application form to the Appointment Counter.
3) Get your queue number at the Information Counter and sit on the waiting section of the Processing Area.
Wait for your queue number to appear on the monitor indicating what processing window you will go to.
4) After processing, proceed to the Passport Enrollment Section located at the 2nd Floor.
5) Pay the applicable passport processing fees (see passport fees).
6) After payment, go to the Encoding Section for data capturing.
7) If availing of the delivery, proceed to the Delivery Counter to pay for delivery fee.
I might be able to use this information again when I process my son's passport next year. At least, I know where it is located, how long it will take, and so on and so forth. I just hope that there won't be much changes by then.
I hope this helps. Ive met some people who were still fooled to take printed-out photos to the tune of P650 by dishonest kabayans at the old Libertad office of DFA. One thing that I've learned whenever I had to do transactions in government offices: Better come prepared and armed with knowledge before you go to the offices to avoid getting fooled, and be taken advantaged by some dishonest people.
Things to remember:
1. Only people with appointment are allowed inside. Minors without appointments coming with you may be permitted. Bringing children is highly discouraged as it would take really long time to wait unless they are the ones that need the passport, that is.
2. Food and drinks are not allowed inside.
3. Bring a pen in case you might need one.
4. Make sure that you have photocopied all the necessary pages in your passport.
5. Come prepared for supporting documents and copies of each in case you might also need.
6. Be prepared to wait. Bring a book, audio player with earphones, a rubix cube or a candy for you to survive the wait.
And last but not the least---
You don't need to pay for photos or whatnots outside the DFA Macapagal Office since the only place that you have to pay for the passport is INSIDE the building.
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