Our last field trip for the year 2019 was to the Department of Foreign Affairs. We first went there to apply for the passports of our two older children in November. We were supposed to apply as a family but I could not find my latest passport that was due for renewal a few days before our supposed field trip. So, we delayed the application for our youngest child, my husband and for myself so that we could still avail of the walk-in privilege through our youngest child.

We were allowed to walk-in because our second child was still 7 years old. We purposely planned that our passport application be before he turns 8 years old so that we would be allowed to walk-in.

We applied at DFA South which was inside the Metro Department Store at Alabang Town Center. It was a weekday. Thus, the line for walk-in applicants was short. Our documents were checked right away as soon as we entered.

It was then that I was told that I need to submit an affidavit for my lost passport and have it notarized. Since I was not in a hurry to get a new passport at that time, we did not go to a notary public that day anymore and proceeded as planned. To read the detailed requirements for adult passport renewal, click here.

If you want to find out what are the requirements for minors who are applying for a passport, please click here.

We didn’t apply passports for the kids before because we didn’t have a need. It’s quite costly also. Since our two older kids now have school IDs because we got a homeschool provider for them already, they have a valid ID they could present as part of the requirement. Also, my eldest, my husband and I need to have passports because our eldest qualified to represent the Philippines to the World Championship of Performing Arts, which will be held in the USA.

Next, we were directed to the next window where we were supposed to show our children’s documents. We spent a good amount of time here on this window because the DFA staff wanted to charge both boys for their passports the express rate. My husband and I argued that we simply availed of the privilege because our second child is still 7 years old and thus both he and his older brother who is also a minor should be allowed or given the option to pay the regular rate. In the end, after going back and forth to the information section and reading the website rules on this matter, the DFA staff together with her supervisor agreed to let us pay the regular rate for our 7-year-old son and the express rate for our older son. We were still disappointed but at least we were charged a lower rate.

This is a grey area in their policy. Some homeschooling families were not asked to pay the express rate in the same branch and in other branches.

We paid right away at the cashier as soon as the matter was settled. Then, we lined up so that the boys’ photos could be taken. The line here at this section was a bit long and movement was slow. It was already beyond 12 noon when we finished and we had our late lunch at Jollibee.

We did not ask for the boys’ passports to be sent via courier anymore so we can save money. We said that we will just pick up the passports. We were given a piece of paper that was attached our the receipt with the phone number that we should call to confirm that their passports were ready for pick up.

Come December, I called the number the day before the date written on the piece of paper given to us to confirm and the following day or on the date when we were supposed to pick up the passports, we went to DFA South again to get their passports. My eldest son and I were the only ones who went up to get their passports. My husband didn’t park anymore. It was very quick. After getting the boys’ passports and checking that the details were correct, I was asked to write their passport numbers on a logbook and to sign to signify that we have picked up their passports.

I tried to look for my old passport but I really could not find my latest passport which was already in my married name. The only passport I found was my very first passport which I used when I was still single and was traveling a lot in Asia because of my work.

I’ve decided to finally get an affidavit and schedule our next visit to DFA in December.

It was already during the Christmas break that we went. I forgot to consider that many kids are already on vacation. Thus, the line was so long and we spent so much time that day lining up. We even missed our appointment to go caroling that evening.

Anyway, we were still happy that we got to apply for our passports. We were allowed to walk-in again that day because our youngest child who was only 5 years old was with us.

This time, we didn’t mind anymore to pay for the express rate because we really wanted to get our passports soon. We paid P1,200 for each one of us.

We were told to get our passports in January.

Like in the past, we were given a small piece of paper attached to our receipts with a phone number to call for confirmation.

I called it the day before the due date and I was happy to get a confirmation.

There weren’t long lines at the claiming area. We got to pick up our passports quickly that day. It was also a weekday.

When we got home, I asked all our kids to have a photo while holding their passports.

We are all excited to travel! We pray that God would provide for us the means to travel this year as a family.

Are you planning to apply for passports also as a family? I recommend that you walk-in with your children who are 7 years old and below. Come also on weekdays when most people are in the office or most kids are in school. Bring your own water bottle and some snacks in case you and your kids go hungry while waiting in line. I suggest you come after breakfast or after lunch to save on food expenses.