Losing your Philippine passport, whether it slipped out of your bag while traveling or went missing at home, means starting the replacement process almost from scratch — the DFA treats it as a new application rather than a simple renewal. The exact requirements depend on whether your lost passport was still valid or already expired. Here's the complete step-by-step process, including the extra fees and processing time you should expect.
This guide covers Step 1: Determine If Your Lost Passport Was Valid or Expired and Step 2: Secure a Police Report (Only If Your Lost Passport Was Valid), with the full details below.
- A lost VALID passport requires a police report; a lost EXPIRED passport only needs a notarized affidavit of loss
- Replacing a lost passport is treated as a brand-new application, with the same requirements as a first-timer
- There's an additional ₱350 penalty fee on top of the regular processing fee for lost or mutilated ePassports
- Lost valid passports get an extra 15 calendar days added to the normal clearing/processing period
- You must book a confirmed DFA appointment online before appearing — walk-ins are not accepted for passport applications
Step 1: Determine If Your Lost Passport Was Valid or Expired
This single detail changes your entire requirement list. If your passport was still valid (unexpired) when it was lost, the DFA requires you to first secure a Police Report documenting the loss. If your passport was already expired at the time it went missing, you only need a Notarized Affidavit of Loss — no police report is required. Check your old passport's expiration date (if you remember it, or check any prior copies/scans) before proceeding.
Step 2: Secure a Police Report (Only If Your Lost Passport Was Valid)
File a report at the nearest police station describing the circumstances of the loss — where, when, and how it happened. Request an official Police Report in English, since DFA requires the document in English or with a certified translation. Keep both the original and at least one photocopy, as you'll submit the original at your DFA appointment.
Step 3: Prepare a Notarized Affidavit of Loss
Whether your passport was valid or expired, you will need a Notarized Affidavit of Loss stating the facts and circumstances of how your passport was lost. Any notary public can prepare and notarize this document for a standard notarization fee (typically ₱100 to ₱300 depending on the notary). Bring a valid ID when having it notarized.
Step 4: Gather the Rest of Your Requirements
- Personal Appearance — required at your DFA appointment, no exceptions
- Confirmed DFA appointment (booked online in advance)
- Notarized Affidavit of Loss
- Police Report (only if your lost passport was still valid, not expired)
- PSA birth certificate (if your old passport details need to be re-verified) or a photocopy of the lost passport's data page if you have one
- Valid government-issued ID with photo and signature
- Payment for the regular passport fee PLUS the additional ₱350 lost/mutilated passport penalty fee
Step 5: Book a Confirmed DFA Appointment Online
Visit the official DFA passport appointment portal to select an available consular office and time slot. Since your application will be processed as a brand-new passport application (not a simple renewal), make sure to select the correct application type when booking, as this affects which documents the system will ask you to prepare beforehand.
Step 6: Pay the Regular Fee Plus the Lost Passport Penalty
On top of the regular passport processing fee (which varies by regular vs. expedited processing speed), lost or mutilated ePassports carry an additional penalty fee of ₱350. Be prepared to pay both amounts together at your DFA appointment or during the online booking payment step, depending on the specific consular office's process.
Step 7: Attend Your Appointment and Submit All Documents
Arrive at your scheduled time with all original documents plus photocopies. DFA staff will process your application as a new passport application, capture your biometrics (photo, fingerprints, signature), and verify your submitted Affidavit of Loss and Police Report (if applicable). You'll receive a claim stub or reference number to track your application status.
Step 8: Understand the Extended Processing Time
Lost valid passport replacements get an additional 15 calendar days added to the normal passport clearing period, on top of the standard regular (typically several weeks) or expedited processing time, since the DFA runs extra verification for lost documents. Plan well ahead of any travel deadline — do not book international flights assuming your replacement passport will arrive on the standard timeline alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Only if your lost passport was still valid (not expired) at the time it was lost. If your lost passport had already expired, you only need a Notarized Affidavit of Loss — a police report is not required in that case.
On top of the regular passport application fee, there is an additional ₱350 penalty fee specifically for lost or mutilated ePassports, so budget for both the standard fee and this penalty when planning your DFA appointment payment. It is worth double-checking this against current, Philippine-specific sources before making a decision based on it alone.
Lost valid passport replacements get an extra 15 calendar days added to the standard clearing/processing period, on top of whichever processing speed (regular or expedited) you choose, so factor in this additional buffer especially if you have upcoming travel. Local context matters here — what applies in other countries does not always translate directly to the Philippine setting.
The Affidavit of Loss must reflect your own account of the loss and typically requires your personal signature before a notary, but the DFA appointment itself still requires your personal appearance — passport applications generally cannot be filed by a representative on your behalf.
You should report the loss to the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate, which can issue a replacement or a limited-validity travel document to allow you to return home, following a similar affidavit of loss and, if applicable, local police report process specific to that country.
No. A replacement passport issued after a loss is treated as an entirely new passport application, meaning you will be issued a brand-new passport number, not a reissued copy of your old one. This is especially relevant for Filipino readers, since local platforms, pricing, and consumer habits often differ from other markets.
Yes, expedited (rush) processing is typically still available for lost passport replacements at an additional fee, though the extra 15-day lost-passport clearing period may still apply on top of the expedited timeline depending on your specific consular office's procedures. Local context matters here — what applies in other countries does not always translate directly to the Philippine setting.
Conclusion
Replacing a lost Philippine passport takes more paperwork and time than a normal renewal, mainly because of the affidavit of loss (and possibly a police report) plus the extra ₱350 penalty and 15-day clearing buffer. Start the process as early as possible once you realize your passport is missing, especially if you have travel plans coming up, since the extended timeline can catch people off guard.
