There are few options on how to renew your passport if you’re an OFW. Personally, I know 3. I chose to renew it in Robinson’s Galleria in Ortigas which I will be discussing last.
1. Philippine Embassy Where You Work.
If you are based in the city of Riyadh like me, you can find the link here.
The fee for regular renewal is 240 Saudi Riyals and processing time takes about 30-45 days.
2. Getting appointment online.
Link here.
This was my first option before finding out that there is an express lane for OFWs. The thing is, 3 months before my scheduled vacation here in the Philippines, there were no slots for October yet so I just chilled for about a month. 2 months before my flight to Manila, I checked the website again and to my surprise, every slot in Metro Manila area for the month of October is already full. The horror! I was already stressing because I’m praning. I can actually renew my passport in Riyadh when I go back because it’s still within 6 months before the expiration date but I don’t want to wait for 30-45 days.
I tried looking for slots in the nearby provinces like Baguio, Batangas, Pampanga, etc. but they are all full as well! Although Puerto Princesa has all days open, it’s too far from me. To my desperation, I booked myself in Calasiao, Pangasinan for October 28, 2017 at 3:30 – 4:00 P.M. I told myself this is okay because I get to have a side trip to Manaoag or Subic on my way back and my passport will be released after 7 days which is November 4, 2017. Just in time before I fly back to Riyadh.
My mother convinced me to just take my chance in Robinsons Galleria before my booked appointment in Calasiao just in case something happens. I did some research and read about the OFW lane in Ali Mall. Some people are saying there is an express lane there before. What happened to it now? I don’t know. I did not find anything recent about it so I didn’t gamble on going there. Back when I was in Riyadh, my one of my colleagues told me that there is a special lane in DFA Aseana. I told her that according to DFA’s website, it does not include OFWs. She insisted that she and her husband will go there to renew her husband’s passport. Well ok be my guest. Let me know if they are accepting OFWs in Aseana office. 🙂
Nothing was said about OFWs so I didn’t try going there. You can check out the link here.
Anyway, I wont’ be dwelling on this one so much since it’s so simple.
3. OFW Express Lane at Robinsons Galleria
Okay here it is. Before anything else, remember that I already had an appointment in Calasiao for a later date? According to some parts of various websites I’ve read, the scheduled appointment needs to be cancelled. So I did. Bye bye to the only slot I have for the nearest satellite office!
On October 12, 2017, I went to Robinsons Galleria. I arrived at the main entrance (there is a Ministop on the left side of the entrance) around 6:00 A.M because I am so extra. Charot! I don’t remember what I did here before that made me queue so early in the morning. Whatever that was, I knew the line will be massive. The mall is still closed at that time but they are allowing the employees to come inside. I asked the guard at the entrance where the queue for DFA is and he told me “sa baba ng mercury” to the left of ministop. I saw Mercury Drug Store and stairs beside it going up but nothing going down. There is another entrance to the left of Mercury Drug Store and I asked the guard there where the queue is. He told me it’s upstairs. The first guard must have told me otherwise. I don’t remember. I was still drowsy at that time after all. I took the stairs up and to the right was Starbucks. There were already lots of people sitting on monoblock chairs. My thoughts were “ang daming taoooo“. Everyone was looking at me like I’m some weird specimen. Anyway, the chairs were not properly arranged which got me confused as to where the end of the line is. Eventually I found it. I later found out that the reason these chairs were arranged that way is because some are reserved for those queuing for NBI, LTO, and PRC. Majority of the people there are for passport renewal as well.
While waiting, I had a chat with some of the people around me. The guy beside me said he did not cancel his online appointment. One lady said they went to POEA and was told either to get an appointment online or go to Robinsons Galleria.
Most of the people did not have any form with them. I printed mine online and filled it up at home apart from the signature.
It should look like this. The second page is just reminders. There is nothing to fill up on that page.
You can download the form here.
If you can’t print it, no worries. They will be handing out in the satellite office.
After an hour of waiting, staff from DFA stamped our hand, made us put our name on the list, and gave us the number. Finally! The number! Mine was 106. Remember that I arrived there about 6:00 A.M.
At around 7:45 A.M, they let us go inside the waiting area of the satellite office. Now you don’t have to worry about people jumping in the queue because of the numbers they gave.
**Please be advised of the proper attire when going to the office. They are strictly implementing this. You can not enter the office if you violate the dress code.
One of the lady borrowed her sister’s shoes who is waiting outside. The other asked a newfound friend to let her borrow her sneakers. Later on, she asked her boyfriend to buy her anything that will cover her feet. And to her boyfriend, anything meant this:
She asked the guards if that is enough and the poor guard just gave a deep sigh and told her she can proceed inside.
At this point, they were announcing some stuff. All of the DFA staff are actually nice and not grumpy. One of the most important announcement is this.
