[SIZE=2]E-passports ready for first-time applicants by September 17[/SIZE]
The Department of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday that starting September 17, the new machine-readable passports are available for first-time applicants.
The department will maintain the P500 passport fee for regular processing and P750 for expedited processing of the electronic passport.
Applicants who apply for regular processing can get their passports after 14 working days, and those who opt for expedited processing can get their passports after seven working days.
The department assured the public of reduced processing period when the flow of applicants normalizes.
Because of the shift to the new system, the department expects a surge in the number of applicants.
Hence, applicants are advised to apply for or renew their passports way ahead of their expected date of travel.
Under the new system, a machine-generated application form is printed with the personal details of the applicant.
Passport applicants have to appear in person, sign and thumbprints on the application form before a consular officer at the department’s offices.
All applicants are required to submit three copies of passport-sized photographs taken with a royal-blue background, instead of the customary white background.
The photograph, signature and thumbprints of the applicant are stored in the passport database.
First-time applicants have to submit their birth certificates from the National Statistics Office and other documents of identity.
Applicants for renewal have to bring the old passport for cancellation.
Last month the department began issuing the new e-passports to renewal applicants, senior citizens and overseas Filipino workers.