GOVPH

Frequently Asked Questions - Passport

I.     GENERAL INQUIRY

Q1:  Who are eligible to apply for a Philippine passport?

Only Filipino citizens are eligible to acquire a Philippine passport.

Q2:  How do I apply for a Philippine passport?

1. All applicants for passport services  must set an appointment, except for those with emergency or exceptional cases. You can set an appointment for passport processing either online or through the drop box. (Appointment FAQs)

2. On the day of your scheduled appointment, please bring all required documents and go to the Consulate. Request a queueing ticket from the Security Officer at the Lobby and line up at Counter 4 for processing. (Requirements)

3. When your number is called, go to the appropriate Counter for encoding. The encoder will capture your biometric information. At the end of the processing, you will be asked to review all information presented. Please make sure that all entries are correct as any errors discovered once you leave the counter will result in a spoiled passport.

4. Your passport will be mailed in six (6) to eight (8) weeks. Please check the Passport Tracker or Hong Kong Post Office’s Track and Trace to check the status of your passport. (Passport Mailing FAQs)

Q3: How do I go to the Philippine Consulate?

The Consulate General of the Philippines in Hong Kong is located at 14th Floor, United Centre, Admiralty, Hong Kong Island.

The Consulate is easily accessible from the MTR. Take the Island Line and take Exit D at the Admiralty MTR Station. You can take an elevator at 2/F United Center (near Metrobank Remittance Center) to the 14th Floor.

II.    PASSPORT APPOINTMENTS

Q4:  How do I apply for a passport appointment?

You can apply for a passport appointment online or at via drop box.

Senior citizens (60 years old and above), persons with disabilities, minors aged 7 years old and below, and pregnant women may avail of the courtesy lane and do not need an appointment.

Q5:  How do I apply for a passport appointment online?

To apply online, you can set an appointment at www.passport.gov.ph. Please appear on the date of appointment and bring the complete set of requirements appropriate to your application.

Q6:  How do I apply for a passport appointment via drop box?

The Consulate’s drop box is located at Metro Remittance Shop, 2042-A, 2nd Floor, United Centre, Admiralty. You can get a copy of the passport appointment form there, fill it up, and leave it in the drop box. You will receive an appointment confirmation via text/SMS.

Q7:  Where can I get a passport application form?

You may download the passport application form here and print it out. Passport application forms are also available at the drop box in the Metro Remittance Shop.

If you applied for a passport appointment online, you do not need a paper passport application form.

Q8:  Do I have to pay to book an appointment?

Passport appointments are free.

Q9:  Does the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong allow walk-in applicants?

Only applicants with emergency or exceptional cases are allowed on walk-in basis at Courtesy Lane in the Consulate in the Philippines.

Seniors, persons with disabilities (PWD), minors under seven years, and pregnant women can avail of the Courtesy Lane and do not need an appointment(Courtesy Lane FAQs).

Q10:  How do I know if I was successful in rescheduling my online passport appointment?

Rescheduled appointments online are confirmed via email. You should receive a new confirmation email with the new date of appointment in the email and attachments.

For appointments set using the drop box, applicants will receive a confirmation via text message.

If you do not receive a confirmation email within 24 hours after completing your reschedule request, you may contact 2623-8525 or message (+852) 5241-5464 via WhatsApp.

III.   PASSPORT PROCESSING AND ENCODING

Q11:  What should I bring on the day of my appointment?

On the day of your appointment, please bring all the required documents, depending on the nature of your application (Passport Requirements).

Q12:  Where should I go on the day of my appointment?

Passport applicants should go to the Philippine Consulate General, 14/F, United Centre, Admiralty. Upon arriving at the lobby of the Consulate, please request a number at the front desk for passport processing.

Q13:  How much is the passport fee?

•  Regular - HKD 480.00
•  Penalty for Lost and Mutilated ePassport - HKD 1,200.00 and
•  Affidavit of Loss - HKD 240.00

Q14:  From the date of my appointment, how long should I expect the regular passport application to be processed?

You should expect your passport to be released by mail, six (6) to twelve (12) weeks after being accommodated for processing.

Q15:  Where can I claim my passport?

Your passport will be delivered to your mailing address. You no longer need to line up at the Consulate to receive your passport. (Passport Mailing FAQs).

Q16:  I made a mistake in filling out my application form. Will this affect my application? Will my appointment be cancelled?

