DFA Announces Shorter Time for Passport Processing
PASAY 19 JULY 2023 — Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo announced that, beginning Monday, 24 July 2023, the turnaround time for processing of passports in the National Capital Region will be reduced from 12 to 10 working days for regular applications and from seven to five working days for expedited applications.
For other consular offices, passport applicants can receive their passports in 12 working days from the previous 15 for regular applications; and in seven working days from eight for expedited release.
The reduced turnaround time for passport processing is part of the Department’s ongoing efforts to provide faster and more responsive service to the public. “These measures underline the DFA’s commitment to a government that provides the highest standards of service to the Filipino people,” said Secretary Manalo as he announced the initiatives during the 125th DFA Founding Anniversary held at the Malacañang Palace on 19 July 2023.
Efforts are also ongoing to modernize and digitize the Department’s consular processes including the launch of an e-Visa system within the year to promote tourism and business. The Department is also mainstreaming the e-Apostille to facilitate recognition of Philippine documents abroad and improving issuance of the e-Passport through the Third-Generation e-Passport system.
Secretary Manalo underlined that the DFA has improved day-to-day consular operations: from maintaining a “No Noon Break policy” to ensuring that appointment slots have reverted to pre-pandemic levels in order to meet current demand; from digitizing and standardizing forms to introducing metrics for assessing operations; and from opening offices in Kidapawan City and Pagadian City to incentivizing innovation among our Consular Offices.”
Best practices have been shared and applied among consular offices nationwide including improvements in queueing systems, a shared resource to better monitor and address complaints and grievances, and the deployment of a workforce during holidays and work suspensions to ensure uninterrupted service to the public. END