My DFA Passport Application Experience

Finally, I was able to apply for a passport after years of convincing by the S.O. :-) The process was made easy by the DFA's Passport Appointment System. One only has to go online and fill out an application form on their website, and set up a date and time to make a personal appearance at the new DFA-Aseana Office.

I don't really have any plans to go out of the country, not yet anyway.  I just decided to get a passport because I wanted to get another valid government-issued ID.  And well, in case the opportunity presents itself to go on a trip to anywhere, then I'll be ready.

I filled out the online application around middle of February. I was a little dubious about it but a couple of people at work assured me that it actually works. So my appointment was set for March 14 (today), at 8:30AM.  I received an email confirming my appointment, along with an adobe file of the passport application form.  I just printed out the form on a long bond paper (it was filled out with all my information along with a serial number).  It also reminded me to be at the DFA office at 8:00AM.

So I woke up around 5AM and was on the road a quarter before 7AM.  I took the bus along EDSA, the one with the Baclaran/MOA/DFA route, and paid 15 pesos for the fare (an ordinary bus since it's the first one I saw with a DFA sign and I didn't want to waste time waiting for an air-conditioned one).  I got off across the road from the DFA office itself and was inside at around 7:15.

You can't go in unless you had the application form with you.  There were signs at the gate saying "No Escorts Allowed" so only the person applying for the passport can come in.  You present the passport application form at the confirmation area, where they scan your paper for authenticity.  (They have scanners like those in supermarkets, which is pretty kewl.)  After scanning the document, they tell you to go inside for the checking of requirements.

Step 1: Checking of Requirements.
The queue was fast owing to the number of counters open.

I have always been reluctant to apply for a passport because of the number of requirements needed.  Before I  moved to Manila I didn't have a single government ID to my name.  There's an inconvenient practice of needing to present multiple IDs in this country.  I already got my PRC license, but they usually ask for at least 2 valid (meaning digitized, government issued) IDs so I had to ask a number of people over and over if the BIR issued TIN card with photo is an accepted valid identification.  They said yes so I was appeased.

I was surprised that I only had to present my NSO-issued birth certificate, and my PRC identification card.  They only asked for a photocopy of the ID, they didn't even ask for a photocopy of the birth certificate. They took the original copy though, so you might need to get another copy from NSO if you want to have a personal copy. They didn't ask for additional supporting documents as well (for this I brought the original and certified photocopy of my college transcript).  Turns out I didn't need it.

I was given back my application and a receipt and was told to proceed to the second floor where the cashier and encoding areas were.

Step 2: Payment at the cashier

After paying P950 to the cashier, a queue number was handed out to the applicants for the encoding of biometrics and passport photo.  There were numerous counters for this, which was very efficient.  I only had to wait 5 minutes before my turn came, and the guy at the counter was surprisingly pleasant and chatty - very unusual for a government employee - which I appreciated very much.

Notice that I was already halfway through the process 24 minutes before my
scheduled appointment. :)

Didn't have to wait long because of the numerous counters for
encoding and photo-taking.

It only took 10-15 minutes for encoding my info, fingerprints, signature, and taking my photo. Before my scheduled appointment, I was done.  I only had to proceed to the passport delivery area to pay an extra P120 to have my passport delivered.  I won't have to go back to DFA on April 18th, just have to sit back and wait for it to be sent to me.

I was amazed at how fast it took me to go through the entire process, considering that this is a government office.  It felt really good to be in and out of there in less than an hour.  I admit, I expected so much worse (I even brought a book, in case I had to wait for half a day).

I think it was fortunate to get the early appointment - my officemate was scheduled at 1130AM when he applied for his passport last month, and he said he waited almost four hours.  It's good that I decided to come early too...again, it was a matter of expecting the worst (I had to think about traffic, queues, and all that).

If only all our government offices would be as efficient and all government employees would be as pleasant and accommodating as the one I encountered.  He told me he hasn't had breakfast yet, which made his cheerful disposition even more surprising. :)

I guess I was just lucky...I know it couldn't always be as easy-breezy as that. But I wish everyone would have the same experience and treatment.  That way it wouldn't hurt so much to pay our taxes. ;-)