Please! Please! Please! Save your time and avoid the hassle by remembering this! They are really strict. They sent people home. Those who arrived in the Philippines more than 12 months from the day you were there, you will not be accommodated. So much hassle! They should have told us that when they were handing out the numbers. From 106, I was 66th in line. 40 people left! These 40 arrived on the site earlier than I did and som as early as 5:00 A.M. I heard the staff told them that they need to book an appointment online. Those OFW leaving soon will have some trouble renewing their passports since the slots online are already for December. Later on, people were still arriving. Those who fell in this category were not accepted inside. So please take note of this!
At around 8:15 A.M., they asked us to go to Window 1. The staff was giving out the renewal forms and checking whether your requirements are complete. According to the website and the page 2 of renewal form, the requirements are as follows:
“REQUIREMENTS FOR RENEWAL OF PASSPORT
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
- Personal appearance
- Confirmed appointment
- Duly accomplished application form – may be downloaded from the DFA website, www.dfa.gov.ph
- Most recent expiring or expired passport
- Acceptable IDs at least one (1): for Brown, Green and MRP (without IC Chip logo). Please refer to List of Acceptable IDs
- Other Supporting Document as necessary”
This is what I saw inside the office.
You can check the rest of the requirements here although I don’t know if they are accepting change of civil status in the OFW express lane.
Take note that my renewal is a regular renewal. Not an expired passport, no change in civil status, not the old passport, etc. Anyway, here is the list of what I personally brought:
- Current passport
- Renewal form
- Supporting documents (proof that you are an OFW)
- OEC screenshot
- Exit/Re-entry visa for KSA OFW
- Return Ticket
After going to window 1, the staff will tell you which ones need to be photocopied. You can have the it done inside the office. There is only one guy operating the machine but he was fast kahit na tagaktak pawis na si kuya. Almost all of us had something that needed to be photocopied. You can have them photocopied before going to the office or have it done there. I paid less than 20 pesos inside the DFA office. These are the pages you will submit.
As much as possible, make sure the passport pages are photocopied on the same page. Same goes for the Seaman’s book.
After that, you will be asked to go back to your seat. By 8:30 A.M., they were asking people by 10 to go to Verification Windows. If my memory serves right, there were 5 windows and in this stage, they will verify whether your requirements are acceptable or the form is complete. Your renewal form and the rest of the photocopied documents will be stapled together. The staff will also ask how long you want the processing time be. Options are 1200Php for 7 working days and 900Php for 15 working days. Saturdays, Sundays, and holiday will not be counted.
I went to the office last October 12, 2017. I chose the 7 days processing and I am due to collect my sparkling, new passport on the 23rd. As of writing, 2 unscheduled holidays already passed. I can pretend to be stubborn and try to collect my passport on the said date but I don’t want the hassle of finding out it’s not ready yet.
I must have overlooked the fact that working days does not include the weekends and holidays. If I had my passport renewal done in Calasiao on the 28th, my new passport will never make it in time before I fly back to Riyadh. Some of my friends told me that I can have it delivered to the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and I can claim it there but I really don’t wanna do that.
October 12 + 7 working days + 2 holidays (October 16 & 17) = October 25
October 28 + 7 working days + 2 holidays (Oct 31 & November 1) = November 9
Good thing I listened to my mother and had my passport renewed early. Mother knows best. Thanks, ma!
(No, Gothel is not my real mom.)
You will also be asked whether you want your passport to be delivered via courier or to be picked up. I think the delivery fee is about 150Php and takes about 1-2 days. The staff asked me when my return date is. I told her it is on the 6th of November. She told me I can only pick mine up since the courier company will surely not accept it even if there is still about 2 weeks before my flight. I did not protest.
After the verification, you will pay at the cashier. There is only one window but it was fast. They were also announcing earlier that you have to pay the exact amount. Barya lang po sa umaga! When it was my turn, I asked the staff if he already has change to give me. I gave him two 1000 peso bill and happily gave me the exact change. I was confident that the till will be packed with pezoz because I am the 66th person after all. Keep the receipt. You will be needing it to claim the passport.
The last stage if where they take the biometrics and the requirements. There are about 5 or 6 booths here. Jewelry, eye and sunglasses, contact lenses both clear and colored must be removed. No heavy make up too. I just had a red lipstick on. Remember that this will be your passport photo for the next 5 years (if you don’t lose your passport). I don’t want mine to look like panakot sa daga. Fingerprints will also be taken. After this, the staff will give you the claim stub stapled to the original receipt. You will also be handed a survey form which takes about 2-3 minutes. Once you’ve filled this up, voila! You’re done! I finished at around 10:00 A.M.
**After this, I immediately went to the PRC office also located in Robinsons Galleria. You can read my entry about it here.
If you were given the option to have it delivered, you can go the courier counter after the verification stage.
Despite having to endure 4 hours, it was pretty much simple. I was surprised by how organized the place was. They even let us in before the mall opened.
According to the staff there, they are accepting applicants only until 11:00 A.M.
There you have it! Please feel free leave your comments and suggestions below or send me a message here.
Thank you!
Fleece Please 