Getting a first passport for your child involves a bit more paperwork than an adult application, mainly because the DFA needs to confirm exactly who has the legal authority to consent to that child having travel documents. The rules also differ depending on whether the parents are married, whether one parent is unavailable, or whether a guardian other than a parent is applying. This guide walks through exactly what's needed by situation, plus an important detail many parents miss: a passport alone doesn't always mean your child can travel — sometimes you need a separate DSWD clearance too.
This guide covers Basic Documents Every Minor Applicant Needs and If the Child's Parents Are Married, with the full details below.
- A minor's passport fee is ₱950 for regular processing (about 12 business days) or ₱1,200 for expedited processing (about 7 business days)
- Getting the passport and getting permission to actually travel are two different things — a DSWD Travel Clearance is a separate requirement, only needed in specific situations
- Children of unmarried parents need the mother's PSA-issued CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage) to prove the child follows the mother's sole parental authority
- Children aged 8-17 need a school ID or Form 137 with a visible dry seal as an additional identification requirement
- The minor applicant and at least one parent or authorized adult must appear together in person at the DFA appointment — this cannot be done by mail or online alone
Basic Documents Every Minor Applicant Needs
Regardless of your specific family situation, every minor passport application needs: the original PSA-issued birth certificate of the child (bring a photocopy too), and — if the PSA copy isn't available yet — a certified copy from the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) as long as it's been authenticated by PSA. For children aged 8 to 17, also bring a school ID or Form 137 (report card) with a clearly readable dry seal, as additional proof of identity.
The minor applicant must physically appear at the DFA appointment together with at least one parent or an authorized adult — this is not something that can be completed by the parent alone or submitted by mail.
If the Child's Parents Are Married
If both parents are legally married to each other, bring the original PSA-authenticated marriage certificate in addition to the birth certificate. Either parent can generally appear with the child and provide consent, since both married parents share parental authority under Philippine law.
If the Child's Parents Are Not Married
For children born to unmarried parents, Philippine law generally places sole parental authority with the mother. In this case, the mother needs to bring her PSA-issued CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage) as proof she has no record of marriage to the child's father, along with her own valid ID. If the father is the one appearing instead, this situation typically requires additional documentation proving legal authority to consent (such as an acknowledgment of paternity combined with the mother's notarized consent), so it's best to confirm the exact combination of documents needed with your specific DFA branch beforehand.
If Only One Parent Is Available to Appear
If one parent cannot personally appear (for example, they're an OFW working abroad), the parent who is present typically needs a notarized Affidavit of Support and Consent from the absent parent, authorizing the passport application. If the absent parent is abroad, this affidavit generally needs to be executed before, and authenticated by, the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate to be valid for use in the Philippines.
If a Legal Guardian (Not a Parent) Is Applying
When a minor has a court-appointed legal guardian rather than a living, available parent, that guardian must appear with the child and bring a certified copy of the Letter of Guardianship issued by a Family Court, along with the guardian's own valid ID and passport. If there's ever a custody dispute or competing claims over the child, DFA generally requires that dispute to be resolved through a court order first before the passport application can proceed.
Step 1: Book Your DFA Appointment Online
All passport appointments, including for minors, must be booked through the official DFA website's appointment system. Select an available slot at your preferred DFA consular office, and make sure to book the minor applicant's own individual slot, even if a parent is also applying for their own passport at the same visit.
Step 2: Pay the Passport Fee to Confirm Your Slot
Your appointment isn't confirmed until payment is made — regular processing costs ₱950 (around 12 business days) while expedited processing costs ₱1,200 (around 7 business days). Payment can typically be made online or over the counter at a designated payment center, and your official receipt or payment confirmation should be brought to the actual appointment.
Step 3: Attend the Appointment Together
On the appointment date, the minor applicant and the appearing parent or authorized adult need to go to the DFA consular office together, bringing all original documents plus photocopies. DFA staff will verify the documents, capture the child's photo and biometrics (for children old enough), and process the application on the spot if everything is in order.
Important: A Passport Doesn't Automatically Mean Your Child Can Travel
This is the detail that catches many parents off guard: having a passport is not the same as having legal permission for the child to actually leave the country. If a minor is traveling without both parents — for example, with only one parent, with a grandparent, or with a legal guardian who isn't a parent — Philippine law generally requires a separate DSWD Travel Clearance before departure, on top of the passport itself.
You can check the requirements and process for this directly through the DSWD Minor Travel Authorization (MTA) system. This typically requires a notarized affidavit of consent from the non-traveling parent(s) or guardian, specifying the destination, purpose, and dates of travel, along with the accompanying person's relationship to the child. A DSWD Travel Clearance is generally valid for one year and can cover multiple trips within that period, as long as the original travel conditions haven't changed.
Frequently Asked Questions
No — the DSWD Travel Clearance is a separate requirement from the passport application itself, and it's typically only needed when the minor will be traveling without both parents present, such as with only one parent, a grandparent, or a non-parent guardian. If both parents will be traveling together with the child, a Travel Clearance is generally not required, though it's worth double-checking current DSWD and airline requirements before your trip since rules can be applied differently by carrier.
Regular processing costs ₱950 and takes about 12 business days, while expedited processing costs ₱1,200 and takes about 7 business days. These fees apply per applicant, so if you're also renewing or applying for your own passport during the same visit, that's billed separately.
Since Philippine law generally places sole parental authority with the mother when parents are unmarried, the father appearing alone typically needs additional documentation proving his legal authority to consent, which can include an acknowledgment of paternity plus the mother's own notarized consent. Because this situation has more documentation nuance than other cases, it's worth calling your specific DFA consular office ahead of time to confirm the exact combination of papers they'll require.
Generally, grandparents can only apply on a minor's behalf if they hold formal legal guardianship through a Family Court, evidenced by a Letter of Guardianship — being a grandparent alone, without that court order, is typically not sufficient legal authority for DFA purposes. If parents are simply unavailable rather than legally incapacitated, a notarized Affidavit of Support and Consent from the parent may be a more appropriate path than pursuing formal guardianship.
Yes — DFA generally requires a parent or authorized adult to accompany any applicant who is still legally a minor (below 18), regardless of how close to 18 they are, since parental consent and identity verification are still required by law. The main difference for older minors is usually just the type of supplementary ID accepted, such as a school ID or Form 137.
Philippine passports for minors are typically issued with a shorter validity period than adult passports — commonly 5 years instead of the standard 10-year adult validity — since children's appearances change more quickly. Always check the exact expiry date printed on the passport itself, and start the renewal process several months before it expires if you have upcoming international travel planned.
Conclusion
Applying for your child's first passport mainly comes down to proving who has legal parental authority — whether that's both married parents, an unmarried mother with her CENOMAR, or a court-appointed guardian — plus the standard PSA birth certificate and school ID. Just remember that the passport itself doesn't automatically clear your child for travel: if they'll be flying without both parents, check whether you also need a DSWD Travel Clearance well before your trip, since that's a separate process with its own processing time.
