DFA to Phased Out Old Passports by 2015

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced on Friday, December 27, 2013 that all non-machine readable passports will be phased out by November 24, 2015 and may no longer be extended beyond October 31, 2015.

According to the official statement of the DFA, all Filipinos holding machine readable passports, or those with green or maroon covers will no longer be allowed to apply for validity extension beyond October 31, 2014.

The DFA clarifies that all Filipinos who wants to get a new passport needs to apply for a new e-Passport (dark maroon) as soon as possible before the expiry of their current MRRP (green) or MRP (maroon) passports.

Filipino international travelers who fail to do so will likely encounter difficulty at immigration checks when traveling through any ports of entry around the world after October 2015. 

The new regulations of the Department of Foreign Affairs is based upon the International Civil Aviation Organizations standards. 

The DFA reminded passport holders that extending validity of passport extension can only be applied for medical emergencies requiring overseas Filipinos to travel back home, death in the family, those returning to their employers abroad and those in the Middle East who are returning home on final exit visas. 

Here’s the Full Statement of the DFA:

26 December 2013 – Per the regulations of the Departmentof Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the standards set by the International CivilAviation Organization (ICAO), all non-machine readable passports may no longerbe extended beyond October 31, 2015 and must be completely phased out by November24, 2015.

All Filipino nationals holding Machine Readable-ReadyPassports (MRRP; green passports) and Machine Readable Passports (MRP; maroonpassports) will no longer be allowed to apply for an extension of the validityof these passports after October 31, 2014.

They must instead apply for a new e-Passport as soonas possible before the expiry of their current MRRP (green) or MRP (maroon)passports. Those who fail to do so will likely encounter difficulty atimmigration checks when traveling through any ports of entry around the worldafter October 2015.

Passport holders are also reminded that there arestrict rules for applying for an extension of the validity of expiring orexpired passports. Passports that are valid for less than six (6) months or thosethat have already expired may be extended once only in the following instances:

1. death in the family requiring the OFW and members of his/her dependent family to urgently travel to the Philippines;
2. medical emergencies requiring the OFW and members of his/her dependent family to urgently travel to the Philippines or another country for medical treatment;
3. OFWs returning to their employers abroad with valid employment contracts processed by the POEA; and
4. those going home on final exit visas (for Filipinos in the Middle East).

Inthese instances, proof of urgency such as a copy of the death certificate,medical certificate, valid employment contracts processed by the PhilippineOverseas Employment Administration (POEA) or any of the Philippine Overseas LaborOffices (POLO), along with plane tickets with confirmed flight details shouldbe presented.