HAGATNA - The Philippine Consulate General wishes to inform the public that, beginning 01 June 2008, it shall be accepting and processing applications for the new Machine Readable Passports (MRP) in compliance with the Philippine Government's commitment to the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to issue ICAO standard MRPs no later than 01 April 2010.  The ICAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations created to promote the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation worldwide.

Compliance with ICAO Standards has multiple benefits for governments, travelers, the airports and the airlines.  These include ease of travel, document security, and prevention of identity theft and other acts of fraud.  Filipino travelers now carrying MRPs have reported satisfaction in the speed of processing and ease of registration in entering another country, particularly at "self check-in" counters at US airlines.

Compared to the old green Philippine passports, the new MAROON-colored 44-page MRPs have superior security features such as letter screens and holograms that virtually preclude tampering of the passports.

To ensure security of the personalization of MRPs, all passport applications filed with all Philippine Consulates/Embassies shall be transmitted to the main passport office in Pasay City, where it will be processed.  Because of the transit time required by this process, the new MRP passports will be released only after SIX WEEKS from the time the application is accepted.

PERSONAL APPEARANCE of ALL applicants is now required for data verification, finger-printing and signature capture.  No applications by mail will be accepted.

All four (4) photos to be submitted for the new MRP must comply with the following requirements:

• Background   -  ROYAL BLUE

    Size                - 4.5cm x 3.5 cm, 70-80% of which must comprise the applicant's image

• Attire               -  with collar/decent
• Pose               -  Straight frontal shot (no head tilting); medium smile allowed

-    Both ears must be visible

-    Prescription eyeglasses allowed, provided there is no glare

-    Head scarf/veil allowed only for religious or health reasons

Photos submitted may be rejected for the following reasons:

• Image distortion;
• Excessive makeup or large earrings for women or wearing of makeup and/or earrings for men;
• Use of colored contact lenses; dark eyeglasses or shades;
• Photos with "red-eye" effect, poor quality, poor or uneven lighting;
• Digitally altered/enhanced photos or those with unnatural skin tones; or
• Dirty photos or where image of applicant is not centered.

The Philippine Consulate General will provide applicants and photo shops in Guam with a sample of the background color prescribed.

The new MRPs will be issued at no additional cost to the applicants, hence, applicants will pay the same fee of US$ 50.00. 

The usual requirements for new/renewal or replacement of loss passports (i.e., NSO certified birth certificates or most recent passport, permanent residency card or valid US visa) remain the same.

Current holders of valid green passports need not worry.  Their passports will still be honored as a bona fide travel document issued by the Government of the Philippines until it expires or until the ICAO deadline of 31 March 2010, whichever comes first.  However, holders of these green passports are advised to take note of the new processing period of SIX WEEKS and to consider the same in making travel plans, particularly in cases where their green passports will be expiring within a period of six months.  As such, green passport holders expecting to travel within the next few months and whose passports are valid for less than six months should consider filing for the renewal of their green passports at least two months prior to their scheduled date of travel.

For further inquiries regarding the implementation of the new MRP, applicants may contact the Philippine Consulate General at telephone numbers 646-4620 or 646-4630 or by sending queries via email to pcgagana@ite.net.  Applicants may also wish to check the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs: www.dfa.gov.ph for more information. END.

::: GUIDELINES ON PHOTO REQUIREMENTS FOR MACHINE-READABLE PASSPORT