Passport Renewal Guidelines

News

On 01 July 2008 (Tuesday), the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo will start accepting and processing applications for the Machine Readable Passports (MRPs). Priority will be given to applicants whose passports have already expired or are due to expire within 6 months. All regular green passports earlier issued will remain valid and will be honored by immigration authorities worldwide until their stated expiry date.

The Machine Readable Passport (MRP) will be the global standard by April 2010. The regular MRP is colored maroon and consists of 44 pages. The MRP contains advanced security features that will help prevent the tampering of the personal details of the passport holder through data or photo manipulation or substitution. The passport holder’s information is encoded and reflected in the machine readable zone (MRZ) which can be read by a machine/passport reader at all international ports of entry and exit.

HowTo

The new MRP application procedure includes:

STEP 1(Fill-up MRP Application Form)

A. Fill up MRP application form & paste one(1) 4.5 cm x 3.5 cm ID picture with royal blue background

B. Indicate with the MRP form your preferred date for Physical Appearance (PA)

C. Enclose the MRP Form in a self-addressed envelope together with: (a) 3 passport-sized pictures (b) photocopy of data page, visa page and last page of old or current passport

D. For New Applications, and Lost & Mutilated Passports, Passports with Assumed Names & Brown Passports - please refer to Embassy website for requirements

STEP 2 (Submission by Drop Box) OR

Applicant proceeds to the Embassy and places the self-addressed envelope in the designated drop box. Applicant signs in the logbook & indicates his/her preferred date for Physical Appearance (at least 3 working days after date of submission)

STEP 2 (Submission by Mail)

A. Enclose the MRP Form in a self-addressed envelope together with:

(a) 3 passport-sized pictures
(b) photocopy of data page, visa page and last page of old or current passport

B. Applicant should indicate with the MRP form his/her preferred date for Physical Appearance (at least 6 days after date of mailing)

C. Applicant shall inform the Embassy by fax or email if he/she needs to reschedule the PA appointment

D. Applicant mails the sealed envelope to the Embassy. Passport Section, Philippine Embassy, 5-15-5 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-8537

STEP 3 (Personal Appearance at the Embassy) Sunday to Thursday 9am - 12nn only

A. Applicant signs the logbook (or listing) with the names of those scheduled for PA on that date

B. Applicant is given a number slip

C. Applicant writes his/her name on the number slip, proceeds to Window 8 & submits the slip

D. When his/her name number is called, applicant proceeds to the Passport Office to do the following:

(a) Present original current passport
(b) Verify the data in the computer -generated form
(c) Attach photo to the CGF
(d) Affix signature and thumbprints on the machine- generated form
(e) Pay the passport fee of ¥6,500 at the Cashier’s Window
(f) If no self-addressed envelope was enclosed with the application form, applicant secures a self-addressed envelope & forwards it to Window 8

STEP 4 (Submission of CGF to DFA Manila)

A. The Embassy forwards the CGFs to the Office of Consular Affairs (OCA)- DFA, Manila

B. Since the new passport will be printed and produced at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila, processing time will take 45 days from the time the application is submitted to the time it will be ready

STEP 5 (Release of MRPs and Returns of old Passports)

A. The Embassy posts Notice of Release in its website

• PICK-UP
  1. applicant may pick-up MRP at Embassy and present his old passport for cancellation
• BY MAIL
  1. applicant sends his/her old passport by Mail to the Embassy and encloses a stamped, self-addressed envelope for mailing of MRP
  2. Embassy cancels the old passport
  3. The Embassy mails the MRPs together with cancelled passport

PHOTO GUIDELINES

• ROYAL BLUE background
• 3.5 cm. by 4.5 cm in size
• Full frontal facial image
• Image of the face should occupy 70-80% of the photo
• Photo should have been taken within the last six months.
• Decent attire, with collar. No short sleeves/plunging necklines for women
• Wearing of prescribed uniform for police and military personnel as well as for pilots and marine personnel is allowed
• No earrings or make-up for men
• Clear eyeglasses and contact lenses (no shades or colors) are allowed
• Dark glasses are allowed only for the blind as long as face is recognizable
• Smile is encouraged as long as it does not distort the facial features
• Ears should be visible. Head scarf is allowed (for Muslim women, nuns, cancer patients) but should not cover the ears
• Unaltered and unedited
• When cropping, there should be at least 8mm -10mm space at the top of the photo between the edge of the photo and the crown/head of the person to allow ‘cropping’ of the photo

Documentary requirements for Passport applications:

Renewal of Old Passport

1. Duly accomplished passport application form available at the Consular Information Counter, or downloadable from the official Embassy website at http://tokyo.philembassy.net
2. Three (3) passport-size photos;
3. Old passport - to be presented for cancellation but will be returned to applicant;
4. Copy of the following pages of old passport:
   1. data page (1st page)
   2. visa page (with latest visa)
   3. page bearing the signature of the signing officer (last page)

   NOTE: If old passport is a brown passport, submission of Birth Certificate issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) authenticated by Authentication Division, DFA-Manila is required.

5. For minor applicants, photocopy of the following pages of passport(s) of parent(s):
   1. data page (1st page)
   2. visa page (with latest visa)
   3. page bearing the signature of the signing officer (last page)

Renewal Fee: US$50
Note: Fees are payable in US Dollar or it’s equivalent in Japanese Yen. Please consult the Embassy for the current applicable rate.

The MRP application form could be downloaded here

While more info regarding passport application/renewal could be found here

Aws Okinawa Outing Logistics

Flight Schedule