I and my younger sister are planning to travel to Vietnam this year with our parents. However, their passports are all expired and my 11-month old daughter has no passport yet. So, 6 months before our target travel date, we took care of the most important document when traveling – passport.
In this blog, I will share the steps I took to apply for my daughter’s passport. I shared in this blog how we renewed our parents’ passports who were senior citizens.
- Book an online appointment at (DFA website).
Go to passport.gov.ph. Select the DFA site you want to apply passport to. It will show the available dates. I chose SM Dasmarinas since we are from Dasmarinas and we don’t need to travel far. The earliest available date is in 1 month. I clicked the date and time we preferred.
Upon booking the date, you will receive an email notification. The email says the booking is not confirmed yet until payment is made. If payment is not made within 24 hours, the booked date will be cancelled.
2. Pay the necessary fees.
Current passport fees are:
₱950 for Regular Processing
₱1,200 for Expedited Processing (where available)
I paid via GCash. After the online payment, I received an email confirmation of my passport appointment booking. The email also contains instructions on the next steps and important reminders.
3. Prepare the documents needed.
For infants, DFA requires the following documents:
- Official Birth Certificate:
- Newborns: If the official national registry certificate is not yet generated, bring the Certified True Copy from the Local Civil Registrar (LCR).
- Parents’ Identification: Valid government-issued IDs or current passports of both parents (original + photocopies).
- Proof of Parental Relationship / Consent:
- Parents’ Marriage Certificate (if applicable).
- If only one parent attends: A notarized Statement of Consent or Special Power of Attorney (SPA) from the non-attending parent, alongside a copy of their valid ID.
- If the mother is unmarried/sole guardian: Additional custody documents or the mother’s birth details may apply.
PSA-issued Birth Certificate of the baby
Valid ID or passport of the accompanying parent
Personal appearance of both the baby and parent
Marriage Certificate of parents (if applicable)
Supporting documents for special cases such as adoption, illegitimacy, or guardianship
For Newborns Without a PSA Birth Certificate Yet
If the baby is less than one year old and the PSA Birth Certificate is not yet available, parents may submit:
Certified True Copy of the birth certificate from the Local Civil Registrar (LCR)
Authentication from PSA, if available
If Only One Parent Can Attend
Bring:
A notarized Affidavit of Support and Consent from the absent parent
Photocopy of the absent parent’s valid ID
4. Personally appear at DFA Consular Office.
- Courtesy Lane Eligibility: Many passport issuing authorities (such as the DFA in the Philippines) allow parents with infants/children under 7 to use Courtesy/Priority Lanes, eliminating the need for separate online booking slots.
- In-Person Visit: The baby must be physically present alongside at least one parent/legal guardian.
- Passport Photo Guidelines for Babies
- Infant photos are notoriously tricky. While many agencies take biometrics on-site, others require physical passport photos to be uploaded or brought along.
- Eyes Open & Facing Forward: The baby’s eyes must be open, looking directly at the camera.
- Neutral Plain Background: Lay the baby flat on a plain white sheet, or drape a white sheet over a car seat.
- No Hands or Toys: Ensure no hands, pacifiers, hats, or adult support fingers are visible in the frame.
5. Wait for pick-up/delivery date.
Tips for Parents
Dress your baby comfortably for the photo.
Bring milk, diapers, wipes, and extra clothes.
Arrive early to avoid long queues.
Double-check all document details, especially names and birth dates.
