How do I apply for or renew a Philippine passport, and how long is it valid?
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Educational content; not legal advice.
Short answer
Apply for or renew a passport through the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs): book an online appointment and appear in person at a Consular Office. Since RA 10928 (2017), which amended the Philippine Passport Act (RA 8239), a regular passport for adults 18 and older is valid for 10 YEARS; for applicants under 18 it is valid for 5 years. First-time applicants generally need a PSA birth certificate and a valid ID — check the DFA site for the current requirement list and fee. Booking an appointment is free; do not pay a fixer for a 'slot' or 'express' processing.
Primary sources
Frequently asked
How long is an adult passport valid now?
Ten (10) years for applicants 18 and older, under RA 10928 (2017), which amended Section 10 of the Philippine Passport Act (RA 8239). Passports for applicants under 18 are valid for 5 years.
What do first-time applicants need?
Generally a PSA birth certificate and a valid government-issued ID, plus a confirmed online appointment. The exact checklist and current fee are on the DFA site — verify there rather than paying a fixer for a shortcut.
Do I have to pay for an appointment slot?
No. DFA appointments are booked through the official system; slots are not for sale. Anyone selling you a 'guaranteed slot' or 'express' passport for a fee outside official channels is a fixer.
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How to get and fix your government papers without a fixer — a PSA birth, marriage, or death certificate and a CENOMAR (order via PSA Serbilis / PSAHelpline), correcting a misspelled name or wrong first name administratively under RA 9048 and a wrong day/month of birth or sex under RA 10172 (no court needed; the birth YEAR still needs a Rule 108 court petition), late registration of an unregistered birth, the PhilSys national ID and its acceptance as valid proof of identity under RA 11055, applying for or renewing a passport at the DFA and its 10-year adult validity under RA 10928 (amending RA 8239), what to do when you lose your passport, getting an NBI clearance and resolving a 'hit', police and barangay clearances, registering to vote and transferring or reactivating your registration with COMELEC (RA 8189, mandatory biometrics under RA 10367), the cedula / Community Tax Certificate under the Local Government Code (RA 7160), and your anti-red-tape rights against fixers and undue extra requirements under RA 11032 (Ease of Doing Business Act) and RA 9485.