Minor/typographical errors in fields such as parents' names, place of birth and old passport number may be corrected during the processing stage. However, any error in the applicant's name and date of birth fields in the application form cannot be corrected during the passport appointment. Further, regardless of the field where the error is present, any application with two or more incorrect entries shall be rejected or be subjected to further review.

Applicants must ensure that the information being submitted during the online booking of appointment are complete and accurate. Multiple errors and/or misrepresentation of information may result to failure in the capturing of the applicant's biometrics, or be considered as grounds for rejection of the passport application.

Q17:  Do I need to bring a passport-sized photo for my application?

No. You do not need to bring a passport-sized photo for your passport application. The Consulate will capture your photo and biometrics onsite.

Q18:  Do I need to put my documents in brown envelope?

No.

IV.    PASSPORT MAILING AND DELIVERY

Q19:  How do I trace my passport using HK Post’s Service?

Please refer to the link in your receipt.

You will need the Tracking Number of your envelope. Our encoders will remind you to take a photo of your envelope with tracking number for reference. Please refer to that photo to find out your Tracking Number so you can use Hong Kong Post’s Track and Trace App.

Q20:  When can I claim my passport?

Please refer to your passport stub / receipt for your passport’s tentative release date.

Q21:  What do I do if the courier has not delivered my passport on the release date?

You may track the status of the delivery by referring to the HK Post’s track and trace link on your receipt. For further inquiry you may directly contact HK Post’s trunkline at 2921-2222.

V.     PASSPORT COURTESY LANE

Q22:  Who can use the Courtesy Lane?

Senior citizens (60 years old and over), persons with disabilities (PWD), minors 7 years old or younger, and pregnant women can apply for a passport without an appointment.

Q23:  I am a Senior Citizen applicant, what are the documents I need to present to qualify for Courtesy Lane accommodation?

You can present any of the following:
•  A valid ID with proof of age;
•  PSA Birth Certificate; or
•  Passport

Q24:  I am a Senior Citizen applicant; can I bring a companion?

Yes, a senior citizen applicant may be accompanied by one (1) adult applicant, provided they are the senior citizen applicant’s immediate family member or traveling companion.

Q25:  What are the documents needed by the Senior Citizen applicant’s companion to qualify for Courtesy Lane accommodation?

An immediate family member (i.e., spouse, adult children, or adult sibling only) must present proof of relationship to the senior citizen applicant (e.g., birth certificate).

A traveling companion must present proof of travel with the senior citizen (e.g., confirmed flight or hotel booking) and must also state the reason or justification for travelling (e.g., the travelling companion is a medical escort or nurse).

Q26:  I am a PWD applicant, what are the documents I need to present to qualify for Courtesy Lane accommodation?

A valid PWD ID. A PWD booklet may be required for further verification.

Q27:  I am a PWD applicant; can I bring a companion?

Yes, a PWD applicant may be accompanied by one (1) adult applicant, provided they are the PWD applicant’s immediate family member or traveling companion.

Q28:  What are the documents needed by the PWD applicant’s companion to qualify for Courtesy Lane accommodation?

An immediate family member (i.e., spouse, adult children, or adult sibling only) must present proof of relationship to the PWD applicant (e.g., birth certificate).

A traveling companion must present proof of travel with the PWD (e.g., confirmed flight or hotel booking) and must also state the reason or justification for travelling (e.g., the travelling companion is a medical escort or nurse).

Q29:  I am a pregnant applicant, what are the documents I need to present to qualify for Courtesy Lane accommodation?

Medical certificate or records as proof of pregnancy.

Q30:  I am a pregnant applicant; can I bring a companion?

No.

Q31:  Who are allowed as companion/s of minors 7 years and below?

A minor applicant may be accompanied by his or her parents; in the absence of either parent, a minor (7 years and below) may also be accompanied by his/her legal guardian, or their authorized representative. The legal guardian or authorized representative may also avail of Courtesy Lane privileges.

Q32:  I am a Solo Parent applicant, what are the documents I need to present to qualify for Courtesy Lane accommodation?

A valid Solo Parent ID.

Q33:  I am a Solo Parent applicant; can I bring a companion?

No.

Q34:  I am currently abroad, can my parent / representative accompany my minor child for his/her passport application?

Yes, a representative may accompany a minor child in applying for a passport.

VI.   LOST, MUTILATED, UNCLAIMED, AND SPOILED PASSPORT

Q35:  What if I lost my valid passport?

In case of a lost or stolen valid passport, you may file and report your lost valid passport application at the Consulate. You will be required to submit a Police Report (in English) and an Affidavit of Loss. There will be a 15-day clearing period prior to the processing of application for the replacement of a lost valid passport.

