My passport is set to expire next year May and I need to get it renewed before December (6 months before expiry).
It's tough getting an appointment since it's always fully booked. I have friends who've scheduled appointments in Batangas, Pampanga, Davao, just because Manila didn't have any slots. Back in the first week of July, there were no slots available for Metro Manila for until September. However, October hadn't opened up yet. Even outside of Metro Manila, there were no weekend slots available in driving distance. I can't leave town on a weekday just for passport!
I told myself: No matter what, I am getting a slot in October 2017! Every morning, I checked the
Passport Appointment Scheduling site. One Saturday morning in July, the October 2017 slots opened up! I booked appointments for family and friends as quickly as I could for DFA NCR East Megamall.
In preparation for my appointment, I gathered the following documents:
- Birth certificate from NSO
- Printed out form - This is from the download link from appointment confirmation email, not a blank form that you fill out by hand
- Photocopy of passport first page and last page
- Photocopy of other valid ID - mine was driver's license
Note: The requirements will vary, depending on what kind of old passport you have. I had the Machine Readable Passport (2007 onwards). Check the DFA Website for the other types of old passports and corresponding requirements.
Since this weekend was also the 3-day sale of SM Megamall, I used Uber since parking would be hard. I went into the A side of the main mall, went to level 5, then turned right to the connecting bridge to Building C.
If you're driving, park in Building C so you just need to take the elevator to level 6.
Step A: Verification
One person checked the printed out form I brought if I was on the right schedule. He scanned the barcode on the print-out. He stamped it then told me to go to the next step.
To the right, there is a sign that says everyone who comes in on a Saturday is by default "Express Processing" (delivered in 7 working days) so we had to automatically pay Php 1200. Regular processing is Php 950.
Step B: Processing
In the Processing Section, the guard told me to go to any available booth. I didn't have to wait at all. The man in the booth checked all my documents and stapled the printed out form and the photocopies of my passport and ID. He gave me back my birth certificate. He also gave me an invoice which I had to bring over to the payment line.
During this point, they will ask if you wish to have your passport delivered or picked up. If you choose delivery, they will punch a hole in your info page. If you need your passport in the next 2 weeks, you have to personally come back for pick-up so they can punch holes on your old passport.
If you don't have a photocopy of your old passport and ID, there is a Copier at the back of the room. It would be better to have it photocopied before coming in, so that's one less thing to worry about.
Step C: Payment
The line for payments moved quickly. I gave the invoice from Step B along with Php 1200. They gave me back a carbon copy of the invoice with marked payment. Don't lose this!
Step D: Encoding
Now here comes the long wait! I waited about 40 minutes for my turn. Thanks to smartphones, 40 minutes did not seem so unbearable.
In the encoding step, they will have you verify and sign a couple of things. This is also where they take your picture and fingerprints.
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| Click to zoom in on the posted guidelines for picture taking |
Picture-taking guidelines were posted on the wall. For the ladies, remember to remove your jewelry and don't wear heavy makeup (no false eyelashes or contouring). I remembered not to bring any earrings that day but I forgot I had my necklace on -- the lady had me take them off. There was no mention of collar requirements, but I wore a collared polo just in case. I did see a couple of people with no collars and they didn't get kicked out.
Step E: Courier Delivery