Q36:  What if I lost my expired passport?

In case of a lost expired passport, you will be required to submit Affidavit of Loss. Your application will be considered as first-time passport application.

Q37:  What if my passport is damaged?

In case of mutilated or damaged passports, you are required to submit Affidavit of Mutilation along with your passport application requirements.

Q38:  Can additional pages be inserted in the passport if it has run out of pages?

No. The Philippine passport has a standard booklet containing forty-four (44) pages. Should the passport run out of pages, you may opt to renew your passport.

Q39:  What if I do not claim my passport after applying for one?

The Department will cancel your passport if you do not claim it within one (1) year from the application date.

Q40:  I applied for a passport before but never claimed it. Do I need to declare it?

Yes, you must submit a Certificate of Unclaimed Passport, and submit this certification together with your application.

Q41:  Upon receiving my new passport, I found a discrepancy with my personal details. What should I do?

If your passport details have any discrepancies, you are required to report such inconsistency to the DFA capturing site where you originally filed your application for appropriate action. Applicant should apply and pay again with the same amount of HKD 480.00.

VII.  VISAS AND VALIDITY

Q42:  What is the validity of a Philippine passport?

A Philippine passport generally has a validity of ten (10) years, except for Filipinos under 18 years of age, which shall be issued passports with five (5) years validity and other exceptional cases.

Q43:  My passport will expire soon. Can I already renew it?

Passports must be valid for at least 6 months from date of departure. We suggest that you renew your passport 12 months before the date of expiration.

Q44:  I am renewing my passport. Do I get the old one back?

Yes.

Q45:  My passport’s validity is less than 6 months, can I still use it to travel outside the country?

No. Your passport must be valid for at least six (6) months for you to be able to travel abroad.

Q46:  I have valid foreign visas on my old passport. Should I have it transferred to my new one?

No. Expired and Renewed passports do not affect the validity of the Visas. However, you must bring your old passport with valid visas along with your new passport when travelling. When in doubt, consult the Foreign Embassy that issued your visa.

Q47:  Can I renew my passport even though it is still valid for more than one (1) year?

Yes. You will need an online passport appointment.

Q48:  Is it mandatory to renew my expired passport even though I have no plans to travel anytime soon?

No. You may renew your expired passport any time you wish.

However, we strongly recommend that you should have a valid passport with at least seven to eight (7-8) months validity prior to making any travel plans.

Q49:  Are there any penalties for the replacement of my expired passport?

No. There are no penalties for the replacement of your expired passport.

Q50:  I have printed visas with me, can I staple it on my passport?

No. Stapling documents, especially on the covers, and putting unnecessary designs or accessories may damage the passport or which might damage the chip and make the ePassport invalid.

VIII. OTHER QUESTIONS

Q51:  I applied for a passport at the Consulate, but was forced to go back to the Philippines due to an emergency. Can I claim my passport in the Philippines instead?

Yes, if an applicant was forced to return to the Philippines due to causes outside of their control, they may request that their unclaimed passport in Hong Kong be transferred to the Philippines. Please inquire with the nearest Consular Office in the Philippines.

Q52:  I want to use my husband’s surname when my current passport still indicates my maiden name, what should I do?

For married women applicants, you may renew your passport and use your married name by submitting a PSA authenticated Marriage and Birth Certificate, and valid IDs bearing your husband’s last (if available) on the day of your passport renewal application.

Q53:  Can I still use my maiden name in my passport even though I am married?

Yes, provided that you have not yet used your married name in any previous Philippine passport. However, you may be required to submit a Marriage Certificate if you are updating your marital status from "single" to "married".

Q54:  I am currently using my husband’s surname in my passport. Can I apply for a new passport using my maiden name?

You may revert to your maiden name only if marriage is annulled or you are already a widow. Adequate documentary evidence is required.

Q55:  Will my Postal ID, TIN ID, or PhilHealth ID be accepted in applying for a passport?

Here is the link for the accepted government-issued IDs: https://bit.ly/3b7mAjA.

Q56:  There is a mistake on my birth certificate. Can I still apply for a passport?

Yes, you can still apply for a passport once the mistakes have been corrected. For proper guidance on your specific case, please visit https://bit.ly/3abVSoT.

Q57:  What is the consular service hotline I can contact?

If your question was not answered above, you can message the following for passport-related concerns:
•  WhatsApp (message only): 5241-5464; and
•  E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Please message only when your concern does not fall under the covered questions above or in emergency cases.

Last updated: 08 September 2022.